Great Wall Motor is best known for building pickup trucks, SUVs, and budget-friendly crossovers.
Now it wants to build a car that can take on Ferrari. Yes, seriously.
At Auto China 2026, GWM confirmed it’s developing a brand-new V8-powered supercar under a new performance division called GF, which reportedly stands for “Great Faith.”
Unlike most recent Chinese performance car headlines dominated by EVs, this one is going old-school with a twin-turbo V8.
A Twin-Turbo 4.0-Liter V8 Sits In The Middle
The upcoming supercar will reportedly feature:
- Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8
- Mid-engine layout
- Carbon fiber monocoque chassis
- Hybrid assistance
- All-wheel drive
That alone would be ambitious enough.
However, GWM says total output could reach a staggering 1,184 horsepower in road-going form.
That would put it directly in hypercar territory.
It’s Also Going Racing
This isn’t just a flashy concept built for headlines.
Great Wall Motor says the platform will also underpin a dedicated GT3 race car.
That race-spec version will reportedly produce around 592 horsepower, in line with GT3 regulations.
The company plans to reveal the racecar as early as next year.
A Former McLaren Engineer Is Leading The Project
To make sure this doesn’t turn into vaporware, GWM hired former McLaren Automotive engineer Adam Thomson to lead development.
That’s a serious hire for a company trying to break into supercar territory.
Why Build A V8 In The EV Era?
That’s what makes this story so interesting.
Chinese automakers have dominated EV headlines recently:
- Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Nürburgring record runs
- Yangwang U9 pushing 300+ mph claims
- Denza Z delivering four-digit horsepower
GWM is deliberately going against that trend.
Chairman Jack Wei openly admitted that large combustion engines aren’t exactly aligned with China’s current market direction.
However, he also said feedback from overseas markets played a major role.
According to GWM executives, buyers in places like Australia told them:
“There is no replacement for displacement.”
That likely explains why the company showcased its V8 ambitions at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year.
This Could Be China’s Most Important ICE Performance Car Yet
China has already proven it can dominate EV development.
Internal combustion performance cars are a very different challenge.
If Great Wall Motor actually delivers a legitimate Ferrari rival with motorsport ambitions, it could completely change how enthusiasts view Chinese performance cars.
And if it flops? Well… at least someone still had the guts to build a twin-turbo V8 supercar in 2026.