Chrysler 300 vs GWM Tank 300

What's the difference?

You may be sensing an increasing level of hype around hybrid and full battery-electric vehicles. In fact, it feels like the automotive world has gone full-fat bananas over ‘electro-mobility’.

At least car manufacturers have, with Tesla’s entertaining antics disrupting the status quo, and causing virtually every mainstream brand to get on board the zero-emissions express.

But of course, the other side of that equation is demand. The rush to meet ever tightening emissions regulations (and save the planet in the process) fails to recognise the fact that not everybody wants a ZEV… yet.

The days of big-bore, more is good, internal combustion propulsion aren’t over yet, and Chrysler, like the rest of the ‘Murican Big Three’ is keeping traditional muscle car enthusiasts happy.

In fact, we’re in the midst of a US horsepower arms race not seen since the late 1960s and early ‘70s, and Chrysler’s SRT (Street & Racing Technology) performance subsidiary is leading from the front with a variety of over-the-top Hellcats, Demons and Red Eyes.

Australia has recently picked up a whiff of that action with the utterly mad 522kW Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, but the only slightly unhinged SRT version, and this car, the Chrysler 300 SRT, have been around for some time.

Launched here in 2012, the second-generation version of the 6.4-litre naturally aspirated sedan was discontinued in the USA in 2014. But sensing a large sedan-sized opportunity as local manufacturing from Ford, Holden and Toyota went the way of the Dodo, the local FCA team negotiated a continuation deal.

Think of the 300 SRT as America’s M5 or E63. A full-size performance sedan with a thick layer of luxury laid over the top, but at around one third the price.

Sometimes it really is all a matter of timing.

GWM was always going to offer up the plug-in hybrid version of its Tank 300 4X4, but for it to arrive in showrooms right now must be being looked on as some kind of blessing at GWM HQ.

Consider the circumstances: The Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV (to give it its full name) not only saves fuel by making use of plug-in hybrid tech, but the fossil stuff it does use is petrol, not diesel with that fuel’s buck-a-litre cost penalty right now.

And with the planet on a knife’s edge waiting for the next increase in brinkmanship from those referred to as our world leaders, overseas travel has never seemed sketchier to the average Aussie. Which is when keeping it local and hitting the outback in a four-wheel drive suddenly looks really, really good. Except for the cost of fuel, that is, which is where we circle back to square one.

All of which means the GWM Tank 300 Plug-in hybrid concept could not really have come at a better time. But does the reality match the promise?