GWM Australia has strongly hinted that the Tank 300 Hybrid four-wheel-drive in showrooms now, could soon be joined by an even bigger, tougher, more luxurious off-roader.
The Tank 500 is the vehicle in question, and while no timing or pricing has been mentioned, GWM Australia has admitted that it would love to get its hands on the burly 4X4 wagon.
The vehicle itself would slot into the GWM line-up above the Tank 300 and is about one size bigger with a height and overall width not much greater than the Tank 300, but plenty more overall length at almost five metres.
But as well as physical size, the Tank 500 would also be a much more luxurious, high-end product.
Crucially, though, the 500 gets a full 100mm more wheelbase compared with the 300, although there’s probably still plenty of commonality in the platforms.
Unlike the Tank 300 which uses a conventional hybrid system, the Tank 500 is much more reliant on its ICE engine and uses just a mild hybrid layout where the hybrid system is used to start the engine and reclaim some energy through recuperation during braking.
The engine is question is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol unit, making 260kW and 500Nm.
Transmission is a nine-speed automatic and the 500 features diff locks on each axle, so it should be a proper off-roader even if it bucks the turbo-diesel trend that’s dominated Aussie off-roaders for decades now.
Backing up that hard-core specification is the body-on-frame architecture of the Tank 500 which is almost certainly shared with the GWM ute range.
Also interesting is the fact that the vehicle is available on its home market of China with the same four-cylinder turbocharged hybrid driveline of the Tank 300, but GWM Australia has made no reference to that variant.
As well as off-road gearing, the 500 features on-road drive modes that tailor everything from the steering weight, pedal feel and the dampers.
Inside, the Tank 500 boasts what GWM calls a ‘Business Class’ layout and is essentially a four-seater with a pair of bucket seats in the rear and loads (almost a metre) of legroom (at the expense, no doubt, of luggage space).
There’s also a 7.0-inch multimedia display in the pull-out centre-rear armrest and the cabin is trimmed in a combination of Nappa leather and faux suede.
Towing capacity is 2500kg.
GWM says the Tank 500 is “under very serious” consideration and is working with head office in China on getting the business case over the line.
As well as expanding the brand’s off-road wagon line-up, the Tank 500 would also introduce the GWM brand to a new market sector in Australia.
Doubtless, GWM is encouraged by the degree of local interest in the 300 model, and the famously coy Chinese brands aren’t generally in the habit of teasing us with models that they know will never get here.
That said, the false start we witnessed with the Haval Big Dog mid-sized SUV – widely rumoured to be coming here this year, but now canned – suggests that the outposts don’t get it all their own way all the time.
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