GWM South Africa has confirmed to Cars.co.za that it plans to launch a turbodiesel version of the Tank 300 in the opening quarter of 2025. Here’s what we know so far…
The GWM Tank 300 range in South Africa currently comprises turbopetrol and hybrid derivatives. However, the Chinese automaker’s local division has confirmed to Cars.co.za that it plans to add a turbodiesel engine to the portfolio in the opening quarter of 2025.
Desmond Els, Sales Director at GWM South Africa, broke the news during a wide-ranging interview conducted in Cars.co.za’s custom-built podcast booth at Naamsa’s recent South African Auto Week 2024 in Cape Town, confirming that the local Tank 300 line-up will soon expand into the popular turbodiesel 4×4 segment.
“We introduced the Tank 300 with the ICE [internal combustion engine] derivatives as well as the HEV [hybrid electric vehicle] derivative. Knowing that the South African market is very diesel orientated – I’ll give you a sneak [peek] on that – the diesel is on its way. The diesel is planned for Q1 2025,” Els told us.
“Our brand expansion is currently happening in the way we’re bringing the right car to market and finding the right car for the right customer. Knowing that the South African market is very pro diesel, we know we need to get to market as quickly as possible,” he added.
Though Els didn’t go into detail about the turbodiesel motor, we know it’s the new 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine that debuted in the P500, which itself launched locally in August 2024. This engine will also be rolled out to the facelifted P-Series (which will wear the P300 badge locally) due to hit the market in early 2025.
As it does in those applications, we expect this new GW4D24 oil-burner to generate peak outputs of 135 kW and 480 Nm in the ladder-frame SUV, with drive likely delivered (again to all 4 corners) via a 9-speed automatic transmission. Compared with the current turbopetrol and hybrid derivatives, it should also offer improved fuel economy.
As a reminder, the Tank 300 launched in South Africa in February 2024. The local line-up currently comprises 3 derivatives – the 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Super Luxury (R725 950), the 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Ultra Luxury (R775 950) and the hybrid-powered 2.0T HEV 9HAT 4×4 Super Luxury (R851 950) – though we’ve also seen some dealers advertising a flagship 2.0T HEV 9HAT 4×4 Ultra Luxury (R925 000).
The initial 2 variants employ the firm’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine, which sends 162 kW and 380 Nm to all 4 corners via an 8-speed automatic transmission (with combined fuel consumption listed as 9.5 L/100 km). Meanwhile, the hybrid powertrain is based on a similarly sized 4-pot but churns out total system outputs of 255 kW and 648 Nm. The dual-powered variants switch to a 9-speed automatic transmission, while claimed fuel economy is 8.4 L/100 km.
Year to date at the end of September 2024, GWM South Africa had registered 380 units of the Tank 300, taking this nameplate’s tally to 381 units (a single example was registered back in October 2023, presumably as part of the vehicle’s local homologation process).
Interestingly, sales of the SUV appear to be on a general upward trend, having increased from 11 units in February to 38 units in March, before falling back slightly to 35 registrations in April. That number grew to 48 units in May, 54 in June and 56 in July, though the Tank 300’s best month so far was August (62 units), closely followed by September (61 units).
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