GWM range successfully conquers Beer O’Clock Hill; Cannon Alpha first ever PHEV to reach the summit!

GWM has successfully beaten one of Australia’s most infamous off-road challenges: Beer O’Clock Hill.

A total of three GWM vehicles – the Cannon Alpha PHEV, Cannon XSR diesel and Tank 300 diesel – reached the summit in a show of strength for GWM, a brand out to prove it should no longer be underestimated when the going gets rough. All three of the vehicles were essentially showroom-stock – the XSR wearing factory tyres; the Cannon Alpha shod in Mickey Thompson Baja Boss all-terrains. 

By reaching the summit, the Cannon Alpha PHEV made history by becoming the first PHEV of any kind to ascend Beer O’Clock Hill. Powered by GWM’s Hi4-T platform, the system combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine (180kW/380Nm) with a 120kW electric motor (400Nm) to deliver a combined output of 300kW and 750Nm. It uses a nine-speed hybrid automatic transmission with full-time 4WD.

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In addition, the Cannon XSR became the second full production-spec vehicle ever to officially conquer Beer O’Clock Hill – following the INEOS Grenadier. The Cannon XSR is powered by a 2.4-litre single-turbo diesel engine, producing 135kW and 480Nm and paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

“Successfully conquering Beer O’Clock Hill is no small feat. Many try, few succeed,” said Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications at GWM Australia. “For GWM to take multiple vehicles across different powertrains – including the new PHEV – to the summit speaks volumes about the strength, technology and real-world engineering behind our 4WD line-up. We’ve always known what our vehicles are capable of, but this achievement doesn’t just back up the promise, it delivers the proof.”

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Located within the Springs 4×4 Adventure Park in Queensland, the technically demanding 100-metre ascent features gradients of up to 50 degrees, three separate rock steps, and a difficult rock ledge as steerers approach the summit. 

It’s a climb that has caused plenty of vehicular damage over years, according to the park’s owner, Lucas Bree: “I reckon Beer O’Clock Hill has caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in vehicle damage over the years. 

“[It has] shut down some of the most heavily modified rigs I’ve seen, so watching showroom-spec GWM vehicles, including a plug-in hybrid, make it to the top has completely changed my view of the brand,” Bree said.