GWM commits to Australian engineering, ride and handling development program for all models

GWM will kick off a local ride and handling development program in Australia in the coming months, which will aim to bring a different driving experience to the full range of models available locally.

“We can confirm today that we are investing in local engineering, tuning and development.” Steve Maciver, head of marketing and communications for GWM announced recently.

"We’re not in a position yet to tell you exactly what that looks like." Maciver continued.

"It may be an engineering resource within the GWM Australia and New Zealand team, it may be a partnership with other tuning houses locally, or it may be a combination of both. We are getting very close to having that bedded down.”

“It has been feedback we’ve had from you guys (automotive media) on many occasions, we’re just going to keep refining the steering, the handling, the ride, the comfort.”

GWM is looking to develop a specific ride and handling program for each of its models, to make it more suited to local roads, driving conditions and tastes. This is similar to what both Hyundai and Kia currently undertake for their respective model ranges.

“Ultimately, we want to identify: What is a GWM ride and handling feel?" Maciver said.

"So what we have to do initially, we have to do some benchmarks, set some targets, we want to understand exactly what that feels like.”

While details of the program are yet to come through, it's also unclear when these changes will reach cars in showrooms.

Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures. Off-road writer of the Year, Winner - Sam Purcell

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