Billed at its most capable and luxurious SUV to date, Great Wall Motors (GWM) has finally confirmed price and specification details of its seven-seat, hybrid-only Tank 500. Price and dimensions The second model of the Tank brand to be sold in South Africa after the retro-styled Tank 300, the 500 officially becomes the most expensive vehicle made in China to be sold locally with a sticker of R1 222 900. Offered as an all-inclusive single model, the body-on-frame Tank 500 rides on the same platform as the Shanhai Cannon bakkie, badged locally as the P500, with dimensions of 5 078 mm in overall length, a height of 1 905 mm, width of 1 934 mm and wheelbase of 2 850 mm.
ALSO READ: WATCH: What to expect from GWM’s incoming Tank 500 SUV A smidgen longer but narrower and lower than a Toyota Land Cruiser 300, the Tank 500 not only sports a ground clearance of 224 mm, but front and rear locking differentials, a transparent chassis view camera and an electronic four-wheel-drive system to go with the low range transfer case. In a further nod to the Tank 300 , the 360-degree Tank Turn comes as standard, along with a Crawl function, launch control and GWM’s own Multi-Terrain System or MTS with nine modes; Eco, Standard, Auto, Sport, Mud, Sand, Snow, Rock and Expert. Although fitted with 20-inch alloy wheels from the start, air suspension comes standard, with the claimed approach and departure angles rated at 30° and 24° respectively.
The claimed towing mass is 2 500 kg. Seven seats a.