- Great Wall Motor has been developing its first supercar for the last five years.
- It will feature a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque for enhanced performance.
- European track experts have been brought in to help with the supercar’s development.
As Chinese automakers continue to carve out a dominant position in the affordable vehicle market, some of the bigger players are dipping their toes into the world of sports cars and supercars. BYD has its electric Yangwang U9, GAC has the Aion Hyptec SSR, and now Great Wall Motor (GWM) is gearing up to enter the race.
Great Wall Motor has dramatically expanded its range in recent years, but has so far remained focused on crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. However, the Chinese carmaker has revealed it’s been working on a supercar for the past five years and believes it can be better than even the formidable Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Watch: YangWang U9 Hits 244 MPH Top Speed, But Can’t Beat The Taycan At The Nurburgring
The revelation came from GWM‘s CFO, Wu Huixiao, during a conversation with a Chinese car blogger on social media last week. Wu shared that the new supercar will feature a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque. However, she also admitted that perfecting the car’s underpinnings has caused some delays.
According to GWM, it has recruited track experts from Europe to help with the car’s development. Asked directly how it would compare to the almighty SF90, Wu claimed the brand’s first supercar would be better, acknowledging it will learn from its competitors. Not too long ago, GWM chairman Jack Wei was reportedly spotted behind the wheel of an SF90, and it seems the brand is very serious about competing with the most famous of all Italian supercar brands.
Keeping costs down is one of the most important parts of the project. In fact, Wu said that one of the main reasons why the car is taking so long is that GMW is determined to further lower costs, making it more affordable, CNEVPost reports.
It’s unclear what powertrain the car will use. At the recent Shanghai Auto Show, GWM unveiled a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that some of its future models will receive alongside a plug-in hybrid system. However, Great Wall is believed to have developed this engine with SUVs and trucks in mind placing an emphasis on towing abilities, so it’s not clear if it will also be the powertrain of choice for the upcoming supercar.
