World Premiere: GWM Tank 700 can cross 970mm deep floods

GWM Tank 700 Hi4T is a plug-in hybrid off-road SUV

GWM wanted to make its presence felt in the 4x4 segment when they recently previewed the Tank 300 SUV in the country. It has the classic boxy look, and it has all the tech it needs to be more than capable off-road.

Now it looks like GWM has come up with something that takes things a notch higher. At the 2023 Guangzhou Auto, the brand has launched the Tank 700 – the largest electrified 4x4 SUV in the GWM lineup to date.

The Tank 700 is more than 5 meters long, and is built on a body-on-frame structure that GWM believes is the best architecture for off-road use.

Compared to the Tank 300 which has that Jeep Wrangler / Renegade vibe, the Tank 700 looks more like GWM's version of an AMG G-Wagon. It has wide wheel arches, a sporty front bumper, a roof spoiler, and an aggressive rear diffuser.

Like the Tank 300, the Tank 700 has its spare wheel at the back, while the rear trunk door opens in a swing-out fashion. To top off the performance SUV look, the Tank 700 is wearing 22-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires.

Under the hood of the Tank 700 is a 3.0-liter, bi-turbo V6 that's paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. Yes, the Tank 700 is an electrified 4x4, and uses a plug-in hybrid system. When combined, the Tank 700's hybrid powertrain puts out 523 PS and 850 Nm of torque. In full-electric mode, the Tank 700's 37.1 kWh battery gives it an estimated range of 90 km.

GWM calls its hybrid 4x4 tech as Hi4-T, or the Hybrid Intelligent 4x4. It operates like a full-time 4WD system with 2H/4H/4L modes along with locking differentials for the front and rear. Depending on the situation, the system can intelligently deploy power to make efficient use of energy.

Despite being a plug-in hybrid, the Tank 700 has an impressive rated water-wading depth of 900 mm. But wait, there's more. The SUV also has a feature called wading mode, which effectively allows it to cross water streams up to 970 mm deep.

In terms of off-road tech, the Tank 700 shares features you can see in flagship 4x4s like the Range Rover and the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Tank 700 has air suspension with adaptive e-dampers for better road holding and ride comfort. On the trail, the Tank 700 also features a system similar to the Toyota KDSS that disconnects the stabilizer bars for greater suspension travel and wheel articulation.

For now, GWM has not announced which markets are getting the Tank 700 Hi4-T SUV, but this is indeed something to watch out for in the coming months.