On July 23, Great Wall Motor’s Tank brand officially released the first images of the new Tank 500. From the official photos, the SUV largely retains the current model’s design language with only minor refinements, giving it an even more rugged appearance. The most notable upgrade is the addition of LiDAR, enabling full-scenario NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) functionality, which is expected to significantly enhance its driver-assistance capabilities. The new model also introduces rear-seat ceiling-mounted entertainment screens and a refrigerator.
Exterior
The new Tank 500 draws design inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture. The front fascia features a large grille decorated with horizontal chrome strips and a centrally placed Tank brand logo, flanked by uniquely shaped headlights for a striking visual effect. The side and rear profiles remain largely unchanged apart from detail optimization. A new green exterior paint option has been added, offering a refreshing look. Dimensions remain consistent with the current model at 5078 × 1934 × 1905 mm with a 2850 mm wheelbase. At the rear, the SUV retains its signature vertical LED light strips and externally mounted spare tire, with the addition of a new “GWM” badge highlighting its identity.
Interior
Inside, the layout remains familiar, with straight dashboard lines, a large floating central touchscreen, and a full LCD instrument panel, running on the Coffee OS 3 infotainment system. One notable change is the removal of the traditional T-shaped gear lever on the center console, replaced with a column-mounted shifter, further enhancing the high-tech feel. Seating is arranged in a 2+3 layout, with upgrades such as a rear entertainment screen, onboard refrigerator, and ventilated/heated rear seats, substantially improving passenger comfort.
Powertrain
According to regulatory filings, the new Tank 500 will be powered by a plug-in hybrid system combining a 2.0T engine (185 kW) and an electric motor. For comparison, the current Tank 500 Hi4-T features a single motor (120 kW) paired with a 37.1 kWh battery, offering 110 km WLTC pure-electric range, while the Hi4-Z variant uses dual motors with 455 kW combined output and a 59.05 kWh battery, delivering 201 km WLTC pure-electric range.
Brand Background
Launched in April 2021, Tank is Great Wall Motor’s high-end off-road brand. The Tank 500, a mid-to-large SUV and the second model under the Tank brand, debuted in March 2022. Built on the Tank platform with a body-on-frame design, it was originally priced between RMB 335,000 and RMB 355,000, later joined by the Hi4-T and Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid variants. Current pricing ranges from RMB 335,000–395,000 for the Tank 500, RMB 335,000–345,000 for the Hi4-T, and RMB 363,800 for the Hi4-Z.
Tank’s current lineup includes the Tank 300, Tank 400, Tank 500, and Tank 700, with the Tank 300 as its best-seller. Official data shows that in the first half of this year, Tank brand sales totaled 103,700 units, down 10.67% year-on-year. Retail data highlights the top three models as the Tank 300 (27,400 units), Tank 500 NEV (20,300 units), and Tank 400 NEV (15,900 units). Other sales included Tank 300 NEV (12,700 units), Tank 700 NEV (3,000 units), Tank 400 (2,000 units), and Tank 500 (1,000 units).
