2026 GWM Cannon Alpha Plug-In Hybrid Is A 402 HP Beast

Among the plethora of Chinese automakers going into the Philippine market, the are only a handful of automakers that are  taking the highly-competitive pickup segment seriously. One of those is GWM, in which they already have the diesel-fed Cannon for the past few years already. What’s only missing now is an electrified option to compete with the BYD Shark 6 DMO, and they already have one in China in the form of the 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

Though the GWM Cannon Alpha (called the Shanhai Cannon in China as Cannon Alpha is an Australian market name) isn’t new for 2025, one of its highlights this year is its cutting-edge Hi4 plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Hi4 is GWM’s newest plug-in hybrid drivetrain, in which the newly-unveiled Haval Xiaolong Max is one of the first models to receive this drivetrain.

Here in the Cannon Alpha, however, it uses what’s called the Hi4-T, in which the T means “Tank”. Tank is GWM’s range of body-on-frame SUVs, and it uses the same PHEV drivetrain of the Tank 500. In this case, it uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, with the electric motor mounted in its in-house-developed nine-speed automatic. Yes, this means that the Cannon Alpha is a parallel hybrid as opposed to a series-parallel hybrid with an e-CVT.

What it also has is a proper four-wheel drive (4WD) system. You see, the BYD Shark 6 DMO uses a purely electronic permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor layout. This is a reflection of BYD’s focus on being an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer first. Furthermore, with GWM’s rugged underpinnings for the Cannon Alpha, its 4WD system also contains three locking differentials. Yes, you have front, center, and rear lockers in this highly-capable pickup.

The specifications out of this vehicle are also impressive–and one that we can’t wait to experience for ourselves. Its total system output is a whopping 402 horses and 750 Nm of torque, and thanks to a 37.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, it has a 110-kilometer pure electric range.

Its capability is also complemented by a design that’s larger than life and outright aggressive. In this range-topping version we’re seeing here, the 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha sports a full arsenal of off-roading design flourishes. It gets 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, while the front grille gets a matte black housing. There’s also a matte black steel bumper, complete with tow hooks, while full LED exterior lighting helps the Cannon Alpha stand out. Oh, and it even has a snorkel for going through deep rivers and floods.

At the sides, the Cannon Alpha is, well, your typical slab-sided pickup. In this particular fully-loaded variant, there are steel step boards that can take a lot of off-road beating, while the rear bed of the Cannon Alpha contains a bed cover that features multiple partitions. Even the tailgate is clever as it features multiple sections that allow you to open the tailgate either sideways or traditionally by laying it down.

Now, for the interior, the 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha is the brand’s flagship pickup, and so it also gets a well-trimmed and luxurious interior. Everything you see is covered in sumptuous leather and stitched details. The color scheme is also interesting to our eyes, but the amount of gloss black inside the cabin is just too much in our opinion. The entire center console is practically made out of this scratch-prone material, and what’s worse is that it’s also what the steering wheel buttons are made out of.

On the upside, like a lot of GWM vehicles these days, tech plays a major role inside the Cannon Alpha. There are two 12.3-inch screens, one for the driver and one as the main infotainment system. Thankfully, there’s a generous serving of physical controls, since GWM realizes that off-roading drivers will prefer interacting with switches and knobs, especially that tactile feedback is important when operating various vehicle functions when going over rough terrain.

With the new 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha fitted with this cutting-edge and highly-robust Hi4-T powertrain, should GWM Philippines bring this vehicle to our market? We sure think it will be a formidable competitor to the BYD Shark 6 DMO.