Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Ford still hasn't built a hybrid Bronco, GWM thinks that's an opportunityGWM has just opened pre-sales for the new-generation Tank 300, a comprehensive update with over 553 upgrades, but a largely similar look to the previous generation. If the boxy silhouette looks familiar, that's the point. Squared-off fenders, an upright windshield, and round headlights stacked just like a Ford Bronco. But peel past the sheet metal, and you'll find something Bronco enthusiasts wouldn't recognize at all: a plug-in hybrid system.GWMWith pricing starting from $38,000, the Tank 300 would land squarely in the same neighborhood as a four-door Ford Bronco Big Bend or Jeep Wrangler Sport S in the US. The difference is that buyers would be getting a plug-in hybrid capable of more than 700 miles of combined range rather than a conventional turbocharged four-cylinder. For years, rugged SUVs meant accepting terrible fuel economy as the cost of admission, but GWM is betting that era is over.The Bronco Look Is Bait, the Real Story Is ChangeGWMThe boxy-adventure-SUV look has become its own global design language at this point. It's instantly recognizable, and manufacturers know precisely what that shape signals to buyers. Ford revived the Bronco as a celebration of its heritage. GWM is using similar styling cues to sell a thoroughly modern package centered on electrification, software, and efficiency. The resemblance may be obvious, but the philosophy underneath couldn't be more different.AdvertisementAdvertisementFord has yet to offer a hybrid Bronco, despite years of speculation. Jeep, meanwhile, sold the Wrangler 4xe, which once held the title of one of America's best-selling plug-in hybrids but was then quietly discontinued this year. GWM isn't chasing originality so much as chasing a buyer who wants trail cred without a thirsty engine punishing them every time they fill up. Off-road SUVs, it turns out, make a great case for electrification.A Whole New Generation That Looks More Like a FaceliftGWMView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleWhere legacy automakers wait the better part of a decade between generations, Chinese brands are refreshing winning formulas every couple of years, stacking on hundreds of small upgrades. The Tank 300, which debuted in 2021, is close to a textbook case of it. Familiar face, wildly different guts.The sales numbers, however, explain the urgency. Tank brand sales dropped 27 percent year-on-year in June, sliding for the first half of 2026 too. Of the 553 changes, a wheelbase stretched by a massive 10 inches, and the debut of the Hi4-Z hybrid system offering up to 124 miles of electric-only range and a combined figure north of 700 miles stand out immediately. Throw in all the new sensors, LiDAR-backed driver assistance, and an AI voice system, and the new-gen tag starts to look deserving. GWMFinal ThoughtsFor American readers, the Tank 300 is interesting not because it looks like a Bronco, but because it tackles a question Ford still hasn't answered. Jeep has already proven there's demand for an electrified off-roader with the Wrangler 4xe, yet Ford continues to sell the Bronco exclusively with gasoline engines. GWM is betting the next evolution of the rugged SUV isn't more horsepower, it's more range and fewer trips to the pump.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
