Great Wall Motors has backed themselves as the longest serving Chinese brand in South Africa to make waves at the top end of the bakkie segment with the imposing GWM P500. This larger-than-life double cab slots in at the top end of the GWM’s bakkie portfolio which also includes the workhorse-orientated Steed 5 and the P-Series, known as the Poer (pronounced ‘power’) in other markets. It offers an intriguing alternative to the top dogs in the stables of South Africa’s three best-selling bakkies, the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max.
Watch Pitstop podcast video In this week’s edition of the Pitstop podcast, The Citizen Motoring Road Test Editor Mark Jones talks about his first impressions of the GWM P500 during its recent launch drive in the Southern Cape. Apart from being the first full-hybrid bakkie on offer in South Africa , the GWM P500 also brings a host of new tech and innovations into segment. Some which few would have guessed will find their way into bakkies.
The P500 becomes the second GWM model to feature the hybrid combination of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and 325-volt electric motor after the Tank 300 , a system that also serves on the recently added Tank 500. It provides a combined output of 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque sent to all four corners via nine-speed automatic transmission.
GWM P500 sets high standards The flagship Ultra Luxury derivative, which comes in at R100 under seven figures, features a panoramic sunroof, 14.6-imch info.