A Chinese carmaker best known for SUVs and pickups wants to take on Ferrari. GWM chairman Wei Jianjun has confirmed that the company’s first hybrid supercar will launch in 2027, and he shared a video of the car going head to head with a Ferrari SF90 at GWM’s test track. The twist: he openly admitted that the car still falls short of the Ferrari overall, but promised a surprise at launch.
Quick Highlights
- GWM’s first hybrid supercar is scheduled to launch in 2027
- A formal debut is expected by the end of 2026
- A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid system is expected, but not confirmed
- GWM has previously targeted more than 1,200hp of system output
- No design, price or final specification has been released
What Did the Chairman Say?
On 12 November, Wei Jianjun posted a video on Weibo showing him testing the supercar against a red Ferrari SF90, a plug-in hybrid supercar. He said plainly that GWM’s car still falls short of the Ferrari in overall capability, but that he is confident the team will keep improving and deliver a surprise when the car launches next year. In the video, the supercar is blurred to hide its design.
What We Know About the Car
- Engine: GWM’s own 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 paired with a plug-in hybrid system is expected. This is not officially confirmed.
- Platform: the engine is part of GWM’s GF high-performance architecture, which is designed for both road-going supercars and GT3 race cars. Some technical details were shown at the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year.
- Power target: GWM previously announced a target of more than 1,200hp of system output. Final production specifications have not been released.
A Long Road to Launch
GWM’s technology chief said in April 2025 that the supercar project had started about five years earlier. She also said the team had struggled with the carbon-fibre cockpit and had carried out extensive testing, and that a desire to cut costs was one reason the car had not launched sooner. In July 2025, Wei shared a photo of executives standing beside a car covered in black fabric.
Why Would an SUV Maker Build a Supercar?
GWM owns the Haval, Wey, Tank and Ora brands, and a supercar would extend its range well beyond its core SUV and pickup business. It would also follow other Chinese brands into territory long held by European makers: BYD’s Yangwang launched the electric U9 supercar in February 2024, and GAC Aion has shown an electric supercar of its own.
The Business Backdrop
The announcement comes as GWM’s sales are under pressure. The company sold 120,374 vehicles in October, down 15.87% on last year and its third monthly decline in a row. Its new-energy vehicle sales, however, grew 7.25% to a record 49,499, which was 41% of the total.
What About the UAE?
GWM has made no announcement about UAE availability, pricing or a launch date for the supercar. With a debut not expected until the end of the year, it is too early to say whether it will reach the Gulf.
Final Thoughts
A chairman who publicly admits his supercar is not yet as good as a Ferrari is unusual, and it makes the promise of a surprise more intriguing. Would you buy a Chinese V8 hybrid supercar over a Ferrari? Tell us in the comments.
