Latest news with #ToyotaPrado
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
GWM upgrades its answer to the Toyota Prado
GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. 'For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version,' said a GWM Australia spokesperson. '[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China.' China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. 'There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market,' the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. 'The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal.' Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. '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 told us previously.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
GWM upgrades its answer to the Toyota Prado
GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version,' said a GWM Australia spokesperson. '[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China.' China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. 'There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market,' the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. 'The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. Supplied Credit: CarExpert GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. '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 told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
GWM upgrades its answer to the Toyota Prado
GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version," said a GWM Australia spokesperson. "[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China." China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. "There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market," the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. "The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal." Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. "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 told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version," said a GWM Australia spokesperson. "[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China." China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. "There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market," the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. "The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal." Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. "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 told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version," said a GWM Australia spokesperson. "[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China." China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. "There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market," the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. "The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal." Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. "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 told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from: GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. "For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version," said a GWM Australia spokesperson. "[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China." China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. "There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market," the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. "The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal." Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. "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 told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500 Content originally sourced from:
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
Nurse killed in Keningau accident
Fire and rescue personnel extracting the victim's body from the car. KENINGAU (July 26): A nurse was killed in a road accident along Jalan Patikang Ulu, here on Friday. Keningau District Police Chief Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said the 47-year-old victim, who was attached with the Keningau Hospital, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics in the 4.10pm incident. Based on police investigation, the victim was driving her Perodua Axia car and was making a turn into Patikang Laut when a Toyota Prado, driven by a 62-year-old man, rammed the right side of her car. The victim was pinned at the driver's seat and fire and rescue personnel extracted her body and taken to the Keningau Hospital for a postmortem. Family members have been notified of the incident, said Yampil. The Toyota Prado driver has been detained for investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Man of Many
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Man of Many
Spotted! BYD Denza B5 Testing in Sydney Ahead of Expected End-of-Year Arrival
By Ben McKimm - News Published: 24 Jul 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Upcoming Denza B5 targets Ford Everest, Toyota Prado SUV buyers Ladder‑frame SUV packs 100 km EV range, 505 kW, 0‑100 km/h 4.8 s Denza B5 pricing expected near AUD $80k, Australian launch expected before 2025‑end Chinese-made cars have continued to assert their dominance on the new car market in Australia, squeezing the sales of household names like Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford, and even Toyota. Despite a slowing market, Chinese brands have seen an uptick in sales, with the 102,938 cars sold through June 2025 representing a 6,323 increase over the same period last year. While most new Chinese car brands are unrecognisable to the average punter, one reigns supreme, BYD. Their sales have continued to climb in a tough market with the BYD Shark 6, Sealion 6, and Sealion 7 BEV challenging each of the top-selling car brands category leaders in the Ford Ranger, Toyota RAV4, and Tesla Model Y. Now, they're coming for the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado with the soon-to-be-released BYD Denza B5. The Denza B5 sits on a ladder frame chassis like the Shark 6 and features a 31.8kWh Blade battery capable of 100km of electric-only driving range. This battery is backed by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol 4-cylinder engine that keeps the battery charged, and works as a generator for the majority of the time. When power is combined, however, you'll be able to unleash a combined 505kW and 760Nm of torque, which is good for 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds. Of course, these figures have not been confirmed for our market. BYD Denza B5 | Image: The Driven / Adam C Known as the Fang Cheng Bao Leopard Bao 5 in China, the B5 off-roader will likely be sold under the new Denza brand in Australia, although the name is yet to be confirmed. BYD Australia senior product manager Sajid Hasan confirmed to Chasing Cars that the BYD Denza B5 will be the first model for the brand, but stopped before confirming its arrival timing. 'The B5 will be the first model…I'm confirming it now.' He then stated that the Bao 8 4×4, Denza N9 large SUV, Z9 GT sports wagon, and D9 luxury people mover and on the wish list, too. We spotted the camo-covered Denza B5 cruising along the Pacific Highway near Chatswood in busy peak-hour traffic, and then a reader of The Driven shared photos with the publication showcasing the vehicle charging at a Tesla Supercharger in the same area, likely just after we snapped these photos. BYD Denza B5 | Image: Supplied BYD Denza B5 | Image: Supplied With a combined 505kW of power and 760Nm of torque from a 285kW rear electric motor, 200kW front motor, and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol 4-cylinder engine, the 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds will entice key decision makers in the buying process. It's likely the Denza B5 will follow the Shark 6s lead in giving the large SUV segment a significant shake-up. Indeed, many Ford Everest and Toyota Prado buyers wouldn't bat an eye at a dual electric motor powered 'Super Hybrid' off-roader because of concerns about reliability off the beaten path. However, the same was previously said about the BYD Shark 6, and that car has proven to be nothing but a dominant sales success for the Chinese car brand with 10,424 vehicles sold through June 2025. Measuring 4,890mm long, 1,970mm wide, 1,920mm tall and with a 2800mm wheelbase, the B5 is slightly shorter than the Toyota Prado, which is considered to be a main competitor. It's slightly larger than the GWM Tank 300, which is another Chinese-made hybrid off-roader you can buy right now. The main thing to keep in mind with the Denza label is that, like the recently unveiled IM MG sub-brand, Denza is a premium brand under the BYD umbrella. That means the pricing for the Denza B5 is very likely going to land in the AUD$80,000 drive-away region, which makes it more expensive than cars like the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado, and ISUZU MU-X, at least in base specification. We expected the BYD Denza B5 to arrive before the end of 2025, and with a test mule cruising around Sydney streets, it looks like that's a very strong possibility. We then expect to see the larger, Denza B8 to arrive sometime next year with a 550kW powertrain and 3305kg kerb weight.
