By 2026, China Will Challenge Italy and Germany: The Era of the Chinese Supercar Begins as GWM Sets a Launch Date

Great Wall Motors Chairman Wei Jianjun has officially announced that the company is working on its first-ever supercar. While he admitted that Great Wall could easily continue to thrive without venturing into the sports car segment, he emphasized the symbolic importance of the project for China’s automotive prestige.

“Building a sports car is also a way to express ourselves to our fellow countrymen—to create a truly Chinese supercar in every sense of the word,” Wei said.

According to him, the vehicle could make its debut as early as late next year. Such a rapid timeline is possible thanks to four to five years of prior development work already invested in the project.

Hints about the upcoming supercar first appeared in July, when Wei Jianjun posted a group photo on Weibo celebrating Great Wall Motors’ 35th anniversary. In the background, a mysterious car covered by a black cloth drew widespread attention.

From its silhouette, observers quickly concluded that it was no ordinary Great Wall model. A low-slung front end, two-door layout, and air intakes behind the doors suggested a powerful mid-engine setup. The raised rear section and large spoiler hinted at high-performance aerodynamics and serious handling capabilities.

Back in May, Great Wall’s Chief Technology Officer Wu Huixiao confirmed that the company was developing a supercar positioned to rival the Ferrari SF90.

The automaker has already engineered its own 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing 549 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, with a thermal efficiency of 38.5%. Installing this powertrain in the upcoming model could be a milestone moment for China’s auto industry—marking the nation’s first fully homegrown V8-powered supercar developed and built entirely by a Chinese manufacturer.