Great Wall Motors (GWM) has taken a further step towards making its Tank brand’s flagship 700 SUV available with right-hand drive following the discovery of patent images and documents in Australia.
Introduced last year in its home market, the 700 rides on a body-on-frame platform similar to the Tank 500, but provides seating for five only and with a more rugged exterior design derived from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Dimensionally, the Tank 700 measures 5 090 mm long, 2 061 mm wide and 1 952 mm tall with a wheelbase of 3 000 mm.
By comparison, the Tank 500 has an overall length of 5 078 mm, width of 1 934 mm, height of 1 905 mm and wheelbase of 2 850 mm.
In addition, the latter has a claimed 229 mm ground clearance rating versus the 700’s reported 249 mm.
Up front, the 700 shares a single of two its two engine options with the 500, namely the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol that produces 265kW/560Nm.
The second option pairs the same engine with a 37.1-kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor for a combined output of 385kW/850Nm.
As with the normal petrol, the hybrid, marketed under the Hi4-T banner, sends its amount of twist to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
Aside from the claimed 100 km electric-only range, the Hi4-T has the same ground clearance as the normal petrol, plus similar approach and departure angles of 32-degrees and 33-degrees respectively.
Besides the inclusion of a low range transfer case, the 700 also boasts front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect function similar to the Jeep Wrangler, and a claimed wading depth “under extreme” situations of 970 mm.
According to carsales.com.au, the patent, filled with the country’s IP office on 29 September, went unanswered by GWM Australia when enquired about an anticipated launch date.
The publication has, however, indicated that a possible arrival could happen in the first half of next year, which could well be expanded to South Africa.
This, after the brand confirmed at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring two months ago that will introduce four new models to the local market next year.
In its home market, pricing for the Tank 700 ranges from * yuan to yuan, which, when directly converted and without taxes, amounts to R and R.
If, indeed one of the four models planned for South Africa, expect it to slot-in above the 500 and become the second Tank model to breach the R1-million mark.
At present, the self-charging hybrid 500 carries a sticker of R1 228 500, making it the most expensive vehicle sold in South Africa hailing from the People’s Republic.
Additional information from carnewschina.com.
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