Cut price tough ute confirmed for Oz

GWM – formerly known as Great Wall Motors – has revealed its new range-topping Cannon XSR ute.The off-road focused ute is priced at $52,990 drive-away, which is $9000 more than the variant below.Despite the relatively high price it undercuts popular off-road focused machines such as the Toyota HiLux Rogue, Ford Ranger Wildtrak X and the new Volkswagen Amarok PanAmericana by more than $20,000.Despite the comparitively low price, it comes with plenty of goodies.There’s a new part-time four-wheel drive set-up that has selectable two- and four-wheel drive modes, low and high gearing and locking front and rear differentials.New tech such as a dedicated Crawl Mode and a Turn Assist by Braking help boost its off-road.GWM has added increased underbody protection to guard against damage on rough terrain.It comes standard with desirable items such as a snorkel, sports bar, tub liner, side steps and roof rails.New 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all terrain tyres add to its appeal.The front and rear bumpers are also steel, making it tougher in case of any bumps when tackling rough trails.Step inside and you can expect a nine-inch central display that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless device charger and heated, leather-accented front seats.It remains powered by the same 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine making 120kW and 400Nm, which is underpowered compared to other utes on the market. The diesel is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.The Cannon XSR comes with a comprehensive array of safety gear including auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control. A bird’s eye view camera and seven airbags add to the package.All GWM vehicles are covered by a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and a five-year capped price servicing program. Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au