This Massive Chinese SUV Is Quite Literally A Tank

GWM Tank 700 LWB adds a 2+2+2 layout, extra length, and serious towing muscle as it chases Yangwang U8L in China’s luxury SUV class.

Photo by: MIIT

By: Brian Potter

Sep 14, at 8:02am ET

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The Tank 700 LWB has a 2+2+2 six-seat layout.
It measures 214.4 inches long.
It has a braked towing capacity of 5,512 pounds.

Great Wall Motor has filed papers on a six-seat SUV long enough to make the Yangwang U8L look modest. The Tank 700 Long-Wheelbase Edition stretches to 214.4 inches, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) database, with a 124.0-inch wheelbase.

This version is 13.4 inches longer than the regular Tank 700 and adds a seating layout GWM has not offered on this nameplate before. The standard truck seats five as the LWB installs a pair of captain's chairs in the middle row for six seats in a 2+2+2 layout.

Six-Seat SUV Steps Up Against Yangwang U8L

GWM's filing puts the Tank 700 LWB right next to BYD's flagship off-roader on paper. The Yangwang U8L already sits at the top of China's ultra-large luxury SUV segment at 212.6 inches long, with curb weights from 7,926 to 8,023 pounds depending on trim.

The long-wheelbase Tank weighs between 7,487 and 7,672 pounds depending on variant. That gap matters more than the 1.8-inch length advantage, since curb weight shapes ride quality, handling, and how hard the drivetrain has to work.

Great Wall Motor Tank 700 Long-Wheelbase Edition

Photo by: MIIT

Towing is where expectations fall short. The MIIT filing lists a braked towing capacity of 2,500 kilograms (5,512 pounds) for the Tank 700 LWB, which looks underwhelming when the smaller Tank 500 is rated at 3,000 kilograms (about 6,614 pounds).

The sales backdrop explains some of the urgency. The regular Tank 700 Hi4-T logged 2,003 domestic deliveries in July, down from 2,515 in June and 2,628 in May. That slide makes a fresh six-seat variant look like a move to reignite demand before Yangwang tightens its grip on the segment.

How Far Does The Hybrid Actually Go?

Buyers get a genuine choice between plug-in hybrid and V6 power. The 2.0-liter Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid pairs a turbo four with a 59-kilowatt-hour battery, according to the MIIT filing, but GWM has not published confirmed combined output figures.

Coverage of the Hi4-Z system often cites an electric-only range of about 118 miles on the WLTC test. That number comes from broader system reporting rather than a certified value for the Tank 700 LWB, so its true electric range is still unknown.

The V6 crowd is not left out. GWM's twin-turbo 3.0-liter six sends 355 horsepower and 413 pound-feet through a nine-speed automatic, aimed at buyers who still want a traditional gas-powered flagship instead of plug-in hardware.

What do you think?

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Whether either powertrain reaches markets beyond China is unconfirmed. GWM has not announced global plans for the Tank 700 LWB.

Motor1's Take: The Tank 700 widens its appeal with true six-seat practicality while its towing claim may disappoint buyers expecting class-leading ratings. That package could shift customers from rivals if GWM proves build quality and efficiency in real use.