Great Wall Motor are launching a diesel version of the Tank 300. The car will use a 2.4T diesel engine and is reportedly the same unit as used in GWM Poer pickup trucks and the forthcoming Haval H9.

Great Wall Chairman Wei Jianjun appears recently to have taken on the hat of chief salesman and was busy at the weekend doing a live broadcast. During the livestream he mentioned the diesel engine for the Tank 300.

The new version will use the GW4D24 engine with has maximum power of 135 kW and has peak torque of 480 Nm. For people who really need off-roaders the high torque offered by a diesel engine helps the vehicle when climbing steep slopes without straining the engine. Additionally if the car gets stuck in mud or snow it helps with getting the car out of the situation. Torque is far more important than engine power for such uses. Finally for really serious off-roaders diesel is going to give a greater range which can be important in remote locations.

The Tank 300 is the oldest car in the Tank range and was originally sold under the Wey brand in 2020 before becoming a standalone brand in 2021. Currently the car is available as an ICE powered by a 2.0T with 167 kW of power and 387 Nm torque. There is also a 48V mild hybrid version of this car which boosts power to 185 kW but reduces torque to 385 Nm. A special edition Tank 330 exists which is also a 48V hybrid but has a more powerful 3.0T V6 engine giving maximum power of 265 kW and 500 Nm torque. Additionally there is a Tank 300 Hi4-T which is the PHEV version. It adds an electric motor to the 2.0T setup giving combined power of 300 kW and 750 Nm torque.

Editor’s note:

Diesels are not popular in China and amounted to sales of only 178,700 passenger cars in 2023. These may well have been largely all pick up trucks. Great Wall however are no strangers to diesel engines. Some of the first engines the company produced were diesels and the company offered a diesel engine option for the Great Wall Hover which later morphed into the beginnings of the Haval brand.

Presumably the diesel engine version will also be offered for export which may well help the Tank 300 pick up more sales.

Sources: Autohome, Fast Technology