The Tank brand—Great Wall Motors’ dedicated off-road division—has officially unveiled its most ambitious creation yet: the GWM Tank 700. The debut took place in Baoding, the Chinese city that serves as GWM’s global headquarters, and the new vehicle makes an unmistakable statement about the brand’s ambitions in the premium SUV segment.
We were there, and now we’re here to tell why this off-roader can be a strong success in the segment when will be available in Europe next year.
Design: Bold and Uncompromising
The Tank 700 is not a vehicle designed to blend into the background. Its styling philosophy embraces massively proportioned, squared-off lines with clear homages to classic German and British off-roaders, enhanced by a series of aggressive, sport-inspired details that announce the vehicle’s premium pretensions.
Among the most striking design elements is a protruding rear spoiler that integrates directly with the roof bars—a curious detail that exemplifies the designers’ commitment to visual impact. The front end features a prominent simulated air intake and a broad grille, while laser headlights are intersected by lines that extend toward the hood. Two vertically-oriented LED daytime running lights crown the upper section of the windshield.
With overall dimensions of 5.105 meters in length, 2.061 meters in width, and 1.985 meters in height, the Tank 700 is a genuinely large off-roader that would position it squarely in the full-size SUV segment if it were ever marketed in Europe—a prospect that remains unconfirmed for now.
Under the Hood: Hybrid Power
The Tank 700 Hi4-Z model is powered by a plug-in hybrid system that combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 59.05 kWh battery pack. This powertrain generates an impressive 851 peak horsepower while providing a maximum electric-only range of 190 kilometers under the Chinese WLTC homologation cycle.
The vehicle rides on a traditional ladder-frame chassis and features full-time all-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of up to 2,500 kilograms (with brakes), making it genuinely capable of serious off-road work despite its premium positioning.
Interior: Technology Meets Luxury
If the exterior embraces aggression, the cabin adopts a more refined and restrained aesthetic. Premium ambitions are evident from the moment you step inside, beginning with the high-quality perceived materials throughout.
Seating is appointed in soft, leather-like upholstery extended across consoles and door panels—including the lower extremities, where many manufacturers still settle for hard plastics. The technology suite includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster paired with a 15.6-inch central display, though the latter doesn’t monopolize all functions. Instead, two banks of physical controls are arranged on separate levels below the main screen.
The rear passengers enjoy their own entertainment system: a 17.3-inch display that automatically rises from the ceiling headliner. Additional amenities for rear passengers include an independent climate control panel and an integrated display positioned between the two rear seats. Perhaps most peculiarly, the Tank 700 includes a miniature climate-controlled bar that can maintain contents at temperatures between -6 and 50 degrees Celsius.
Safety and Assistance Systems
The Tank 700’s suite of advanced driver assistance features is supported by 27 sensors distributed throughout the vehicle, including a lidar unit positioned at the top center of the windshield. This comprehensive sensor architecture enables sophisticated autonomous driving capabilities and enhanced safety systems.
The Tank 700 represents a significant step forward for the brand, combining authentic off-road capability with premium comfort and technology—a formula that has proven successful for traditional luxury manufacturers, and one that Chinese brands are now executing with increasing confidence.
