Wey – a premium car sub-brand founded by Great Wall – is getting its first SUV ready to rumble. Named Tank 300, it debuted at the Chengdu Motor Show last month with blacked-out windows. Now, the company finally reveals the interior along with some specs.
The overall styling of the cabin evokes strong Mercedes-Benz G-Class vibes. Straight front fascia lines go along with round air deflectors, while the 12.3-inch digital dashboard is merged with the same-sized infotainment display. Arm grips highlight the car’s off-roading capacities, there are leather and metal details everywhere you look, and the gear selector is a shift-by-wire joystick.
The feature list mentions adaptive cruise control, all-around cameras, nine selectable drivetrain modes, AEB, lane control and remote access to certain in-car functions.
The manufacturer claims that the SUV utilizes an entirely new platform which even borrows its name “Wey Tank” from the first production car based on it. Chinese media are skeptical of this, however, pointing out that the platform is actually very similar to the Haval H9 chassis. The front suspension is completely independent, while the rear axle is solid. The driver takes advantage of three differentials (front, rear and inter-axle), and while the dimensions haven’t been posted yet, the body length lies in the 4.5m – 4.7m range (14.7 – 15.4 feet).
The engine stays a mystery, too. One version holds that the Tank borrows its 2.0-liter turbo-four gasoline mill from the abovementioned Haval H9. If true, then it will have around 224 hp (167 kW), 385 Nm (284 lb-ft) of torque and work in tandem with a ZF eight-speed automatic. Another rumor claims the SUV uses a brand-new engine developed from scratch and capable of 245 hp (183 kW).
The Wey Tank 300 will be revealed in its final production guise later this year, followed by a couple of other, larger SUVs. The marque clings to the domestic market so far, but may soon spread to other markets as well, notably including Europe next year.