- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
Great Wall Tanks
It’s an unexpected move to create a gasoline-powered body-on-frame SUV brand in the era of crossover SUVs and electric cars! The Tank brand was founded by a private Chinese company Great Wall Motors in early 2021 and is intended for body-on-frame SUVs only. There are only two so far, and they have been given numerical names: the first small Tank 300 and the large Tank 500. There will be a huge top-end Tank 800 and various other sizes. Find out what “Great Wall Tanks” are.
The company logo looks like a rounded rectangle with a rough "T" and the TANK signature underneath. If you turn on the imagination, the emblem looks like a stylized image of a warrior's head in a helmet.
Initially, the first Tank 300 model went on sale under the WEY brand in December 2020. Therefore, the brand has no history yet. It wasn’t until March 2021 that Great Wall Motors realized that it wasn’t a bad idea to sell SUVs under a separate brand. This is how Tank was born. The model with the 300 index turned out to be not only the very first, but also the smallest model of the newborn brand. As part of the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, two more SUVs were presented: Tank 700 and Tank 800. In August 2021, the Tanks 400, 500 and 600 were announced. That is, the idea clearly took root, and the inexorable wheel of Chinese industry began to turn.
It should be noted that all ‘Tanks’ look quite different, as they don’t have a unique corporate style. Probably, the manufacturer wants to please as many customers as possible or is just looking for its “face”. But the plans are great: 5 models in the next 5 years and the desired sales volume of cars under the Tank brand of half a million units per year! But there are currently two production vehicles: 300 and 500.
The idea of the car manufacturer is not at all far-fetched: with an affordable price and good quality, the Tanks will conquer many markets in many countries where the road network has problems. For example, they have already been certified in the Russian Federation.
Model range
Tank 300
The mid-size SUV with a length of 4,760 mm and a wheelbase of 2,750 mm. The vehicle looks serious not only thanks to its angular shapes with flat body panels, but also to unpainted bumpers, wide wheel arches, floor mirrors and a spare wheel attached to the tailgate. The SUV is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 227 hp and 387 Nm, coupled to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, which allows acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 seconds. The manufacturer reports that the maximum speed reaches 170 km/h. The vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive with a hard-locking clutch, locks for the differentials between the wheels and a reduction gearbox. All this combined with excellent geometry promises good performance even in difficult off-road conditions. In the first half of 2021, 33,000 vehicles were sold at a price of 27,000 dollars or more.
Tank 500
The full-size, 5- or 7-seater SUV with a length of 4,878 mm. The vehicle was presented in the last days of summer 2021. It is equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The total power reaches 349 horsepower and 500 Nm. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The model has an eye-catching appearance and rich equipment: a head-up display, heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows, a panoramic roof, natural leather seat upholstery and woodgrain inserts. The vehicle is premium or almost premium.
Tank 400
It is more compact than the 500. Only a 2021 concept is now available. It’s a rugged SUV with a 2,850 mm wheelbase, 18-inch wheels and a swing-out tailgate with a spare tire attached. The 5-seater vehicle has a large-screen multimedia system, leather interior, dual-zone climate control and a sunroof. The Tank 400 has received a body-on-frame structure, independent front suspension and a solid axle at the rear, as well as all-wheel drive with a reduction gear and locking of the two differentials between the wheels. The vehicle will be produced in 2023.
Tank 700
It looks glamorous even for a concept car: a faceted body with a sunroof and wide fenders, accentuated by a contrasting color. The vehicle looks retro. The SUV has wheels with a diameter of 22 inches and a swinging tailgate with a spare wheel. The second row consists of separate seats with separate screens of the multimedia system. It will be equipped with two gasoline engines of 2.0 and 3.0 liters, independent spring suspension and all-wheel drive with locking of the three differentials.
Tank 800
The future flagship model of the young brand will receive a length of more than 5 m and the usual longitudinal layout of the engine. Presented at the 2021Beijing Motor Show, the concept car is made in a spectacular two-tone color, has a 4-seater interior and rich equipment: the rear seats are equipped with an electric drive, ventilation, massage and retractable footrests. At the heart of the beautiful vehicle is the Great Wall X Cannon pickup platform. The suspension is also independent, but already pneumatic and equipped with adaptive shock absorbers, the wheels have a diameter of 22 inches. The concept car comes with a 3-liter V6 gasoline engine with two turbines. The entry-level version is equipped with an engine producing 354 hp at 500 Nm, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. A more powerful hybrid version with an electric motor is in development.
