The performance version of the Haval H6 SUV is now officially available in China, boasting a rather immodest model suffix (GT) alongside a brand-new engine likewise touted as ‘breakthrough tech’.
Great Wall Group proudly claims it only needed three years to design a turbocharged four-cylinder engine from scratch. It proceeds to compare the unit with the best engines ever built by German and Japanese automotive companies.
In fact, the P Series pickup truck – which has been available for some time in China already – comes equipped with the same basic engine. However, the truck features a ZF eight-speed auto gear and pushes only 190 hp (142 kW) along with 360 Nm (268 lb-ft) to the wheels. In contrast, the H6 GT uses a seven-speed DCT and packs 224 hp (167 kW) along with 385 Nm (284 lb-ft).
The standard acceleration time is another point of pride for the company: apparently, the H6 GT manages to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) from standstill in ‘mere’ 7.6 seconds.
On the outside, the SUV looks just like its non-GT counterpart, save for the larger 19-inch black rims, vivid orange brake calipers, and black exterior trim parts instead of chrome ones. You may additionally opt for red body accents – which, Haval claims, symbolize ‘speed and passion’ – or even a red cabin finish.
If, for some reason, you feel compelled to buy an H6 GT because of its engine specs, note that the two topmost trim levels of the regular H6 now also ship with the same engine. The old two-liter unit is no longer available, and a new 1.5-liter mill comes to replace the inferior 1.3-liter one from before. The transmission is seven-speed DCT in all cases, and the drive stays affixed to the front axle.
