A Chinese car brand wants to launch a supercar to rival the Ferrari SF90, with a 4.0L V8 PHEV

Contrary to popular belief, Chinese automakers are not focusing solely on electric vehicles. While Europe is discovering Chinese brands through their electric SUVs and sedans - BYD, Leapmotor, MG, Xpeng, to name but a few - a new player is aiming to upset the global supercar hierarchy. This manufacturer is Great Wall Motors (GWM), and its ambition is clear: to create a plug-in hybrid supercar capable of rivaling nothing less than the Ferrari SF90.

A secret project... for 5 years

The veil was lifted on GWM's 35th anniversary, July 23, 2025. A photo shared on the Weibo social network by the group's president, Wei Jianjun, shows a prototype hidden under a black sheet. It shows the lines of a mid-engined supercar: a long, wide silhouette, with a plunging snout and imposing air intakes.

Officially, the car doesn't yet have a name. Behind the scenes, it is being developed under the banner of a new premium brand called "Confidence Auto", scheduled for launch in early 2025. But the project actually dates back to 2021: five years of development, overseen by GWM's technical team, supported, according to the brand, by European experts to fine-tune roadholding.

V8 PHEV engine: the Shanghai surprise

What's really new is the heart of the beast. Far from the clichés of China's 100 % electric, GWM unveiled an all-new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine developed in-house at the Shanghai 2025 Motor Show. Made entirely of aluminum, this engine is designed from the outset for a plug-in hybrid configuration and all-wheel drive.

GWM has yet to reveal the exact power output, but the positioning is clear: this V8 is designed to deliver high performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency. A philosophy similar to that of the Ferrari SF90, also equipped with a twin-turbo PHEV V8, but priced at over €450,000. GWM's future supercar, on the other hand, will be priced at around 1 million yuan (€140,000), three times less than its Italian rival.

Technically, this supercar is based on a carbon-fiber monocoque, as confirmed by GWM Technical Director Wu Huixiao. She didn't hesitate to compare the future Chinese model to the SF90, assuring us that "performance will be equivalent, if not better", while offering an unprecedented price/performance ratio.

What can we expect?

Little has been officially confirmed, but everything suggests that the GWM :

• will have a 4.0L V8 biturbo engine coupled to a plug-in hybrid system,
• will be based on a carbon structure,
• will be 4-wheel drive,
• will benefit from European development for chassis settings,
• will be marketed first in China, then perhaps internationally if it proves successful.

Should Ferrari be worried?

Until now, China has never produced a supercar capable of really upsetting the European heavyweights. But with colossal industrial resources, a strong political will, and now credible technical know-how, the cards may be about to change. Imagine a 1000hp supercar with a carbon chassis, for €200,000? In any case, it may no longer be in the interest of European luxury brands to persevere with the Chinese market.