THE Tank 300 is GWM’s Tank subsidiary’s first offering in South Africa, and according to the manufacture, more will follow.
‘Head-turner’ as expected, I had to field questions from all walks of life, on what made is this, and the affordability.
In essence I was conducting a ‘sales pitch’ wherever I went.
So, Bianca, I will be expecting my cheque very soon, or kanjani?
‘A Jeep, nay’, was the reaction from my neighbours.
The imposing Orange colour also made this Tank, poised to cause a stir in my village in the North West, especially after rain.
No need to touch on the issue of potholes, for Tank it was seamless and enjoyed revving it off-road, nogal.
However, be warned not to forget the key, as it fits in your hand like a lollipop. On several occasions I did, and ‘it was not cool at all’, as my Son rebuked me, in front of his pals. So you’re warned!
As for Tank 300 this will be crucial for the GWM group to cement itself as a serious contender for lifestyle adventurers and SUV consumers alike.
“GWM TANK is already a well-established off-road lifestyle brand in China and in world markets such as Australia, where owners share our love for overlanding, the great outdoors and for finding roads less travelled.
That is why we are very confident that the GMW TANK 300 and future GWM Tank models will find a welcome home among South Africans,” says Bianca van Staden, the Head of Marketing, Brand and PR of GWM South Africa.
Looking at the exterior, it is plain to see that the Tank has drawn some inspiration from the flared-fender aesthetic of the Jeep Wrangler.
Brash and charismatic from the outside, this is how GWM has plotted its first steps in South Africa for its Tank nameplate and, while the name and the styling showcase a big game, the key question is whether it has what it takes to swing in the league of heavy hitters?
Sitting at the top of the three-model range is the Tank 300 HEV.
All derivatives make use of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that develops 167 kW and 387 N.m without hybrid assistance. The HEV’s hybrid powertrain, featuring an electric motor and a 37.11 kWh battery, pushes those peak figures up to 255 kW and 648 N.m. An automatic four-wheel-drive system delivers the power via an 8-speed automatic in the combustion engine-only models while a 9-speed hydraulic automatic handles shifting duties for the HEV.
At slower speeds and with sedate driving, the HEV can operate in full EV mode for around 100 km. In terms of fuel consumption, the HEV realises a 10% improvement over its fossil-fuel-powered sibling with a claimed rating of 8.4 L/100 km.
It comes with electrically assisted acceleration at all speeds and the transition from silent, emissions-free EV driving to combustion engine propulsion is fairly seamless.
Tank stands at 224 mm ground clearance- ideal for climbing pavements or venturing onto challenging off-road routes, like I did though, not at full-throttle.
The length is 4 760mm.
Also liked the sun-roof, albeit one did not experience it much, as it is restricted to open wider.
Interior features chassis view cameras help with navigating around tight obstacles, while a Tank Turn and Crawl Control lend the rugged SUV some impressive off-roading prowess.
On-road, autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control and lane assist is to keep drivers alert especially on wet roads like in Potchefstroom, don’t know why that area is rain proned?
Some of the features smartphone-enabled touchscreen infotainment system, auto lights, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry. Aha, back to that issue of a key- make sure you have it handy…
The dual-screen system displays off-road ready information such as altitude, air pressure, compass, body roll angle, steering wheel and wheel angle and tyre pressure.
It has Ambient lighting and the Super Luxury models feature a choice of 7 ambient colours, while the Ultra Luxury version has no less than 64 ambient colours to choose from.
Tank 300 boast leather upholstery and quilted leather abounds in the cabin, including in the door panels and, using micro-fibre leather, on the steering wheel.
Multi-function, multi-adjustable controls are included.
All models feature a steering wheel that is adjustable in all directions, has controls for the infotainment, phone and cruise-control systems, feature paddle shifters for the automatic transmission and charging ports.
GWM designers created a smoothed-out angular profile that tips the hat to off-road vehicles from the past yet stands firmly in a modern environment, according to the manufacture.
The newly designed TANK logo fitted on the bright black grille, consist of two capital letters – a “T” and a “U”, the new logo symbolises the brand’s focus on Technology and modern Trends, while it never loses focus on the User (phonetically also referring to You) and the fact that the brand seeks to Unite fans of the great outdoors.
Some of the stand-out design features include the round LED headlamps that are dissected by bright LED daytime running lights.
An off-road front bumper with integrated LED fog lamps exposes the Michelin HEV SUV tyres and aids technical off-road driving, while the clamshell-style bonnet with its large power bulge becomes a confident statement of the vehicle’s capabilities.
The side profile frames off the large alloy wheels with black fender extensions. The fenders are connected with a black running board. The door handles, large side mirrors and roof rails are treated in a similar black finish.
At the back, there are squared LED tail lamps, a door-mounted spare wheel – also fitted with a full-sized alloy wheel – and a square rear bumper with integrated tow bar mounting bracket and 12Volt power plug. The rear luggage door is hydraulically assisted, and a spare wheel cover is standard.
It boast:
Power: 162 kW @ 5 500 r/min
Torque: 380 Nm @ 1 800 r/min to 3 600 r/min
Transmission: 8-speed Automatic gearbox
Fuel consumption: 9.5 litres / 100 km
Safety and security is clearly evident in Tank 300, thanks to its stability control (ESC and ESP and ETC).
Tank is built on a very solid foundation with a sturdy off-road chassis, high-strength passenger cell and a suspension system developed to offer the best of all worlds.
In my seTswana language we call it ‘TANKA’, is it ready though to disrupt the SUV market in SA- hell yeah, after testing it.
All models are sold with a 7-year / 200 000 km new vehicle warranty and unlimited roadside assistance for the same period.
A 5-year / 75 000 km service plan is included across the range, and service intervals are 12 months or every 15 000 km whichever comes first.
The HEV model has an additional warranty that covers the complete high-voltage system and vehicle battery for a full 8-years / 150 000 km.
The GWM TANK 300 range comprise of the following models:
• Tank 300 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Super Luxury R725 950 (Available Late Q1)
• Tank 300 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Ultra Luxury R775 950 (Available Late Q1)
• Tank 300 HEV 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Super Luxury R851 950
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (7)
Fuel 1-10 (6)
Top all images SLM (Off road tsar. GWM Tank 300 ticks all the corners).
