Remember GWM’s eight-cylinder engine which we published? GWM was working on a grand tourer to rival the Honda Gold Wing. So, here it is, the GWM Souo S2000 GL eight-cylinder tourer.
Okay, we admit that it does look like its rival, but GWM’s reasoning is that if they wanted to do something, why not just aim at the top? Thus, that puts the Gold Wing squarely in their crosshairs. Come to think of it, so is the BMW K 1600, although it does not use a flat engine.
As such, the GWM Souo S2000 GL is complete with a large top box and a backrest for the passenger. On the other hand, the S2000 ST variant only has side boxes, like the Gold Wing F6B. The S2000 has a Hossack type front end, similar to the Honda and BMW.
But the rest of the spec sheet are higher in spec. For instance, the Gold Wing’s flat-six engine displaces 1833cc, while the S2000’s flat-eight is 2000cc. The Honda has a 7-speed, semi-auto dual clutch transmission (DCT), while the S2000 has an eight-speed DCT. GWM’s engine has DOHC, and the Honda’s has SOHC.
While its styling points to copying the Gold Wing’s, GWM says it is inspired by the traditional Chinese lion. That can certainly be seen in the headlights, intended to evoke a lion’s eyes, which are set in a reverse-raked nose that gives the bike a prominent brow above them.
Other features include radial-mount four-piston Brembo brake calipers, stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, electronic parking brake, automatic headlights, TFT screen, adjustable screen height, voice control, cruise control, and of course, electric reverse gear.
GWM, or Great Wall Motor in full, is the world’s 19th largest auto maker in terms of market capitalisation with USD 28 billion. That is in the regions of Kia, and ahead of Subaru and Nissan. Other brands under GWM are Ora, Haval, Wey, Tank, and Great Wall, that are marketed internationally. Souo marks their first venture in the motorcycling segment.
