Edited by Asiautos Auto Part
Gemcannon Alpha Urtra Hybrid Review: Truck and Technology
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The roar of the petrol-electric powertrain is just too luxurious for a $70,000 pickup, complete with real traction and 4x4 credit downsides
The petrol-electric combination is unstable at low speeds, the irritating driver distraction warning, the $9,000 more expensive than the Ultra diesel, and the Great Wall Cannon Alpha pickup is essentially another name for the Tank 500 SUV; Or at least the kind with a tray. This perfectly leads to what's really interesting about the Alpha: the top-of-the-line Ultra model features the Tank 500 Ultra's petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
This also makes the Alpha the first full hybrid pickup truck to hit the market in New Zealand. Or, to respect its size, we should perhaps call it a "pickup", as it's a bit larger than the usual one-ton pickup, which is already quite large: the Alpha is almost two meters wide and 75 mm longer than the Ford Ranger. It's only 35mm longer than Great Wall Motor's own entry-level Cannon, a completely different model, though.
It's a lot of fun. You can still use a traditional diesel engine, which we drove in Australia and really liked. But when it comes to the Cannon Alpha Ultra, hybrid technology absolutely dominates the driving experience, for better or worse.
The first is the pros. It's a high-performance hybrid with 255kW of punch that delivers pretty decent speed once the skirt is tucked in and the 2.6-ton weight is moved. It's also a full hybrid, with an electric motor integrated into a 9-speed transmission, which means it can only travel on electricity for short distances.
The badge says it all: it's the first full hybrid 4x4 pickup sold in New Zealand.
So it can be fast, but it's also fairly smooth on the highway at constant speed, with the hybrid system filling part of the throttle gap.
In the case of the Cannon Alpha Ultra, hybrid technology dominates the driving experience, with good and bad influences.
What are the disadvantages? Well, as you may recall, we mentioned that its weight is 2.6 tons. The hybrid system tries to start with electricity, but the petrol engine needs to start whenever you need anything close to decent forward momentum. The problem is, it's nowhere near as decisive as it should be, so a delay of one or two seconds is a concern; Then when the Alpha accelerates on the road, it starts. When you take off, it takes a long time for the engine speed to stabilize.
The Cannon Alpha is a true 4x4: a trapezoidal frame chassis, a low-speed transmission, and 3.5 tons of traction.
Think of this as an observation rather than a criticism, but it is not an eco-hybrid per se. Considering the power and weight we are facing, Great Wall Motor's claimed 9.8L/100km is not bad, but the fleet manager won't be surprised by this. During the tests, we had an average fuel consumption of 12L/100km, and no, we didn't do anything stupid.
Alpha swapped the Tank 500's multi-link rear suspension for stiff leaf springs to provide 3.5 tons of traction.
All of the above apply equally to the Tank 500, but the pros and cons seem to be more pronounced on the Cannon Alpha.
One of the more strange features is this hidden C-pillar...... Well, tool racks?
Of course, it's not quite the same. The Alpha swapped out the Tank's multi-link rear suspension for stiff leaf springs in order to deliver the 3.5 tonnes of traction that New Zealand buyers have come to expect. So that's a big step forward.
GWM's tailgate has a great party trick. The tailgate can be lowered in the traditional way, but it can also be styled in a 60/40 split barn door.
The weight and spacious cabin of the Alpha Ultra does come with an opportunity cost of payload: the payload of this model is 735 kg, which is much lower than that of a small car, and also lower than that of a diesel model (760-821 kg).
The clever 60/40 split tailgate opens the barn door way, but it can also be lowered the traditional way.
But Great Wall Motor's tailgate has a great party trick. The tailgate can be lowered the traditional way, but it's also 60/40 split, meaning you can open either side like a barn door. Which part is opened depends on how many times you click on the electric latch in the giant cannon symbol on the back. Love it.
The rough rear end doesn't help the Alpha's driving experience at all, being quite fussy even on slippery surfaces and completely bumpy at high speeds on country roads. So, it's a strange combination that combines the bumpy cornering stance inherited from the Tank 500. No one expects a large luxury truck to drive and handle like a German sedan, but it still needs some improvements.
The $70,000 car has an incredibly stylish look and comfortable cabin.
The same goes for active safety technology. We've already noticed this on the Tank, but to be clear: this machine is equipped with driver assistance systems, which is commendable, but the calibration of a lot of systems is questionable. The driver is distracted, and the camera doesn't seem to tolerate your presence; In addition to it and lane keeping and speed limit sign recognition, almost every five minutes there is a sudden sound telling you to concentrate because adaptive cruise is on, or to stay alert, or to slow down because your speed is slightly overspeeding, or simply take a break.
Similarly, the Alpha's breakdowns seem to be more unpredictable and bothersome than the Tank's, probably because the car is less stable on the road. Sure, you can turn off these nasty features, but you have to turn them off every time you start the vehicle.
The rear seats are individually electrically adjustable and slide forward as a "welcome function".
Given that the cabin is very similar to that of the Tank 500 Ultra, it can be considered that the luxury of the top-of-the-line Alpha is stunning. Choose from 64 interior lighting colors. It offers heating and ventilation for the front and rear seats, automatic parking and reversing assist with a top-view monitor, Infinity audio with independent amplifiers. Do you know how many pickup trucks have electrically adjustable rear seats that slide into place when you open the doors, which is the "welcome feature"? Very cool.
You can't accuse the Cannon Alpha Ultra of being boring. We always say that there's not much that can be changed about the base model, but Great Wall Motors has really given this segment a new look.
Is the left tailgate longer to accommodate the giant Cannon logo?
The Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid is an extremely fun and luxurious machine, priced at less than $70,000, and its traction and off-road capabilities are outstanding: it's a proper trapezoidal frame truck with a low-speed transmission.
With more work on powertrain calibration and a reversal of driver assistance systems from the 11th of the current setup, this could be a very attractive prospect for someone who likes larger trucks with a lot of technology on board.
What are the key stats for the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid?
The car is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a hybrid powertrain with a combined power of 255kW/648Nm. The electric motor is integrated in a 9-speed gearbox.
Is the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid efficient?
The rear of the car is marked with the word "HEV", but that doesn't mean it's fuel-efficient. The car is said to have an average fuel consumption of 9.8 liters per 100 kilometers, which is more fuel-efficient than any diesel-powered one-ton pickup, but it is much more powerful.
Is the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid a good driving experience?
It has both advantages and disadvantages: the powertrain rides smoothly on the highway, but the combination of gasoline and electric motor is not optimal when driving in the city or when instant power is needed. The sturdy rear axle and leaf springs at the rear cause bumps in the ride, but the Alpha's traction and off-road performance are unquestionable.
Is the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid practical?
As a pickup, the pallet is shorter and has a lower payload than small one-ton vehicles such as the Ford Ranger: the hybrid weighs only 735 kg. But we like the two-way tailgate, which, as we said above, has the strongest ability to tow a 4x4.
For a pickup, the cabin is extremely luxurious and spacious, especially the rear seats, the seats are electrically adjustable and can recline in a considerable range. This is not common for pickups.
What do we like about the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid?
The presence, the roar of the hybrid powertrain, and the extremely luxurious cabin really elevate the quality of the rear seat experience.
What are our grievances about the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid?
You'll need to think twice about whether you want to buy such a large pickup truck (it's 75mm longer than the Ford Ranger). The hybrid powertrain is unstable in city driving, and the driver assistance system is irritating.
What kind of people is the Great Wall Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid for?
Someone wants a dual-cab pickup for a variety of common reasons (lifestyle, trailer, etc.), but what they really want is to be different.
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