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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Paying RM350k for a copy. Baik top up beli the real thing.
only fools would pay more money for inferior specced car.
What is up with most Automakers giving cool features and big wheels for their SUVs and pickup trucks while giving less features and small wheels for their sedans and hatchbacks. It’s NOT about going off road, it’s about having a car with a high-seating position and can drive on our Beautiful, Bumpy and Rough roads . Sedans and hatchbacks can be cool like SUVs and pickup trucks, it just depends on whether automakers want to make them cool….. Or…… Automakers just want to make SUVs and Pickup trucks cool…. And let their sedans and hatchbacks stay as boring cars. Even the gearbox, for example, Toyota can give a 6-speed Auto, a turbocharged engine, decent HP , high ground clearance and big wheels for the Fortuner and the Hilux, but they decided to give a 4-speed CVT, low ground clearance, Noisy NA ENGINE , less HP and small wheels for the Vios and the Yaris…Just why? And I know people will say “because if they give their sedans and hatchbacks decent ground clearance, big wheels, cool features and a 6-speed Auto or a 7-DCT Gearbox , that would increase the car’s cost. ”
True I agree, but even with little techs and gizmos, people are still paying a high price to buy sedans and hatchbacks….. And getting very little features , a sluggish gearbox and low ground clearance.
In conclusion, Automakers can make their sedans and hatchbacks cool like SUVs and pickup trucks, it all depends on whether automakers want to…. Or not. And to be honest, as a car guy, I’m very sad and disappointed that nowadays most Automakers just want to focus on making their SUVs and Pickup trucks cool while leaving their sedans and hatchbacks lineup bland and boring.
And worst, with all these corrupt, greedy and evil politicians coming up with strict emission rules, laws and regulations, Automakers are forced to down-size their engines to smaller and noisy engines.
What is up with most Automakers only giving cool features, a turbocharged engine, decent HP , AWD, a fast-shifting gearbox and big wheels for their SUVs, Pickups , MPVs and Minivans lineup, but giving less features, a noisy NA engine , less HP, a sluggish gearbox and small wheels for their sedans and Hatchbacks lineup. As a car guy, I feel so sad and disappointed that the fact that nowadays, Automakers just want to focus on making their SUVs , Pickups, MPVs and Minivans cool…. while leaving their sedans and Hatchbacks as boring cars.
If They can give soooo many cool features for their SUVS, Pickups, MPVs and Minivans,
Why can’t they do the same for their sedans and Hatchbacks.
In conclusion , Automakers can make their sedans and Hatchbacks cool, it all depends on whether they want to…or not.