Locally engineered GWM SUVs arrive in New Zealand

One of the country’s most integrated Chinese marques, GWM, has confirmed the arrival of its first units boasting local tuning undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. 

The first nameplate in the stable to benefit from local tuning is the Haval H6. It’s a timely update from the brand, as the hybrid and plug-in hybrid shod H6 should be in for a strong sales month in April as local demand for electrified vehicles rises. 

H6 HEV 2WD and HEV AWD are the first to receive the update locally, and are now available at dealerships. The balance of the line-up will get the same update in the coming months.

It has yet to be confirmed when more models benefitting from GWM’s Australasian tuning programmes will arrive in New Zealand, although the next cab off the rank is slated to be the Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute.

Said to be “focused on delivering greater confidence, control and comfort, all centred around local New Zealand conditions”, GWM has given models featuring its local tuning efforts the classification of ‘AT-1’ — an abbreviation of ‘at one’. 

Helmed by former lead engineer of vehicle dynamics at Holden, Rob Trubiani, GWM’s AT-1 programme aims to bridge the localisation gap that some Chinese brands have struggled with since launching Down Under. 

“AT-1 cars are tuned and developed specifically for New Zealand and Australia, with both countries sharing many similarities in road texture and undulations. These road surfaces drive similar inputs into the vehicle's suspension and body structure,” said GWM New Zealand country manager Cameron Thomas.

“I am sure New Zealand customers will enjoy this this seamless ‘at one’ driving experience starting with our class leading H6 product line up and beyond that can look forward to even more localised tuning coming from New Zealand.”

For its H6 AT-1 tuning programme, GWM developed five separate vehicle tunes for the five different formats of the nameplate offered here, meaning each model’s platform is tuned specifically for its powertrain whether it’s a pure petrol variant, a HEV 2WD, a HEV AWD, or a plug-in hybrid.

The H6’s development process, according to GWM, included 24 front and 40 rear damper tune adjustments “to establish an ideal balance of ride and handling across each variant”, amongst other changes.

“The objective of the AT-1 philosophy is to create a more unified and intuitive driving experience, specifically tuned for New Zealand conditions,” said Trubiani.

“The result is a more cohesive and assured character, with improvements evident across everyday driving scenarios. From enhanced ride compliance on uneven surfaces to more precise and consistent system responses, every element has been refined to contribute to a more resolved and capable vehicle.”