Previewed: GWM TANK 500 And GWM WEY 80 At KLIMS – Seven-Seater HEV SUV And PHEV MPV

GWM TANK 500 and GWM WEY 80, previewed at KLIMS

Great Wall Motor (GWM) at the 2024 Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) with two new model previews under its sub-brands, the GWM TANK 500 and GWM WEY 80.

Both are seven-seaters, with the former being a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) SUV positioned above the five-seater TANK 300 and the latter a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) MPV known as the Gaoshan in the China market. 

GWM TANK 500 off-road ruggedness and GWM WEY 80 urban luxury

Outlook, the TANK 500 resembles the ruggedness of the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner with its beefy and solid build. Exterior fitments include a Chrome front grille, LED head lamps and fog lamps, 20-Inch multi-spoke alloy wheels (Silver), and retractable side steps.

Meanwhile, the WEY 80 takes a more luxurious note from the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM with its upright and clean-cut contours. Exterior equipment includes a Chrome front grille, LED head lamps, electric sliding doors, hidden door handles, Chrome window surrounds, large glass panels, and 18-Inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. 

Dimension-wise, the SUV stands at 4,928 MM long, 1,934 MM wide, 1,905 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,850 MM, while the MPV measures in at 5,045 MM long, 1,960 MM wide, 1,900 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,085 MM.

GWM TANK 500 HEV SUV and GWM WEY 80 PHEV MPV

Powering the HEV is a 2.0-Litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, working with a hybrid electric motor (258 KW/346 HP, 658 NM), which power is then transmitted to all four wheels via a nine-speed Hydraulic Automatic Transmission (HAT).

The setup runs on an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, featuring up to 11 selectable drive modes, and comes with front and rear electronic differential locks that provides it with better off-roading capabilities. 

Also installed is a ‘Tank Turn’ function that applies the braking force to reduce the car’s turning radius, an off-road cruise control system, water wading depth detection, as well as ‘Body Transparent Mode’, where few exterior cameras are being used to project the road image under and in front of the car for better visibility.

As for the PHEV, it underpins the brand’s Hi4 plug-in hybrid system, fusing a 1.5-Litre turbocharged petrol engine (154 HP) with two electric motors (total output - 480 HP/358 KW, 762 NM), churned by a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) system. A ternary lithium battery with 37.96 KWH output provides up to 140 KM (CLTC) of range. 

GWM TANK 500 interior fitments

Interior-wise, the TANK 500 gets a 14.6-Inch touchscreen infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, complemented by a 12-speaker sound system, and for the driver is a 12.3-Inch digital instrument cluster, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with power-adjustments and paddle shifters.

Elsewhere, included items are Nappa leather upholstery, electric-powered front seats with driver-memory function, second-row sunshades, as well as powered backrests for the third-row seats – making them easier to fold down for much bigger cargo space.

GWM WEY 80 interior fitments

Moving inside the WEY 80, its interior features a 2+2+3 seating layout with zero gravity seats (8-way, 10-point massage, memory, heating/ventilation), second-/third-row seats with a shared rail design (extra-long slide rail for second-row seating adjustment - 1,845 MM), allowing up to 1,166 MM of legroom to be gained for second-row occupants, and a third-row with a split butterfly seat design, which provides a 40:60 split-tip-up seat folding.

Others, included is a 27-Inch 4K dual screen setup (driver, central) with a Head-Up Display (HUD) for the driver, rear-view streaming (second-row screens), a Harman Kardon sound system (1,600 W, 16 speakers), foldable tables, a wireless charger (50 W), a 12.5-Litre fridge with an independent compressor and adjustable temperature (0 - 50°C), and also a dedicated air fragrance system, with three themed choices to pick from.

That said, no exact pricing has been announced, but according to the company, the TANK 500 and WEY 80 have an estimated price range between MYR 100,000 to MYR 400,000 for both models. 

After evaluating their stats, will these two soon-to-be contenders satisfy the Malaysian needs for rugged off-roading and luxurious urban cruising once they are launched locally? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.