‘Tank’ toughness off-road ready
MAKING an appearance with arguably the best ever name for a ‘fourbie’ is GWM’S new mid-size Tank 300.
Available in two grades, Lux and Ultra, with what the Chinese manufacturer describes as ‘unbeatable levels of toughness and sophistication’, the GWM Tank 300 Hybrid is priced from $55,990 drive-away.
Channelling other mid-size, boxy four-wheel drives such as the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, the fivedoor, five-seat Tank 300 rides on an ‘old school’ ladder chassis eschewing the less off-road desirable monocoque used on ‘soft road’ SUVS.
Though it doesn’t have a direct hybrid competitor, against its possible competition, the Tank 3000 Lux is roughly $5000 less than a comparable mid-spec Toyota Fortuner GLX at $55,085 plus on-road costs; and the Ssangyong Rexton Ultimate at $54,990 drive-away.
GWM says Tank’s bold looks are not merely skin deep, with a toughness extending to under-the-skin mechanics where it has ‘world-class fourwheel drive technology’ including a selectable four-wheel drive system and locking differential on the highgrade model.
The company said the Tank 300 features a luxurious interior and advanced technology that have it “poised to become a strong option for those looking to explore Australian roads, tracks and beyond.”
The arrival of Tank 300 brings to three, in quick succession, the number of so-called New Energy Vehicles, NEVS, from GWM Down Under.
It already offers the Haval Jolion Hybrid and Haval H6 Hybrid in its Australian line-up.
Under the bonnet of the Tank 300 is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with a hybrid electric traction motor driving through a nine-speed Hybrid Automatic Transmission.
The petrol engine delivers 180kw at 5500rpm to 6000rpm and 380Nm at 1700rpm to 4000rpm while the electric traction motor adds an additional 78kw and 268Nm.
Australian government rules put the two together for a total rated output of 225kw.
This contributes to a towing capacity of 2500 kilograms.
The Tank 300 is built on GWM’S global off-road platform that is used under vehicles designed to perform in all conditions providing some 224-millimetres of ground clearance matched to a 33-degree approach angle and 34-degree departure angle combined with torque-on-demand 4WD technology.
With overall dimensions of 4760mm in length, 1930mm in width and 1903mm in height, the Tank 300 provides a spacious interior for five occupants.
The two grades offered — Lux at $55,990 drive-away and Ultra at $60,990 drive-away — offer generous levels of standard equipment.
The Lux features 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-way power driver seat, comfort-tek leather seats, micro-fibre leather steering wheel, 12.3-inch full colour instrument cluster and 12.3inch full colour infotainment system, front and rear USB charge points, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, nine-speaker audio, seven-colour ambient lighting, DAB+, power windows, auto-folding, heated power exterior mirrors, LED headlights and tail lights, daytime running lamps, sunroof, two-piece under-body guard and 12V power outlets in both the front and luggage cabin.
In safety terms. the Lux has a tyre pressure monitoring system, seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, front collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, rear cross traffic alert with brake, crawl control for ultralow speed off-road driving and a feature called ‘tank turn’ that selectively applies the brake to assist steering in tight off-road driving.
Also included are a transparent chassis function, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree view monitor.
Ultra grades add 18-inch alloys, Nappa leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, eight-way power driver seat with massage function and fourway power lumbar support adjustment, heated leather steering wheel, wireless charging, premium Infinity nine-speaker audio, 64-colour ambient lighting, 220V power outlet in the luggage cabin, front differential lock, three-piece under-body guard, auto parking and auto reverse tracking function.
GWM offers the new Tank 300 in five exterior colours: Lunar Red, Hamilton White, Dusk Orange, Fossil Grey and Crystal Black while providing a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years’ roadside assistance and five years’ capped price servicing.