Great Wall Motor has quietly developed its first supercar in five years, with a carbon-fiber monocoque.
Chinese automakers have established themselves in the budget segment, but some big names are starting to enter the sports car and supercar market. BYD has the electric Yangwang U9, GAC has the Aion Hypersport SSR, and now Great Wall Motor (GWM) is getting in on the act.
GWM has expanded its product line in recent years but has focused on crossovers, SUVs, and pickups. However, the company has just revealed that it has been developing a supercar for the past five years, and believes it can surpass the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
The information was shared by GWM's chief financial officer, Wu Huixiao, in a social media conversation with a Chinese auto blogger last week. Wu said the new supercar will have a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque structure. However, she also admitted that completing the chassis system caused some delays.
According to GWM, the company has recruited racing experts from Europe to help with the development process. When asked about comparisons with the Ferrari SF90 supercar, Wu affirmed that the company's first supercar will be better and that they will learn from their competitors.
Not long ago, GWM chairman Jack Wei was spotted driving the SF90, and it seems that the Chinese automaker is serious about competing with Italy's most famous supercar brand.
Keeping costs low is one of the most important parts of the project. In fact, one of the main reasons why the car took so long was that GMW was determined to further reduce costs, making the car more affordable, according to a report by CNEVPost.
It’s unclear what powertrain the car will use. At the recent Shanghai Auto Show, GWM revealed a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that some of its future models will feature, along with a plug-in hybrid system. However, GWM is said to have developed this engine with an eye toward SUVs and pickups with a focus on towing, so it’s unclear whether this will be the powertrain of choice for the upcoming supercar.