Previewed in Malaysia last month, the GWM Tank 500 HEV is set to be launched at the Malaysia Autoshow next week, May 8, GWM Malaysia has confirmed. The large hybrid 4×4 was first shown at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) in December.
Assembled at the company’s Thai plant in Rayong, the Tank 500 carries an estimated price of under RM350,000. This would make it one of the most expensive vehicles from a Chinese carmaker, rivalling the Zeekr 009 in this respect.
Mind you, it does come with some serious hardware for the money, including a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine pushing out 244 PS from 5,500 to 6,000 rpm and 380 Nm of torque from 1,700 to 4,000 rpm, as well as a 106 PS/268 Nm electric motor and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Total output is rated at 346 PS and 648 Nm, routed through all four wheels through a switchable four-wheel-drive system.
There’s also a good deal of off-roading tech on board, such as front and rear electronic locking differentials, a mechanical centre locker, off-road cruise control, a water depth detection function and a “tank turn” function that locks the inside rear wheel for tighter U-turns. You also get a total of 11 drive modes to choose from (four on-road, seven off-road) and a maximum water-wading depth of 800 mm.
Measuring 5,078 mm long (4,878 mm without the standard-fit external spare tyre), 1,934 mm wide and 1,905 mm tall – with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm – the Tank 500 sits between the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest in terms of size. However, its technical specs and appointments put it one rung above these one-tonne pick-up truck-based SUVs, being closer in ethos to the more sophisticated Toyota Land Cruiser 300.
The Tank 500 is expected to be offered solely in full-spec Ultra trim, with the preview unit coming with full LED head- and taillights, silver roof rails, 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 265/50R20 Continental CrossContact RX tyres and power-deployable side steps.
Inside, you get a seven-seater cabin upholstered in quilted Nappa leather with faux wood trim. In terms of tech, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, plus a Qi wireless charger and a 12-speaker Infinity sound system.
Other bits of kit include power-adjustable front seats (eight-way for driver, six-way for passenger) with memory, first- and second-row ventilation, power-folding and unfolding third-row seats, triple-zone climate control, an air ioniser, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera system with a transparency function, park assist and a soft-close side-opening tailgate.
The Tank 500 also comes with a full complement of driver assists as standard, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, curve speed reduction, a “wisdom dodge” system that moves over for large vehicles and motorcycles, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake and a door opening warning. Six airbags and stability control are fitted.
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