GWM Tank 400 released in China

GWM Tank has launched its third production model in China, the Tank 400, but it’s unclear whether it’ll make the trip to Australia at this stage.

On sale from today in China, the GWM Tank 400 Hi4-T is powered by a beefy 304kW/750Nm hybrid powertrain that can drive for up to 105km (WLTC) in pure EV mode thanks to a 20kWh battery pack.

Features like a 4x4 system with locking front and rear diffs confirm its status as a hard-core off-road SUV, but the Tank 400 is also packed to the gunnels with luxo-tech including leather seat trim, twin wireless phone chargers and two oversized LCD screens – a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 16.2-inch central touch-screen – backed up by a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror.

Based on a similar ladder frame to the Jeep Wrangler-rivalling Tank 300, which was launched in Australia earlier in 2023 priced from $46,990 drive-away, the Tank 400 is priced from around $60,000 (285,000 yuan) in China.

The GWM Tank 400’s hybrid powertrain is a more potent – and now plug-in – version of the 258kW/615Nm plugless hybrid powertrain found in the Tank 300 Hybrid ($55,990 drive-away).

The Tank 400’s upgraded powerplant links a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (188kW/380Nm) with a nine-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor (120kW/400Nm) to bang out 304kW of power and a stump-pulling 750Nm of torque combined.

GWM Tank reckons the 0-100km/h sprint takes 6.9 seconds, which is rather speedy for a large off-road SUV that can be expected to weigh well in excess of two tonnes.

The plug-in hybrid powertrain is already available in the larger-still Tank 500, a vehicle that is almost guaranteed to come to Australia in 2024 priced between $55K and $75K, sources have told carsales.

Riding on the same 2580mm wheelbase as the GWM Tank 500, the Tank 400 is slightly shorter and the same height but a little wider, measuring 4985mm long, 1960mm wide and 1905mm tall.

Other features of the new Tank 400 include a switchable 4x4 system with 2WD, 4WD high and 4WD low, much like its Tank 300 siblings. However, it will be able to bush-bash in silence for short distances due to its more powerful electric motor and denser battery pack.

Approach and departure angles of 33 and 30 degrees are aided by ground clearance of 224mm and, if it’s anything like the Tank 300, it should be a bona-fide mud-plugger.

Following the GWM Tank 300’s successful local market launch in early 2023 (last month it outsold the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Pathfinder, and drew level with Mitsubishi Pajero Sport), – the GWM Tank 500 is set to arrive next in Australia.

But given the Tank 300 and Tank 500 are both classified as large SUVs, the Tank 400 is very much a long shot for the Aussie market, although GWM Australia is yet to rule it out for local release.

A GWM Australia spokesperson told carsales the priority right now was “getting Tank 300 into Australia” and fulfilling customer orders.

“Tank 500 is firmly on radar but not confirmed and, like all Tank products, Tank 400 is a possibility and we’ll take a look at it.

“But it’s probably too far away at the moment to say anything more,“ they said.

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