GWM Wey 80 Gaoshan 9 debuts in Shanghai – longer 6-seat luxury version of Malaysia-bound MPV

The über-luxury MPV market is huge in China right now, and GWM is entering the segment in the big way with the Wey Gaoshan 9, a lengthened version of the already ginormous Wey 80, debuting at Auto Shanghai 2025. A massive 365 mm increase in rear overhang allows the people carrier to better compete with rivals such as the Lexus LM, Denza D9 and Zeekr 009 while still offering three rows of seats.

Yes, GWM isn’t jumping on the four-seater bandwagon occupied by the likes of the LM and the 009 Grand. The extra length instead frees up space for a second pair of full-sized captain’s chairs, meaning that the Gaoshan 9 is a strict six-seater. Such is the added spaciousness that not only does the car offer plenty of room in the rearmost pews, but also a decent 315 litre boot even with all seats up. Stow the third row and you’ll get a maximum cargo space of 1,975 litres.

The Gaoshan 9 also receives a plush second row with plenty of power adjustment, being able to recline and even tilt at the touch of a button to put passengers in an optimum resting position in concert with the powered ottomans.

These passengers also get heating, ventilation and massage functions, a 17.3-inch roof-mounted monitor with gesture control, a fold-out table and a refrigerated drawer. Other features include voice control for all six occupants, a 23-speaker, 2,440-watt sound system and no less than six karaoke microphones.

The Gaoshan 9 variant (and the shorter seven-seater Gaoshan 8) was introduced as part of a comprehensive update for the Gaoshan, which is what the Wey 80 is called in China. While the design has been left unchanged, the front cabin has been significantly redesigned with the addition of twin 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreens for the centre and front passenger. These screens run the latest Coffee OS 3 with generative AI support, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip.

Power comes from an updated Hi4-T plug-in hybrid system, consisting of a 170 PS/245 Nm 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 109 PS/170 Nm electric motor and a four-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), plus another 184 PS/232 Nm motor driving the rear wheels. Total system output is 458 PS and 644 Nm of torque, and with a 51.55 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, the Gaoshan 9 has a WLTP-rated electric range of 201 km, leading to a total range of 963 km.

Will the Gaoshan 9 come to Malaysia? It seems like a distinct possibility – asked by the media yesterday whether it will be sold in ASEAN, GWM chairman Jack Wey said the car is being considered for right-hand-drive production, noting that the car offers several advantages over the all-conquering Alphard.

If a RHD model does end up being made, it will likely be CKD locally assembled in Malaysia alongside the Wey 80, which will enter production at the EP Manufacturing (EPMB) plant in Melaka starting in 2025. That car will be exported to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, Wey confirmed.

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