GWM Tank 700 V8 Confirmed, Built for Australia and New Zealand

Image credit: GWM

GWM has confirmed a V8 will power its upcoming Tank 700, and the company is pointing straight at Australia. Chairman Jack Wei used the Beijing Auto Show 2026 to lock in the new engine, telling Australian and New Zealand media that the GWM Tank 700 V8 was developed specifically for export markets like ours. Local timing, pricing and outputs remain unannounced.

What GWM Has Confirmed About the Tank 700 V8

This new V8 is separate from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo hybrid V8 going into GWM's GF supercar, which is due in 2027. Wei described the Tank 700's powerplant as a more conventional V8, suggesting a less aggressive tune than the supercar's twin-turbo hybrid setup.

Some form of electrification is expected to keep emissions in check, with plug-in hybrid technology widely tipped. Final outputs and configuration remain under wraps.

Wei was clear about why the engine exists at all. He said the V8 runs counter to current trends in China, but matches what buyers in markets like Australia and New Zealand are still chasing in a premium SUV.

“We developed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users.” — Jack Wei, GWM Chairman

Will the GWM Tank 700 V8 Come to Australia?

A formal Australian launch has not been confirmed for the Tank 700 in any guise, but the direction of travel is hard to miss. GWM Australia executives at the Beijing show indicated the brand isn't ruling out anything on display.

Local focus for the Tank sub-brand currently sits with the Hi4-T plug-in hybrid system, which uses a proper mechanical four-wheel-drive setup that suits Australian touring and off-road expectations. Steve Maciver, GWM Australia's head of marketing and communications, has said the more extreme Hi4-Z plug-in hybrid is also under consideration for our market.

That dovetails neatly with the recently expanded Tank 500 Ultra Hi4-T PHEV, which has just landed locally to broaden the Tank lineup beyond the regular hybrid Tank 500. A V8 Tank 700 would sit at the top of the same family.

How the Tank 700 V8 Fits in the Lineup

Tank 700 sits at the top of GWM's off-road SUV range, positioned above the Tank 500 already sold in Australia. In China, the current flagship runs a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 paired with electric motors, producing a combined 720kW and 1,375Nm in Hi4-Z form.

A V8-powered Tank 700 would push the model deeper into luxury territory and likely settle well above $100,000 once it lands locally. That puts it in direct conversation with established names like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, the Nissan Patrol and the Lexus LX. For where these stack up on towing alone, our best towing vehicles in Australia guide is the place to start.

Our Take

Plenty of brands quietly retired the V8 over the last five years. GWM picking it back up specifically for Australia and New Zealand is not subtle, and it's a clear read on what Chinese carmakers think the local large-SUV buyer still wants.

Whether the Tank 700 V8 actually lands here depends on emissions averaging, Hi4-Z certification and how aggressive GWM Australia gets on price. For Australian buyers chasing eight cylinders in a new flagship 4x4 without paying European money, GWM has just made its intentions impossible to ignore.

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