This is the latest creation from Great Wall Motors set to be sold in China. It is dubbed the Tank 500 and follows in the footsteps of the smaller Tank 300 and 400 models, as well as the larger 700 and 800. Great Wall Motors officially unveiled the body-on-frame SUV at the Chengdu Auto Show last August but it has only now been launched. As SUVs go, it is quite imposing and will certainly make quite a statement on the road.
Positioned as a Chinese Toyota Land
Cruiser Prado rival, the Tank 500 is 5,070 mm long, 1934 mm wide, and 1,905 mm tall. It also has a 2,850 mm wheelbase and is available in both five- and seven-seat
configurations.
All variants of the Tank 500 set to go on
sale feature a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine working alongside a 48-volt
mild-hybid system. This powertrain is good for 349 hp and 500 Nm of
torque and can apparently help the SUV hit 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds,
while it consumes 10.7 lt/100 km (21.9 mpg) over the combined cycle.
Local media reports that the Tank 500 will
be available in a host of different guises including the Business Edition,
Sports Edition, Black Warrior Edition, and the Customized version with prices
varying between 335,000 yuan (US$ 52,639) and 395,000 yuan (US$ 62,046).
While the exterior design of the 500 is
quite imposing, the interior appears surprisingly luxurious, featuring a
14.6-inch landscape infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument
cluster. Prominent pieces of wood trim are found across the dashboard, door
panels, and center console while customers can also opt for two-tone leather.
Other key components of the cabin include an analog clock, knurled metal
accents, and premium switchgear.
