GWM has been caught testing a turbocharged V6 version of its rugged Tank 300 off-roader.
Tycho de Feijter, a writer for CarNewsChina, has shared images of the V6-powered Tank 300 on X (formerly Twitter), reportedly due to go on sale in China in early 2024.
From the pictures we can see that the exterior of the Tank 300 has received minimal changes.
However, this tester appears to feature smaller, bead-lock capable rims wearing tyres with thicker sidewalls than the standard Tank 300.
Another point of difference from the standard Tank 300 is the presence of a winch in the front bumper of the prototype.
Mr de Feijter also reports the Tank 300 V6 has a different centre tunnel, likely packaging different transmission options to the four-cylinder model.
GWM uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 in various other Tank-branded models.
In the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series-sized Tank 500 and Tank 700 models, the turbocharged V6 makes around 260kW of power and 500Nm of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and features 48V mild-hybrid technology.
These outputs align with the GWM Shanhai Cannon ute, expected in Australia late in 2023 along with the Tank 500.
GWM’s Tank SUV brand is currently growing at a rapid rate, having revealed the production-spec 400, 500 and 700 plus a concept 800 flagship.
Currently, the Tank 300 offers a turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder in addition to a petrol option, something no other body-on-frame SUV can offer in Australia.
The standard petrol option in the Tank 300 is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 162kW of power and 380Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Petrol models use a part-time four-wheel drive system and feature a locking rear differential and a Tank Turn function to reduce the turning circle.
The Tank 300 hybrid uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180kW of power at 5500-6000rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1700-4000rpm, paired with a 78kW/268Nm electric motor.
Total system outputs are 258kW and 615Nm.
Hybrid models use a nine-speed ‘Hybrid Automatic Transmission’ and a ‘torque-on-demand’ full-time four-wheel drive system.
At the moment, rivals for a V6-powered Tank 300 in Australia are few and far between.
The Tank 300 measures 4760mm long, 1930mm wide and 1903mm tall. This makes the model slightly smaller than its closest V6 rival, the diesel-only Ford Everest. The Everest is 4914mm long, 2207mm wide, and up to 1842mm tall.
The Toyota LandCruiser 300 features a turbocharged diesel V6, but is a step above the Everest and Tank 300 in size, while the Ineos Grenadier offers both inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel options but a considerably higher price tag than the four-cylinder Tank 300.
The Jeep Wrangler is another rugged off-roader with a six-cylinder option. However the Jeep’s V6 powerplant is naturally aspirated and makes 209kW of power and 347Nm of torque.
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