Tank brand under Great Wall Motors (GWM) after making its successful overseas debut in Saudi Arabia, is now all set to be introduced in Australia, one of the few key right hand drive (RHD) markets.
Related: GWM Tanks Now in Saudi Arabia
RHD versions of the rugged SUV were recently spied in Melbourne, images of which were shared by Car Expert. According to information, Tank 300 along with the larger Tank 500 are expected to be launched in Australia in 2023. These will include a hybrid version of the Tank 300, plus a plug-in hybrid version of the Tank 500, which could result in GWM having up to 7 electrified vehicles in Australia by the end of 2023, the source added.
GWM in Australia has been moving away from marketing its GWM Ute and Haval SUV brands separately, merging their websites and reporting sales together in VFACTS. Tank models as well as the upcoming Ora electric vehicles are therefore expected to be marketed as GWM Tank and GWM Ora products, making GWM more of a full-line brand.
RHD units of GWM Tank 300 spotted in Australia
Coming back to Tank 300, it is a proper ladder-frame SUV which is available in both ‘City’ and ‘Off-Road’ editions. Tank 300 features low-range gearing and front and rear electro-mechanical locking differentials, and offers a tank turn function and a creep mode. It boasts an approach angle of 33 degrees, a departure angle of 34 degrees, minimum ground clearance of 224mm and a maximum wading depth of 700mm.
Under the hood there is a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder petrol engine with 224 hp of power 387 Nm of torque & comes paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid version was also recently revealed at the Chengdu Motor Show which features a 2.0L turbo paired to an electric motor, but gets a 9-speed automatic transmission and produces combined system outputs of 300 hp and 640 Nm. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time for petrol version is 9.5 seconds while that of more powerful hybrid version is 7.9 seconds.
Related: GWM’s Tank 500 is Ready to Take on the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
There is a full suite of active safety and driver assist equipment available as well, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist with lane centering. In addition to a standard surround-view camera, there’s also a transparent chassis view designed for off-roading. Features related to creature comfort include heated, ventilated and massaging power-adjustable front seats, 64-colour adjustable ambient lighting, Nappa leather upholstery, a single-pane sunroof, and a heated steering wheel.
In addition to Tank 300 and Tank 500, GWM is also testing the Haval Dargo in Australia however the spotted test mule was a left hand drive unit.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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