Tank 500: China’s answer to the Toyota LandCruiser

Great Wall Motors (GWM) has unveiled the newest member of its hard-core off-road SUV sub-brand, Tank, and it’s aimed directly at the new Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.

Badged as the Tank 500 (although it was previously referred to as the Tank 600), the big new 4x4 wagon is under consideration for Australia along with the rest of the growing Tank range, starting with the Jeep Wrangler-rivalling Tank 300 that could arrive here as soon as 2022.

Interestingly, GWM also used this week’s Chengdu motor show to reveal a facelifted version of the Haval H9 that’s been on sale Down Under since early 2016, but a spokesman for GWM Australia says it won’t be made available here.

So it could be that the Tank 500 eventually replaces the Haval H9 as GWM Australia’s flagship at the top of a newly launched Tank range that is already selling up a storm in China, where the big, bold SUVs are proving a smash-hit – particularly among young females.

“It is under consideration, as is the entire Tank range,” is all GWM Australia spokesman Steve Maciver would say about the Tank 500 to carsales.

“There are potentially a number of options available to us, but they all depend on a business case.”

For the record, the upgraded 2022 Haval H9 brings a new vertical-bar chromed grille, updated headlights, fresh bumpers and a larger central infotainment touch-screen, but no changes to its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine outputting 165kW/324Nm (180kW/350Nm in Australia).

In contrast, the all-new Tank 500 rides on the same new ladder-frame as the new-generation GWM Ute and packs 264kW/500Nm from a new 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, matched to an inhouse-designed nine-speed automatic transmission.

Few other technical details are available for the Tank 500, but it rides on the same 2850mm wheelbase as the new LandCruiser and is also only marginally shorter (4878mm, or 5070mm with a tailgate-mounted spare wheel), narrower (1934mm) and lower (1905mm) than the LC300.

Also similar are the Tank 500’s reported off-road specs including a 29.6-degree approach, 24-degree departure and 22-degree break-over angle, plus 224mm of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth claim of 800mm.

Chinese media reports also state the Tank 500 incorporates coil-spring suspension at both ends, and a third-generation four-wheel drive system capable of distributing torque between different wheels within 50 milliseconds.

Locking front and rear differentials will reportedly be available, along with low-range, 11 off-road drive modes and the ability to shift between two- and four-wheel drive at speeds of up to 80km/h.

Base models ride on 18-inch wheels but all models are expected to feature LED front and rear lights, a 14.6-inch infotainment touch-screen and, perhaps, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Other highlights include a crystal gear selector, Yanfei Lishi premium sound system, leather seat trim, woodgrain interior trim and, at least in China, options including two-tone paint, power-operated side steps and either a top- or side-hinged tailgate.

If it’s sold in Australia, expect the Tank 500 to significantly undercut the new LandCruiser (from $99,458 drive-away), just as the mid-size Tank 300 would be a lot cheaper than the Wrangler.

Having just launched the more upmarket new Haval H2 and H6 small and medium luxury SUVs, GWM Australia is not only eyeing the Tank range of SUVs but a trio of budget EVs from its parent company’s Ora brand.