Latest news with #SteveMaciver
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
The ute war: GWM fires shot at BYD
In the battle of the beasts, GWM is positioning its new plug-in hybrid Cannon Alpha as the apex predator. During an exclusive roundtable briefing, GWM Australia marketing chief Steve Maciver laid it out clearly: It's hunting down the BYD Shark 6. 'BYD has done a great job launching that car and got some good volume out of it very, very quickly, but we feel now is our time,' he said. 'We feel hand on heart looking you in the eye, we do have a better vehicle.' The BYD Shark 6 is the first PHEV ute to launch into the Australian market and has so far been successful. It is currently the fourth-best selling 4×4 dual cab in Australia behind only the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max. So it's no surprise rivals feel threatened by the Shark. But it's not usual for companies to boldly target a competitor but GWM didn't hold back. 'We're second to the market, but we're not second best,' a GWM spokesperson said. 'We feel now is our time. We've got to absolutely take the fight to BYD Shark and the full range of [PHEV] utes.' GWM claimed the Shark 6's lower towing capacity, limited off-road capability and design compromises is the result of the company building a 'plug-in hybrid system' first. Unlike the Cannon Alpha which was engineered as a 'ute first, EV second', specifically for Australian conditions. 'They've just got a system and then built a ute around it,' a GWM spokesperson said. 'We understand our customers.' BYD's Shark is rated to tow 2.5 tonnes and the Cannon Alpha is 3.5 tonnes – a number GWM said was non-negotiable after receiving customer feedback. 'It would be remiss of us not to bring three and a half tonne, regardless of what the powertrain is,' a GWM spokesperson said. TESTED: Kia's new Tasman ute So how do the predators stack up? Well in terms of battery, the Cannon wins points as it carries a 37.1kWh pack (split into A/B cells), the largest currently available in any PHEV ute. GWM claims a class-leading 115km pure electric range and 1060 km combined. BYD lists 100km EV range and 840km combined, while the Ranger (arriving mid-year) offers approximately 49km of EV-only range, less than half of GWM's range. GWM says its ute achieved 1.7L/100km, also 'best in class' but real world figures will likely be much higher. Cannon Alpha outputs 300kW and 750Nm via a hybrid 2.0-litre turbo engine paired to a nine-speed automatic and mechanical 4WD. BYD offers 320kW combined power (1.5-litre turbo and two electric motors), 650Nm torque with a dual-motor setup. The Ranger pairs a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (138kW/411Nm) with a 75kW electric motor, offering a combined output of 213kW, less than Alpha and Shark. However, these claims are made on the ADR81/02-NEDC standard. While the BYD Shark 6 undercuts the Cannon Alpha at $57,900 for the single model, GWM is pitching the Cannon Alpha models from $59,660 Lux and $66,990 (all pricing plus on-road costs), Ford is pricing high with the entry-level XLT starting at $71,900 (before on road-costs), with the top of the range Sport and Wildtrak variants priced up to $86,990 (before on road-costs). But GWM insists the slight premium is justified by a long list of extra features – including better towing, a larger battery, superior off-road capability and a 'world class' warranty (7 years warranty, 7 years roadside assist, 7 years capped price servicing). If the Shark was the first in the water, the Cannon Alpha is now asserting itself, not just over the Shark and Ranger but as the Alpha of the PHEV ute segment.
7NEWS
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 GWM Tank 300 gets payload, towing upgrades, but large SUV lineup shrinks
GWM just added a diesel engine to its Tank 300, and now it has treated petrol and hybrid versions of the large off-road SUV to updates aimed at increasing their capability. More than 20 engineering enhancements applied to the diesel-powered Tank 300, launched earlier this year and pictured below, have now been extended to petrol and hybrid variants – for no extra charge, with pricing remaining unchanged. These enhancements larger front brake rotors and calipers, a reinforced prop shaft, upgraded wheel bearings, and strengthened front suspension knuckles. As a consequence, petrol and hybrid versions of the Tank 300 now match the diesel with a braked towing capacity of 3000kg, up from 2500kg. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Payload has also been increased to a minimum of 600kg (Ultra Hybrid) and a maximum of 610kg (Ultra petrol). Again, this effectively matches diesel vehicles which have a payload of 600kg. Petrol and hybrid Tank 300s previously had maximum payload figures of 397kg and 420kg, respectively. Coinciding with these updates, however, GWM has axed the petrol and hybrid versions of the entry-level Tank 300 Lux. These powertrains can still be had in flagship Ultra trim, while the diesel continues to be offered in both Lux and Ultra trims. GWM notes the diesel now accounts for 60 per cent of monthly Tank 300 sales, which led to the axing of the two variants. 'These important updates reflect our global team's growing understanding of the Australian market, where towing capability and payload remains a key consideration for buyers in this segment', said Steve Maciver, GWM Australia and New Zealand's head of marketing and communications. While the Tank 300 can now tow more than before, it still falls just shy of the Toyota Fortuner's 3100kg figure, as well as the class-leading 3500kg offered by the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado and Isuzu MU-X. The Tank 300's higher towing capacity pushes it into the 'heavy off-road passenger vehicles' category under the Australian Government's incoming New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations. The government says a 'heavy off-road passenger vehicle' is an MC-category vehicle with a rated towing capacity of three tonnes or more, and featuring body-on-frame construction. This puts the Tank 300 diesel in a category with a higher CO2 emissions target than that for petrol and hybrid variants. To the end of April this year, GWM has delivered 1278 Tank 300 vehicles, which is 11.6 per cent less than in the same period last year. It's sitting just ahead of the Fortuner (1250 deliveries), and is also ahead of the LDV D90 (1022) and KGM SsangYong Rexton (518).
7NEWS
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 GWM Tank 500 PHEV to beat Prado, Everest in offering plug-in power in Australia
The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. 'It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing,' GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025.
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2025 GWM Tank 500 PHEV to beat Prado, Everest in offering plug-in power in Australia
The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Tank 500 Hi4-T Credit: CarExpert This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. 'It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing,' GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Tank 500 Hi4-Z Credit: CarExpert Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. Hi4-Z system Credit: CarExpert In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. Supplied Credit: CarExpert With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 GWM Tank 500 PHEV to beat Prado, Everest in offering plug-in power in Australia
The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. "It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing," GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. "It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing," GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. "It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing," GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: The GWM Tank 500 PHEV has been locked in for a local launch in the third quarter of 2025 as the Chinese brand looks to simultaneously expand its range of off-roaders and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The Tank 500 large SUV was launched as a rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest off-roaders in 2024 and remains available only with a non-plug-in hybrid powertrain – the first large, body-on-frame SUV in Australia to offer such a powertrain. The addition of the Tank 500 PHEV will see it beat the Prado and Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025. Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously told CarExpert a PHEV would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current HEV. Deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. This could mean a starting price of between $72,490 and $82,490 over the entry-level Tank 500 Lux, with the top-spec Ultra somewhere between $79,990 and $88,990 before on-road costs – the highest list-price to-date for a GWM sold here. "It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack … range and battery size is what defines pricing," GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver explained. The automaker is yet to announce which powertrain will be under the bonnet when the Tank 500 PHEV lands in Australia, with CarExpert understanding the critical decision is yet to be made. Two PHEV options are on the table, the 'Hi4-T' and the new generation 'Hi4-Z' systems which, while sounding related, are two different approaches to PHEV tech. Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability. The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design. Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm. The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range. Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions. The Hi4-T system is used in the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV landing in Australian showrooms and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV. Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery. With a combined 300kW/750Nm the Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV tested by CarExpert had 45kW and 102Nm higher outputs than the current HEV sold in Australia, but it also carried an additional 398kg. Yet at 2980kg the Tank 500 Hi40-Z is 150kg heavier still. While seeming less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T was still capable of water wading 800mm and had similar approach and departure angles to the current HEV – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less. Tank 500 sales in Australia are up 134.3 per cent year-on-year to the end of April, contributing to a record first-quarter local sales for the automaker. Further details are expected ahead of the Tank 500 PHEV's arrival in the third quarter of 2025. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from:
