China’s GWM has just introduced a sought-after turbo-diesel engine option to its Tank 300 off-roader in Australia, and executives have claimed it likely wouldn’t have happened had there not been a local push for it.
Speaking with CarExpert, GWM Australia and New Zealand (GWM ANZ) head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver said the brand now has strong influence at a global level.
“This [turbo-diesel] engine wasn’t available for [the Tank 300] initially,” said Mr Maciver.
“Tim [Leong, GWM ANZ’s product specialist] in particular, the local marketing team, [and] our senior executives … have been pushing very, very hard to get this powertrain to this car because we think it’s the right powertrain for this car.
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“Had we not pushed it from this side, it probably wouldn’t have happened.
“But again, the influence we now have as the leading pure export market, head office is now listening to us.”
“One of the important points is we have a Tank Club, so we [can be] connected to our community,” added GWM ANZ public relations manager Justin Stefani.
“So we did one in Victoria in the back half of last year. We’re doing another one in Queensland next week.
“The feedback [from] all of those guys who are actually owners is if there was a diesel, I would have bought it.
“So we we’re getting that feedback initially, and then we feed that back through the channels and the product guys.”
The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s now available in the Tank 300, isn’t new to GWM. It’s already offered in the Cannon Alpha, as well as the updated Cannon dual-cab utes.
There are two different Tank 300 Diesel variants, the Lux and Ultra, which are priced at $47,990 drive-away and $51,990 drive-away, respectively. This pricing puts it between the corresponding turbo-petrol and hybrid variants.
The turbo-diesel engine is the main difference to the rest of the existing Tank 300 range, but GWM claims to have made more than 20 component modifications and upgrades to it.
As a result, the Tank 300 Diesel can tow 500kg more than the petrol and hybrid vehicles. With a 3000kg braked towing capacity, however, it still falls short of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner’s 3100kg figures, as well as the class-leading 3500kg offered by the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.
The Tank 300 Diesel’s higher towing capacity pushes it into the “heavy off-road passenger vehicles” category under the Australian Government’s incoming New Vehicle Efficiency Standard emissions regulation, giving it a higher CO2 emissions target than its petrol and hybrid siblings.
MORE: Everything GWM Tank 300
