Great Wall Motors has big plans for the Tank brand which keeps expanding its body-on-frame SUV range. At the 2021 Chengdu Auto Show in China, Tank presented not one but two new models – the Tank 400 and the Tank 500. The latter was previewed with teaser sketches a month ago, and it has now made its official debut after the company renamed it from Tank 600 to Tank 500.
Design-wise, the Tank 500 is pretty imposing with traditional 4×4 proportions. It comes with a huge grille surrounded by chrome, bulged bonnet, and muscular fenders over the large-diameter wheels.
The SUV is measuring 5,070 mm (199.6 inches) long, 1,934 mm (76.1 inches) wide, and 1,905 mm (75 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm (112.2 inches). This makes it larger than its main rival, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. In fact, it is slightly longer even compared to the Land Cruiser 300 Series which has an identical wheelbase.
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Like the aforementioned models, the Tank 500 is based on a body-on-frame chassis and comes with a coil-spring suspension setup and locking front and rear differentials. As you would expect, the Tank 500 is pretty capable off-road with a 224 mm (8.8 inches) round clearance, an impressive 800 mm (31.5 inches) wading depth, and decent off-road angles (29.6-degree approach angle and 24-degree departure angle).
Under the bonnet, there is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine that comes with a 48V mild-hybrid system. It produces 349 hp (260 kW / 353 PS) and 500 Nm (369 ft-lb) of torque, transmitted to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox that was developed by Tank.
The same engine serves as the base for the company’s hybrid system with a combined output of 510 hp (380kW / 517 PS) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque although it’s not certain if this powertrain is going to be used in the Tank 500 or remain exclusively offered in the larger 700 and 800 models. In the future, Tank could also offer less powerful variants of the 500 fitted with 2.0-liter petrol and 2.4-liter diesel engines.
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The cabin looks even more impressive, with premium design features. On the center console, there is a free-standing 14.6-inch screen for the infotainment, combined with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. The materials used for the upholstery and the controls, appear to be high-quality, while the color combination looks like something you would expect from a luxury automaker. Other notable features include the Volvo-inspired gearbox selector on the high-mounted center tunnel, the Rolls-Royce-inspired stars on the dashboard, and the analog clock between the climate vents. The Tank 500 has three rows of seats, which can accommodate up to seven occupants.
As the name suggests, the Tank 500 slots above the smaller Tank 300 which has proven to be quite popular. In the near future, Tank’s range will grow even further with the addition of the 400, 700, and 800 models. The company didn’t provide information on the pricing, but local media suggest that the Tank 500 might cost around 300,000 yuan in China, which translates to roughly over $46,000.
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