GWM South Africa has added a shining new star to its universe of models with the new GWM TANK 300.

The new model not only introduces the GWM TANK brand, but with it a new world of pure-bred off-road performance and, as is commonplace for all GWM models, an unmatched level of luxury, design and styling.

“GWM TANK is already a well-established off-road lifestyle brand in China and in world markets such as Australia, where owners share our love for overlanding, the great outdoors and for finding roads less travelled.

“That is why we are very confident that the GMW TANK 300 and future GWM Tank models will find a welcome home among South Africans,” says Bianca van Staden, the Head of Marketing, Brand and PR of GWM South Africa.

Before delving into the details of the new GWM TANK 300, it is worth looking at the GWM universe. GWM entered South Africa in 2007 with a range of commercial vehicles that were readily accepted by private and business buyers looking for a reliable and affordable workhorse or lifestyle pick-up.

The company’s dedication paid off and in 2016 the remaining local shareholding was bought out by the global GWM Group. This made GWM South Africa a wholly owned subsidiary under the new name Haval Motors South Africa. 

GWM TANK – Premium Off-Road Performance

“As the first model in the new GWM TANK range, the GWM TANK 300 must firmly establish the range’s credentials of luxury, true off-road performance and durability. And it does so with aplomb,” says Van Staden.

The GWM TANK 300 is built on a proprietary and very strong ladder frame chassis. Indeed, this chassis and bodyshell use mostly 1500 Mpa steel for greater rigidity and crash-test performance.

Mounted to the ladder frame is a modern multi-link rear suspension and a durable double-wishbone front suspension for greater on-road comfort that does not impede the off-road capabilities.

The high-strength passenger cell is fitted to the top of the ladder frame with special rubber mountings that absorb road noise and vibration for a truly luxurious driving experience inside the cabin.

Multiple towing and recovery hooks are fitted directly to the chassis, and the drivetrain is anchored with special dynamic mounts and a balancer shaft to contribute to the in-cabin comfort.

The Design of Your Dreams

GWM designers have created a smoothed-out angular profile that tips the hat to off-road vehicles from the past yet stands firmly in a modern environment.

This is also true of the newly designed TANK logo fitted on the bright black grille. Consisting of two capital letters – a “T” and a “U”, the new logo symbolises the brand’s focus on Technology and Modern Trends, while never losing focus on the User (phonetically also referring to You) and the fact that the brand seeks to Unite fans of the great outdoors.

Some of the stand-out design features include the round LED headlamps that are dissected by bright LED daytime running lights.

An off-road front bumper with integrated LED fog lamps exposes the Michelin HEV SUV tyres and aids technical off-road driving, while the clamshell-style bonnet with its large power bulge becomes a confident statement of the vehicle’s capabilities.

The side profile frames off the large alloy wheels with black fender extensions. The fenders are connected with a black running board. The door handles, large side mirrors and roof rails are treated in a similar black finish.

At the back, there are squared LED tail lamps, a door-mounted spare wheel – also fitted with a full-sized alloy wheel – and a square rear bumper with integrated tow bar mounting bracket and 12Volt power plug. The rear luggage door is hydraulically assisted, and a spare wheel cover is standard.

Total Performance Wherever You Go

As mentioned earlier, the GWM TANK 300 is built on a very solid foundation with a sturdy off-road chassis, high-strength passenger cell and a suspension system developed to offer the best of all worlds.

GWM has developed two unique 4x4 systems on this sturdy platform. The first, an All-Terrain Driving System with Multi-Terrain Select will be available on the internal combustion models that is expected within the next few weeks. More information on these models will be made available soon.

The second is a unique all-time four-wheel drive system with intelligent electronic management and low range. This system is unique to the Hybrid Electric Version of the GWM TANK 300, the first model to arrive in South Africa.

The GWM TANK 300 is available in two distinct drivetrain and power configurations. More information on the internal combustion models will be made as soon as the first vehicles become available in South Africa.

Hybrid or Petrol, The Choice is Yours

The Hybrid Electric version of the GWM TANK 300 features the best in GWM engineering for unmatched power and torque with low fuel consumption. This model is also equipped with an iBooster Intelligent Braking System that allows for energy regeneration during braking.

  • Combined power (petrol/electric): 255 kW (Petrol engine: 180 kW @ 5 500 r/min – 6 000 r/min and electric motor 78kW)
  • Combined torque (petrol/electric): 648 Nm (Petrol engine: 380 Nm @ 1 700 r/min – 4 000 r/min and electric motor 268Nm)
  • Transmission: 9-speed Hydraulic Automatic gearbox
  • Fuel consumption: 8.4 litre / 100 km in a combined cycle
The GWM TANK 300 petrol models are equipped with a next-generation turbo-petrol engine with variable boost technology and direct injection. It offers ample power and torque and will, thanks to the on- and off-road management systems, offer great all-round driveability.

  • Power: 162 kW @ 5 500 r/min
  • Torque: 380 Nm @ 1 800 r/min to 3 600 r/min
  • Transmission: 8-speed Automatic gearbox
  • Fuel consumption: 9.5 litre / 100 km

The Luxury You Deserve

All versions of the GWM TANK 300 feature luxuries that are unmatched both in quantity and at the model price. These include:

Dual 12.3” high-definition LCD screen
The cojoined screens form one large screen that offers a fully customisable instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen also displays the images from the various external cameras and offers full control over the vehicle’s comfort and off-road systems.

Ambient lighting
The Super Luxury models feature a choice of 7 ambient colours, while the Ultra Luxury version has no less than 64 ambient colours to choose from.

Leather upholstery
Quilted leather abound in the cabin, including in the door panels and, using micro-fibre leather, on the steering wheel.

Multi-function, multi-adjustable controls
All models feature a steering wheel that is adjustable in all directions, has controls for the infotainment, phone and cruise-control systems, and feature paddle shifters for the automatic transmission.

The Start of Your Journey

All models are sold with a 7-year / 200 000 km new vehicle warranty and unlimited roadside assistance for the same period. A 5-year / 75 000 km service plan is included across the range, and service intervals are 12 months or every 15 000 km whichever comes first.

The HEV model has an additional warranty that covers the complete high-voltage system and vehicle battery for a full 8 years / 150 000 km.

Says Van Staden: “While we can boast about the incredible list of features and safety equipment in the GWM TANK 300, we are mostly proud of its pricing and value proposition

For more information on the GWM TANK range, visit www.hatfieldgroup.co.za.