Beer O’Clock Hill has quickly become one of Australia’s toughest proving grounds for four wheel drives, and for the second year running GWM has returned to the climb to prove a point.
This time, the result was even more emphatic.
Five vehicles attempted the brutal ascent and all five reached the summit, giving GWM a perfect five-from-five result and reinforcing the brand’s rapidly growing off-road credentials in Australia.
The Vehicles That Took On the Hill
The latest climb featured a mix of diesel and electrified off-road vehicles from across the GWM lineup.
The five successful climbs were completed by:
- GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T
- GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T
- GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T
- GWM Cannon XSR
- GWM Tank 300 Diesel
Three of those vehicles used the company’s Hi4-T electrified off-road system, while the remaining two relied on GWM’s 2.4-litre turbo diesel powertrain.
The climb demonstrates how both traditional and electrified powertrains can deliver serious off-road performance.
The Standout Moment
Perhaps the most impressive result came from the Tank 300 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid.
Unlike many off-road demonstrations where vehicles are fitted with aggressive tyres or modified components, the Hi4-T completed the climb in full production specification and on standard highway tyres.
There were no mechanical modifications, no software recalibrations and no special preparation.
In other words, the same vehicle that completed the climb is the same vehicle customers can drive out of a dealership.
Why Does Beer O’Clock Hill Even Matter?
For the off-road community, Beer O’Clock Hill has become a serious benchmark for capability.
The steep rocky climb places enormous demands on vehicles, testing:
- Traction control systems
- Low-range gearing
- Differential locking capability
- Torque delivery
Even well-prepared four wheel drives can struggle on the hill depending on conditions.
That makes a clean sweep across five vehicles a strong demonstration of engineering capability.
The Technology Behind the Climb
At the centre of the electrified vehicles’ performance is GWM’s Hi4-T system, a dedicated plug-in hybrid architecture designed specifically for off-road vehicles.
Unlike conventional hybrids focused primarily on efficiency, Hi4-T integrates electrification directly into the four wheel drive platform.
Key elements include:
- Mechanical low-range transfer case
- Locking differentials
- Electrified torque delivery
- Precise traction management
The result is a drivetrain capable of delivering instant torque at very low speeds, a crucial advantage when climbing steep terrain or navigating technical obstacles.
Electrification Meets Off-Road DNA
According to Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications at GWM Australia and New Zealand, the result shows that electrified vehicles can enhance capability rather than limit it.
Beer O’Clock Hill, he says, is quickly becoming one of the toughest off-road proving grounds in the country.
The performance of the Tank 300 Hi4-T on standard highway tyres highlights the engineering behind the system, demonstrating how electrification can provide precise traction, instant torque and sustained climbing performance.
A Growing Reputation for GWM
The successful climb also reinforces the off-road credentials of GWM’s specialist brands, particularly the Tank and Cannon lineups.
Both vehicle families have been engineered with demanding environments in mind, blending traditional four wheel drive hardware with increasingly advanced electrified systems.
As the brand continues to expand its electrified portfolio, demonstrations like this are designed to show that the transition to new energy vehicles does not mean sacrificing capability.
In fact, it may be enhancing it.
Watch the Climb
GWM has released video footage of the climb for those curious to see the vehicles tackling the brutal ascent.
You can watch the action below: GWM Beer O’Clock Hill Climb