Here comes the Big Dog! Haval Dargo brand for Australia as China accepts everything from Toyota LandCruiser Prado to Jeep Wrangler.

Haval Dargo, or Big Dog, is registered as a trademark in Australia.

Haval is building a new off-road assault in Australia, with the Chinese brand trademarking the Haval Dargo, known in China as Big Dog, to compete with off-road-focused models like the LandCruiser Prado and Jeep Wrangler.

The trademark application was filed by Great Wall Motor Company Limited in December, but the application has not yet been processed. Once approved, it will pave the way for Haval to launch the Dargo in Australia, as our market has long been seen as a target for the Chinese off-road SUV brand's aspirations.

The Dargo is 4620mm long, 1890mm wide and 1780mm high, making it shorter but wider and taller than Toyota's iconic Prado.

Unlike some off-road oriented SUVs, the Dargo does not ride on a ladder-frame chassis, but instead the Haval uses the off-road capabilities of its more traditional off-road bases.

This includes dual differential locks, BorgWarner's intelligent all-wheel drive system, six pre-configured driving modes covering everything from sand to snow, and off-road screens built into the media screens.

The Dargo offers 24, 30, and 22-degree approach, exit, and lift-off angles, 200mm ground clearance, and a sleek "clear chassis" that provides a bird's-eye view of the ground beneath the Dargo without the body getting in the way.

The Big Dog is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivering 155kW/325Nm to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, although GWM is also working on a new diesel powerplant. good for the claimed 135 kW and 480 Nm.

As the Dargo has already been flown to Australia for evaluation and a trademark application is pending, expect the new Australian Big Dog to land in 2022.