GWM used its Tech Day in Milan to set out its technical strategy for Europe, built around the GuiYuan platform and two hybrid systems called Hi2 and Hi4. The GWM H7 SUV is the centrepiece. It has been calibrated for European roads and is already on sale in Italy and other European countries.
According to GWM, Hi2 and Hi4 are fitted to almost one million vehicles delivered worldwide. The H7 Hybrid makes 247 hp. The plug in Hi4 version reaches 435 hp, 670 Nm and 129 km of electric range.
What is the GuiYuan platform
GWM describes GuiYuan as the first vehicle platform built natively for artificial intelligence and compatible with every type of powertrain. The vehicle is divided into more than 300 standardised hardware modules, while the software is split into more than 2,000 standard functions. Everything is managed by a centralised electronic architecture called Coffee EEA 4.0.
The platform covers five powertrain types: hybrid, plug in hybrid, electric, combustion and hydrogen. It also spans every segment, from saloons to pickups.
How the Hi2 system works on the H7
Hi2 is a front wheel drive hybrid. It pairs a 1.5 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine developed specifically for hybrid use with a two speed DHT transmission and a traction unit that integrates ten components.
In the H7 Hybrid Hi2, output is 182 kW (247 hp), with WLTP consumption of 6.5 l/100 km.
How the Hi4 system works on the H7
Hi4 is the more powerful of the two. It combines the combustion engine with an electric motor at the front and a second, independent electric motor at the rear. There is no propshaft between the axles, and torque can be split between front and rear continuously from 0 to 100 percent.
The iTVC control system reads steering angle, yaw, grip, gradient and driving mode, and recalculates the thrust at each wheel 100 times per second.
The H7 Plug in Hi4, with a four speed gearbox, delivers:
320 kW (435 hp) and 670 Nm of torque, with 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Electric range is 129 km and WLTP consumption is 2.2 l/100 km. DC charging reaches 90 kW, enough to go from 30 to 80 percent in about 18 minutes.
A chassis tuned for European roads
The H7 uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi link rear axle. Bushings, anti roll bars, springs, dampers and power steering have all been specified for the European market.
GWM says development testing covered high speed stability on German motorways, body control on the Stelvio Pass, and braking predictability and ESC logic on the Grossglockner. Corrosion protection for steering, brakes and suspension was validated with 720 hours of salt spray testing.
The manufacturer also reports 22 test cars, 8,000 km in the desert, snow testing at minus 40 degrees Celsius and cooling tests at 50 degrees Celsius.
