The submission to Australia's IP office, along with GWM confirming four new models for South Africa in 2026, could lead to the 700 being one of the models in question.
Great Wall Motors (GWM) has taken a further step towards making its Tank brand’s flagship 700 SUV available with right-hand drive after the uncovering of patent images and documents in Australia.
Tank 700
Introduced in its home market last year, 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.
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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 249 mm.
Up front, the 700 shares a single of two of its 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 its sibling, plus similar approach and departure angles of 32-degrees and 33-degrees respectively.
Besides a low range transfer case, the 700 boasts front and rear locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect as on the Jeep Wrangler, and a claimed wading depth “under extreme” situations of 970 mm.
Australia means right-hand drive
According to carsales.com.au, the patent, filed with the country’s IP office on 29 September, went unanswered by GWM Australia when inquired about a planned launch date.
The publication has, however, indicated that a possible arrival could happen in the first half of next year and, aside from the V6, could include GWM’s new 4.0-litre twin-turbo plug-in V8 announced at the Shanghai Motor Show in April.
A further option for the 700, though not confirmed or mentioned, is the new 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 projected to arrive in 2027.
Heading our way?
Besides Australia, the discovery of the patent could be extended to South Africa. This after GWM confirmed at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring two months ago that it is planning the introduction of four new models next year.
If, indeed one of the four planned for South Africa, expect the 700 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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