Stock GWM Vehicles Shock Everyone at Australia’s Toughest Off-Road Hill

In a rugged corner of Queensland, Australia, something remarkable happened that is making serious waves in the off-road world. GWM, once seen as an emerging brand, has stepped up in a big way at Beer O’Clock Hill, one of the most grueling 4-wheel drive climbs in the country. Known for breaking even the toughest rigs, this 100-meter shale incline with slopes as steep as 50 degrees is no playground. But GWM brought not just one, but three factory-spec vehicles to the hill—and drove each one to the top.

No winches. No modifications. Just stock vehicles from the dealership floor. That is how the GWM Cannon Alpha Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Cannon XSR Diesel, and Tank 300 Diesel tackled this infamous climb. And they did it with authority.

The Cannon XSR made history by becoming only the second full-production vehicle to officially conquer Beer O’Clock Hill. The only other one to do it was the INEOS Grenadier. With front and rear locking differentials, all-terrain tires, and high and low range gearing, the XSR proved its worth where others have failed.

Next came the Tank 300 Diesel, equally confident, climbing the treacherous terrain using its intelligent off-road systems and factory all-terrain tires. No drama, no hesitation—just pure capability.

But the real plot twist? The Cannon Alpha Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. A production plug-in hybrid utility truck with no mods except a tire upgrade, and it made it to the summit. Running on GWM’s Hi4-T platform, it delivered instant electric torque combined with smart 4-wheel drive control. This is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle ever to make the climb, and it did so without breaking a sweat.

Even Lucas Bree, the owner of The Springs 4×4 Adventure Park, was stunned. He admitted he did not expect much when GWM showed up with showroom-spec vehicles. But by the time they finished the climb and casually drove back to Brisbane, his opinion had done a full 180. According to him, some of the most highly modified rigs have been shut down by that hill—and here were three GWM vehicles doing it without a single aftermarket tweak.

Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications at GWM Australia, summed it up best. He said the vehicles have always looked the part, but this feat proves they are built to perform under the harshest conditions. For a brand looking to earn off-road respect, this was not just a bold move—it was a defining moment.