GWM Tank 300 and Tank 500 hybrid 4x4s revealed
Chinese brand’s Tank 300 HEV and 500 PHEV come out firing – and both are wanted in AustraliaGWM has revealed a muscular hybrid version of its forthcoming 2023 GWM Tank 300 that’s due to launch in Australia next year.
Presented at the Chengdu motor show alongside a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the larger 2023 GWM Tank 500, which is also slated for an Aussie debut later next year as part of the Chinese car-maker’s Tank rollout, the GWM Tank 300 HEV features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol-electric powertrain that produces an impressive 224kW and 640Nm.
It’s paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission and is claimed to offer fuel consumption of less than 10 litres per 100km.
That compares to the non-electrified versions that rely on a 167kW/387Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder (and eight-speed auto), as we drove in left-hand drive form on Aussie soil last year.
Right-hand drive models have been recently spotted in Australia as preparations are made for the Tank 300 launch, which has been pushed back until 2023 after the Chinese car-maker previously confirmed that a 2022 launch was scheduled.
carsales understands that the HEV version of the GWM Tank 300 will form a key element of the Chinese brand’s burgeoning electrification plans – in Australia and further afield.
Ditto for the 2023 GWM Tank 500 PHEV, which is billed as a Toyota LandCruiser rival and would offer an important point of difference with a strong plug-in hybrid powertrain that delivers 300kW and 750Nm.
That’s up from the mild-hybrid version of the 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 that packs 264kW/500Nm.
It’s also well clear of the 227kW/700Nm 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel found in the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
A version of the non-plug-in 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain has also been in service in the Tank 500 overseas, although at 180kW/380Nm an upgrade with the higher-output version seen in the Tank 300 is now on the cards.
Driving through a nine-speed automatic, the Tank 500 PHEV returns fuel consumption as low as 4.4L/100km on the WLTC combined cycle, while GWM claims it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 6.6 seconds.
It draws power from a 19.94kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged in about 30 minutes and also enables vehicle-to-load capability (rated to 3.3kW).
GWM also confirmed in Chengdu that a full-electric powertrain was in development for the Tank sub-brand, and is due for release “soon”.
“The Tank brand is actively researching and developing in the fields of batteries, motors and electronic control, and will soon bring the ‘electric Tank’ to the market,” the company said.
This is likely to be based on the battery-electric powertrain in development for the GWM Ute, which is tipped to offer a driving range of up to 450km.
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