Although described as a facelift, the Tank 300 has undergone a number of structural changes.
Updates to the Tank 300 are prominent, the biggest being the longer bonnet and new position of the front wheels thanks to a brand-new axle. Picture: GWM
Effectively previewed by the Hooke Trail version at last year’s Shanghai Motor Show, Great Wall Motors (GWM) has released first images of the heavily-updated Tank 300.
Almost brand-new
The first model to wear the Tank name six years ago was a standalone brand in China. The updates to the 300 are extensive to the point that it is almost a new generation.
Although still riding on the same platform as before, GWM has pushed the position of the front axle forward, which has required wider wheel arches and side skirts, and resulted in a longer bonnet.
At the same time, the Tank corporate badge has been replaced by a new block letter TANK logo, while the grille has been redesigned along with the front bumper and light clusters.
Completing the exterior is a new LiDAR recess on the roof, new wheel arches and at the rear, slightly updated taillights, plus a new bumper.
Dimensions
Dimensionally, the Tank 300 is now 4 886mm long, instead of 4 760mm, while its wheelbase increases from 2 750mm to 3 010mm.
While its width is 3mm narrower at 1 927mm, its height increases by 81mm from 1 903mm to 1 984mm.
Aside from the axle, GWM didn’t disclose any other changes to the Tank 300’s chassis. However, the locking differentials and low-range transfer case are said to have remained.
Inside?
Based on images obtained by autohome.cn, the interior gains a new centre console with fewer physical switches, though traditional buttons still reside underneath the infotainment display.
A new steering wheel, however, features, as do reported new and upgraded levels of specification and safety that GWM has yet to formally detail.
Under the bonnet
Upfront, the current line-up of engines remains, albeit with a number of revisions. For the normal 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, GWM has extracted an additional 13kW for a total output of 175kW.
While the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is unchanged at 265kW, the plug-in hybrid Hi4-T now has two larger battery packs rated at 37.1-kWh and 59.6-kWh, respectively.
The rather optimistic all-electric range, based on China’s CLTC cycle, is said to be 105km and 200km, respectively.
Finally, the plug-in hybrid flagship Hi4-Z will combine the same 2.0-litre engine and latter battery pack with two electric motors for a reported total system output of 635kW.
Unknown is the future of the self-charging 2.0 HEV, while the 2.4-litre turbodiesel is set to continue without any change.
More later
GWM is still to set an official launch date, which could happen before year-end at the Guangzhou Motor Show in November.
