GWM Haval Raptor approved for South Africa as new H7

At the recent Kyalami Festival of Motoring, Great Wall Motors made an unexpected announcement that the current Haval H7 will be succeeded by a completely new model bearing the same name in the fourth quarter of the year. This marks the end of the Haval Big Dog-based H7, which has been on the market for less than two years. Based on the Raptor Menglong Plus model introduced in China in April this year, the all-new H7 will utilize the same Raptor Menglong Plus platform.

The current H7, which debuted in South Africa in January 2025, is essentially a revised version of the standard Raptor sold in China since 2023. South African customers can choose between five or seven seats, though the final seating configuration for the local market remains undisclosed. Measuring 4,912mm in length, 2,850mm in wheelbase, 1,905mm in height, and 1,950mm in width, the H7 is notably shorter, lower, and narrower than its predecessor.

Like the H9, the H7 shares its exterior design with its larger sibling, but it exhibits significant differences in overall dimensions. While specifics on the plug-in hybrid system remain undisclosed, the presence of the Hi4 badge on the tailgate suggests that the new H7 will feature a four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with battery pack options and two electric motors.

This setup delivers an all-electric range of 140km for the 140 variant, 195km for the 195 variant, and 255km for the 255 variant, with a top speed capped at 190km/h.