GWM has teased a facelifted model of its fashionable Haval H6 mid-sized SUV in China, but it surely’s unlikely to return right here.

As an alternative, we’re anticipating to see a brand new mid-sized SUV sporting Haval branding.

Pictures revealed on Chinese language social media community Weibo present a brand new front-end design for the H6, ditching the closely chromed grille of the present petrol mannequin and complex frameless grille of the hybrid for a very totally different look.

The headlights stay the same form, however there’s extra of a grille-less look with a flush space between the headlights, albeit with a bigger opening additional down. The entrance bumper has additionally been reshaped.

The corporate says it’s “shifting to the subsequent 4 million”, referring to the 4 million world gross sales of the H6 so far. It’s clearly anticipating comparable recognition for the up to date automobile.

A fixture within the prime 10 best-seller listing in China, the H6 slid 5 spots to ninth place in 2022 per Focus2Move. It was overtaken by the first-place BYD Music, with the Tesla Mannequin Y sitting at fourth.

As an alternative of the freshened H6, CarExpert understands Australia is line to obtain the Xiaolong Max, initially codenamed B07 and revealed at this 12 months’s Shanghai motor present.

At its reveal, the corporate referred to it as its “next-generation medium SUV”, a “strategic mannequin” meant for world markets.

It has to this point solely been revealed with plug-in hybrid energy, in contrast to the H6 which comes with petrol, hybrid and (abroad at the least) plug-in hybrid powertrains.

It measures 4758mm lengthy, 1895mm huge and 1725mm tall on a 2800mm wheelbase – 103mm longer, 9mm wider and 1mm taller than a GWM Haval H6 on a 62mm longer wheelbase.

That makes it solely incrementally smaller than a Hyundai Santa Fe, although there are solely two rows of seating.

The brand new Hi4 plug-in hybrid system within the Xiaolong Max makes use of a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine mated with a two-speed hybrid transmission, a 70kW/100Nm entrance electrical motor, a 150kW/350Nm rear electrical motor and a 20kWh battery.

Complete system outputs are 205kW and 585Nm, with a claimed electrical vary of 83km on the WLTC take a look at cycle.

When the battery runs out, the automobile will operate as a traditional hybrid and GWM claims it is going to be each extra energy-efficient and provide a extra EV-like drive really feel than different plug-in hybrid SUVs.

All-wheel drive is customary, and the Xiaolong Max options MacPherson strut entrance and multi-link rear suspension.

Fashions with the Hi4 system will characteristic GWM’s Clever Torque Vectoring Management, promising the distribution of torque between the entrance and rear axles in milliseconds to enhance security and stability.

There’s a “good system” that may change between 9 totally different driving modes primarily based on real-time highway circumstances.

In metropolis driving, it should change between pure electrical two-wheel drive, sequence hybrid mode, and first-gear direct drive mode to keep away from utilizing the petrol engine. At excessive speeds, it should use the second-gear direct drive mode to maximise effectivity.

Brake vitality recuperation additionally options within the system.

Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a further 12.3-inch touchscreen for the passenger. A ten-inch head-up show is on the market.

It’s unclear what the Xiaolong Max can be referred to as in Australia, and when it might arrive.

Gross sales of the present H6 proceed to develop in our market following the launch of a brand new, third technology in 2021 to switch the 2015-vintage mannequin identified in China because the H6 Coupe; we skipped the second-generation mannequin.

To the tip of June, gross sales of the H6 wagon – excluding the H6 GT ‘coupe SUV’ – are up by 70.7 per cent.

GWM has offered 4470 H6s to this point this 12 months, outselling the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Renault Koleos. Over the previous three months, hybrid variants have accounted for 45 per cent of H6 wagon gross sales.

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