GWM TANK 500: Thrills guaranteed
WITH ‘EXPERT MODE’ ON, THE SUV IS ‘UNSTOPPABLE’
The GWM (Great Wall Motor) TANK 500 has received a thumbs-up from seasoned offroader and marshal on duty at the 42nd Gulf News Overnighter Fun Drive Tilal Swaihan Experience.
Mitchell Perera, also the head of the control room for the Fun Drive, slated for this weekend, said he was surprised by the GWM TANK’s superior performance in the desert.
Perera, with 39 years of offroad experience and marking his 39th year marshaling the
GN Fun Drive, tested the TANK 500 during the Marshal’s Drive held on Saturday to understand the route.
The seasoned off-roader is particularly intrigued by the driving modes.
“I found the ‘4WD expert mode’ very interesting, and once engaged, the GWM TANK 500 is unstoppable,” he said.
“It even comes with a racing mode and a drift mode which I have never seen on any 4WD truck or SUV to date.”
Exterior and interior
“At first glance the GWM TANK 500 is breathtaking and very much like a premium SUV with some admirable features,” said Perera.
Perera is partial to the interior. “This is where the magic is on GWM TANK 500. The leather used inside; the stitch is only found in exotic and premium car segments. The luxury leather trim continues all the way across the SUV.”
He highlighted the steering’s user-friendly controls and tilt and telescopic adjustments. “The centre console is equipped with the transmission shifter and all the necessary soft touch buttons which controls the 4WD modes, the front and rear differential locks.”
Sponsors
Swaidan Trading Co, UAE distributor of GWM and an Al Naboodah Group division is the automotive sponsor.
Checkpoint sponsors include GWM Tank - Al Naboodah, Castrol Magnatec (lubricant sponsor), Dobinsons Springs & Suspension Trading LLC, Al Jazira Poultry Farms LLC, TORC - The Off Road Company, and Yokohama Geolandar.
Other sponsors include Karcher, Xbox, Byrne, Steigens, Tornado Watches, Al Ain Water, Quanta (ice cream sponsor), Capital Hospitality (catering), Iranian Hospital (medical partner), and IATC - the International Automobile and Touring Club of UAE (recovery operations).
[The interior] is where the magic is on GWM TANK 500. The leather used inside, the stitch is only found in exotic and premium car segments.”
Mitchell Perera | Head of control room, GN Fun Drive