Great Wall used the Chengdu Motor Show 2026 to answer a question nobody had really asked out loud: what happens when you stop thinking of a hybrid pickup as just a pickup? On GWM's stand, Tarantas.News photographed several Cannon/Poer Hi4-T trucks turned into a mobile power station for drones, an expedition rig, and a compact camper — and the results are far more interesting than another trim level with new wheels.
The headline debut is the Commercial Cannon Hi4-T Flyer Edition, built specifically for industrial drone operators. At the same time, GWM is pushing further into travel territory, with trucks fitted with pop-up tents and full living modules on the same stand. All three eco-system versions of the Hi4-T made their debut right here in Chengdu.
The drone pickup puts out 30 kW
The blue pickup in the photos is the most unusual of the bunch: a large drone system is mounted above the bed. This is the Commercial Cannon Hi4-T Flyer Edition — a specialized version for people who fly drones in agriculture, land surveying, and other field work.
But the real story isn't the drone itself. It's the truck's power system. External output has been bumped up to 30 kW, and the truck can fast-charge two drone batteries at once. GWM says a full cycle takes just 8–9 minutes.
The pickup itself runs a 33.1 kWh traction battery paired with a 75-liter fuel tank. It supports simultaneous charging and external output of up to 27 kW, effectively turning the truck into a standalone power plant out in the field. Fast-charging the vehicle itself tops out at 110 kW: a 30–80% top-up takes roughly 18 minutes.
Underneath it all is the familiar Hi4-T setup: a turbo 2.0-liter gas engine paired with a nine-speed hybrid transmission. Combined output on the standard Cannon Hi4-T is 310 kW — about 422 hp — and 750 Nm of torque. The four-wheel-drive version can run 95 km on electric power alone under WLTC.
This is one of the rare cases where a huge external power figure isn't just a marketing number for a camping coffee maker. That 30 kW is meant for real work equipment, and GWM is effectively trying to eat into the market for standalone gas generators and mobile charging stations.
The Shanhai Cannon becomes a compact home
The other truck that caught Tarantas.News's lens is a black Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T Light Travel Edition. A fold-out living module sits on the roof, complete with exterior lighting, an expedition rack, and off-road gear.
Closed up, the truck stands at roughly 2153 mm tall. That's the crucial detail: most large campers have to stay out of ordinary underground parking garages, while Great Wall clearly tried to keep this one usable as a daily driver.
Once the roof pops up, there's at least 1.8 meters of headroom inside, with sleeping space for one or two people. The previously unveiled Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T Light Travel was billed with a 2380 mm bed, built-in lighting, and cooking equipment.
This version is built on the Shanhai Cannon Hi4-T with a 37.1 kWh battery. The powertrain makes around 300 kW — 408 hp — and 750 Nm. The pickup can put out up to 6 kW externally and has a factory tow rating of up to 3.3 tonnes.
Pricing for this truck in China sits at around 259,800 yuan.
Right next to it: a genuine pickup-based motorhome
On the same stand, Tarantas.News photographed an orange truck with a much bigger living structure. Unlike the relatively compact Light Travel Edition, here the pickup bed is essentially replaced by a full rigid living module with a pop-up roof.
The vehicle carries a Lanzhong RV badge — a manufacturer historically tied to Great Wall that has spent years building campers on Cannon pickup chassis.
In terms of construction, this one is much closer to a classic motorhome: the tall, rigid structure offers more room for gear storage and living space, while the pop-up section only adds interior height once you've stopped. At the same time, the vehicle keeps its off-road chassis and can go places a large motorhome on a commercial platform simply wouldn't risk.
And that's the key difference between the two approaches Great Wall is showing side by side. The Light Travel Edition tries to stay a regular vehicle on weekdays, while the full living module turns the pickup into a machine built first and foremost for travel.
The standard Cannon Hi4-T starts under 150,000 yuan
The base hybrid Cannon Hi4-T pickups hit the Chinese market back in June. The commercial version starts at 149,800 yuan, the four-wheel-drive commercial variant from 166,800 yuan, and the passenger Cannon Hi4-T is priced at 176,800–186,800 yuan.
What's really interesting here isn't the price tag — it's the direction GWM chose. Instead of yet another cosmetic trim with different wheels, the company is showing three concrete scenarios: a truck that can haul cargo and drones, become a mobile source of tens of kilowatts of power, or turn into a compact home.
That's exactly why the Cannon Hi4-T trucks on display in Chengdu are more interesting than most show cars. This is essentially production-ready hardware, where the hybrid system does more than just cut fuel consumption — it becomes part of the infrastructure built around the vehicle.
