GWM has launched its most expensive vehicle for the first time outside of China, as more export markets loom for its enormous and powerful Tank 700 off-roader.
The Chinese Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or Toyota LandCruiser rival has landed in the Russian market, equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 (264kW/560Nm) or additionally as a plug-in ‘Hi-4T’ hybrid (385kW/750Nm), both with a nine-speed torque converter automatic.
It launches in three grades, Premium (priced at the equivalent of AU$131,381), Superior (the equivalent of AU$142,210) and the Edition One (the equivalent of $183,950).
Standard trim includes some high-end touches for GWM, like extensive Nappa leather and Alcantara trims on the inside, heated and ventilated front seats with message functions, a 16.2-inch multimedia touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as a 16-speaker premium audio system.
Its off-road prowess is boosted by standard locking front and rear differentials, or on higher grades, air suspension and the off-road tuned Hi4-T hybrid system.
It comes with enormous 20-inch weels as standard, or 22-inch versions on the Edition One.
The Tank 700 is only available as a PHEV Hi4-T in the Chinese market, making this Russian version the first time GWM’s flagship has been offered with a purely petrol engine.
Now that the Tank 700 is hitting the market outside of China, does it stand a chance for an Australian launch?
Speaking to Australian media earlier this year at GWM’s Baoding headquarters in China, the brand’s local communications boss Steve Maciver said it's in with a shot.
“100 per cent we could have a car with that level of technology, with that powertrain, in that price bracket.
“The question is whether we think we can make a business case for it. I like to think we can. If we think we could bring it in as a flagship - we could have it in our market as fast as six to nine months.”
Maciver indicated GWM’s brand recognition and price had been trending up in the past few years as it rolls out more capable and premium offerings in the Australian market.
“We’ve gone from an average selling price of $25,000 to sitting around $40,000 today - and with Cannon Alpha that price will creep up again.”
“That’s an indication that Australian new car buyers are ready to buy more expensive GWMs as long as the quality and value and technology stacks up, and I believe it does.”
He may not be wrong.
Off the back of a significantly expanded line-up in the past 12 months, GWM’s sales have jumped by 22.8 per cent year-on-year to the end of September.
The brand’s “more expensive models” have even hit the ground running, amassing 3032 sales for the Tank 300 and 1235 sales for the Tank 500. To put that in perspective, the Tank 300 has outsold some major vehicles in the same price-bracket, including the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Fortuner, LDV D90, and SsangYong Rexton.
Australia is one of the biggest export markets for GWM globally, helping the local division secure more stock for our market and justifying right-hand drive production, which Maciver said could be achieved within a year by the factory once the business case is made.
If the Tank 700 does arrive in Australia, you can certainly expect it to start north of $100,000. This is because of the additional right-hand drive production costs, the sheer size of the vehicle, the luxurious appointments it comes equipped with and as Maciver indicated Australia would strictly be a hybrid-only market due to our strict new emissions laws.
“NVES is a big reason for plug-in vehicles going forward — we need more EVs and PHEVs - HEVs are not enough,” he said.
The New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) has ruled out the 3.0-litre turbo V6 version of the Cannon Alpha, despite the brand saying it would likely be popular with buyers. The local division will instead focus on bringing us its next-generation Hi4-T plug-in hybrids.
Stay tuned as GWM’s range is set to further expand over the next 18 months, with the strong possibility of the Haval H7 (previously known as the Big Dog), and Hi4-T versions of its Cannon range being added to its line-up.
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