The current proposed price tag of this gargantuan GWM Tank 500 is currently to be RM 350,000.
GWM Malaysia has recently announced that it has opened the order books for what is to be its biggest car yet: the Tank 500. This behemoth of a Chinese luxury SUV expectedly comes wearing a similarly large price tag, with the automaker currently quoting an estimated price of RM 350,000 for it.
Measuring in at a whopping 4,928 mm long, 1,934 mm wide and 1,905 mm tall, this massive “E-segment” SUV is actually more Toyota Land Cruiser than Fortuner in its external dimensions. And in fact, this Chinese SUV is actually comparable in size to certain American alternatives like the Ford Explorer.
While conveniently on the topic of American vehicles too, it has to be said that there is a certain USA-style brashness to the exterior design of this Chinese off-roader. Its boxy profile is after all adorned with copious amounts of bling, from its chrome-tactical front grille to the 20-inch alloy wheels, and even the rear light cluster surround.
Though those expecting a big ol’ American V8 under the hood will be sorely disappointed, as instead it features a self-charging hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four making 244 hp and 380 Nm, paired to a 106 hp and 268 Nm electric motor. Combined system output is rated at 346 PS and 648 Nm of torque, with all this grunt delivered to all wheels via a nine-speed automatic and accompanying part-time selectable four-wheel drive system.
Much like its smaller sibling, the body-on-frame Tank 500 HEV expectedly also has all the off-road kit on board to cash the 4×4 cheques its butch body is writing. Those who wish to traverse off the beaten path in this behemoth will be happy to know it comes with G-Wagon-rivalling three diff locks (electronic front and rear, mechanical centre). It further has 11 driving modes, an off-road cruise control system, water wading depth detection, and GWM’s cool ‘tank turn’ feature that automatically locks the inner rear wheel to shrink the turning circle of this massive SUV.
Finally moving along to the interior, this luxurious 7-seater off-road SUV comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Other luxury accoutrements found within the Tank 500 include quilted Nappa leather seat upholstery, a triple-zone climate control system, a 12-speaker Infinity sound system, second-row sunshades as well as powered backrests for the power-folding third row seats.
Those with the RM 350,000 to splash on this GWM Tank 500 HEV can choose to have their Goliath in three exterior hues: Crystal Gray, Hamilton White, and Sun Black.
