GWM Tank 700 firms for Australia

Off-road heavyweight GWM Tank is poised to unleash a facelifted version of the Tank 700 in Australia, as the $100,000-plus rock-crusher targets the premium 4x4 throne.

The aggressive move aims to deliver knockout blows to established rivals such as the Nissan Patrol, Toyota LandCruiser and GMC Yukon in the lucrative large off-road SUV market – and towing supremacy will be one of the Tank 700’s key goals.

Following encouraging statements from senior executives in China, more powertrain options are now on the table for the flagship GWM Tank 700, which is under serious consideration for sale in Australian.

The engine menu will eventually comprise four, six- and almost certainly eight-cylinder turbo-petrol hybrid powerplants, the latter expected to offer a towing capacity of up to 4500kg.

During an interview with Aussie journalists, GWM’s global boss of right-hand drive markets (which include Australia, South Africa, Thailand and more), James Yang said the Tank 700 was absolutely in the frame for Australia, confirming “[Tank] 700 will also be for right-hand drive.”

However, he hinted that the Tank 700 may not arrive Down Under until a facelifted version is launched, the timing of which is unclear.

“Because this model [is getting older], in future there is a different version, newer version. So we also research which [model] is suitable for the Australia market,” he said.

Some of the Tank 700’s off-road features include triple locking diffs, air suspension, a nine-speed automatic with low-range, while luxury elements like power-extending side steps leather massaging seats front and rear, huge digital screens and a concert-grade 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio are also offered.

The Tank 700’s most potent powertrain is currently a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 plug-in hybrid that pumps out 380kW and 800Nm, but the Asian car-maker has developed an even more potent Hi4-ZPHEVversion that’s undergoing testing in the Tank 500.

The Hi4-Z or ‘zenith’ powertrain features a V6 turbo hybriddonk and has a bigger 59kWh NCM battery affording the vehicle a 200km EV range before the petrol chimes kicks.

Power reserves? A mind-melting 715kW and 1375Nm with the two e-motors and turbo V6 combined.

But here’s the kicker – those existing powertrains are 3.0-litre six-cylinder units and the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 PHEV bombshell announced at the 2025 Shanghai motor show promises unprecedented muscle.

This behemoth will easily surpass the current V6 PHEV's already staggering 715kW/1375Nm output and a beast with this powertrain could demolish the Australian towing benchmark, potentially hauling well beyond 4500kg.

And evidence suggests GWM engineered this V8 specifically to dominate the towing wars.

“Last year, I have visited Australia and I learned a lot from our local team and also from our customer side – a lot of the customer scenarios are totally different with China, such as the towing,” explained Yang.

He observed that in China towing is not a priority, “…but in in Australia it is very normal. So, I think in the future, we will pay more attention to the local Australian customer scenario and choose the right version, right technology, the priority for our customer.”

At present the biggest and most powerful off-road SUVs available in Australia can tow around 3.5 to 3.6 tonnes.

The GMC Yukon Denali has one of the highest tow ratings of any SUV in Australia, at 3628kg, while the Nissan Patrol and Toyota LandCruiser are rated to haul 3500kg.

The Tank 700 has the potential to blow those towing capacities out of the water – especially if the V8 donk enters active duty in Australia.

GWM's global right-hand drive chief revealed he personally benchmarked multiple American full-size pick-up trucks to understand Australian towing demands – signalling that GWM’s V8-powered contender aims to deliver the bulletproof capability Aussie buyers demand without the compromises.

“In James's last trip to Australia, he drove quite a few American V8 pickup trucks. With the right-hand drive conversion, it comes with things such as limited production, as well as high cost as well as a question mark in the quality of the conversion itself,” he said via interpreter.

“And when we consider towing massive 3.5 tonne-plus caravans, our V8 would really help balance this whole situation with the plug-in [hybrid system].”

If that's not a green light for Australia's V8 priority status, GWM might as well tattoo ‘G'day, mate!’ on the eight-cylinder engine block.