GWM Tank 700: Flagship $100K 4WD eyes Australia

Less than three months after the arrival of the Tank 500 large SUV, GWM is already considering putting a new flagship hero model in at the top of its pack, with the more powerful and luxurious Tank 700 on the cards for an Australian launch.

If the Chinese brand gives the green light to the potent V6 turbo hybrid model, it’ll not only become the company’s new flagship, but it’ll also set a new milestone as its most expensive model by a decent margin.

GWM Australia and New Zealand head of marketing Steve Maciver said the Tank 700 would fit into the GWM family as a new flagship and in line with the brand’s strategy to continually offer more technology, performance and features with each new generation.

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“A car with that level of technology, that powertrain, sitting within our price bracket, that’s top of the tree,” he said. "The question is do we think we can make a business case for it? I’d like to think so.”

Until confirmation is made for Australia, a price won’t be locked in, but local sales prices in China offer a guide.

A version similar to the top-of-the-range Tank 700 Limited Edition would cost close to $150,000 in Australia, however the entry-level variant costs closer to the equivalent of $90,000 and there are other drivetrain possibilities that could reduce that cost further still.

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But whether Australians are willing to pay top money for a relatively fresh brand on the scene is the ultimate question.

While the $100,000 mark would be a $26,000 jump over its current most expensive model - the Tank 500 Ultra – Maciver said the company was progressively evolving into more premium territory and Australians were happy to pay higher prices if they represent value for money.

“With every new generation of GWM products we’ve brought out in Australia, we’ve continually been pushing the quality of that product and the powertrain technology to back it up. We’ve gone from an average selling price of roundabout $25,000 four years ago, to north of $40,000 today.

“With the introduction of products like Cannon Alpha and Tank 500, that average selling price within the next 12 months is going to creep up again. And that’s an indication that Australian new car buyers are ready to buy more expensive GWMs as long as the quality, value and the technology stacks up.”

Capacity to produce the Tank 700 in right-hand drive is not yet known but, if given the go ahead, the Tank 500 could be making way for its more potent and premium sibling as early as November 2024.

Maciver explained that GWM has organised its production and development structures in a way that allows the production of new or region-specific models in record time.

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2024 GWM Tank 500 interior

“It could happen as quickly as six or nine months. That’s how quickly this brand moves,” he said.

With a combined total output of 385kW and 850Nm, the Tank 700 would be GWM’s performance hero by a significant margin. It would also be the first model to introduce GWM’s Hi4-T all-wheel-drive transmission, which uses an electric motor on each axle powered by a 37.1kWh battery and 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 in unison.

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In pure EV mode the Tank 700 offers an electric-only range of up to 85 kilometres.

It’s also possible that a version powered by the Tank 500’s 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain for a more affordable option in Australia, which would deliver still respectable totals of 255kW and 648Nm.

The current range also includes the Tank 300 entry-level SUV, on sale from $46,990 driveaway.