GWM (Great Wall Motors) has debuted the updated plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the GWM Tank 500 in China. The update features a range of changes to the SUV’s exterior, interior, and its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features, ahead of its pre-sale, which starts in August 2025, CarNewsChina reports.
With the update, the GWM Tank 500 exterior has introduced a new front grille design, which, perhaps, makes it look more similar to the LC200-series Toyota Land Cruiser that the Tank 500 could be inspired by.
There’s also a new LiDAR unit mounted on the roof, with additional new optical cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler, hinting at upgraded ADAS capabilities powered by GWM’s quirky-named third-generation “Coffee Pilot Ultra.” It is not known if the LiDAR sensor will be a standard feature across the range.
Inside, the interior of the Chinese-market Tank 500 is similar to the Malaysian-spec Tank 500, despite different interior colour options. It features a 14.6-inch infotainment display running on Coffee OS 3 and a 12.3-inch LCD digital instrument panel. A notable difference can be found on the centre console, as the Chinese model omits the conventional gear-shift lever for a column-mounted gear stalk lever. With the extra real estate, this has allowed GWM to insert two wireless charging pads and a row of physical vehicle controls.
Another difference is that rear passengers have access to a ceiling-mounted 17.3-inch display that supports gesture, voice, touch, and remote control. Additional creature comforts include Nappa leather upholstered seats with heating and ventilation, with the back seats featuring a 25 to 35-degree recline adjustment.
In the Middle Kingdom, the GWM Tank 500 is available with the Hi4-T and the Hi4-Z PHEV powertrains, alongside a non-hybrid 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The update did not introduce any changes to the PHEV powertrains, which are differentiated by their overall outputs and battery pack sizes.
The Hi4-T trim sees a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 251 hp, paired with an electric motor and a nine-speed automatic gearbox for a combined output of 408 hp (300 kW) and 750 Nm of torque. This is equipped with a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium (NMC) battery pack that enables a pure EV range of 110 km.
Moving to the Hi4-Z trim adds an additional electric motor to the powertrain, mated to a three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission that produces a whopping combined 877 hp (645 kW). This is paired with a larger 59.05 kWh NMC battery pack that bumps the EV range up to 201 km, presumably on the lenient CLTC cycle.
RELATED: GWM is building a supercar – but what’s under the hood?
The debut of the updated GWM Tank 500 follows the debut of the updated GWM Tank 300 in China in early 2025, which also received a redesigned interior with a similar centre console layout. Closer to home, both the GWM Tank 500 and Tank 300 soldier on in their pre-updated guise, selling at RM250,000 for the Tank 300 and RM328,800 for the Tank 500.
It remains to be seen if GWM Malaysia has any immediate plans to introduce these updated SUVs, especially considering their relatively recent local debuts. The GWM Tank 500 only made its Malaysian debut mid-year at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, while the GWM Tank 300 was launched in mid-2024, with both models currently being fully imported (CBU) from Thailand.
ALSO READ: GWM Ora Good Cat GT, Wey 80 to launch in Malaysia in 2025
