New GWM Tank 500 Black Edition launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

GWM has updated the Tank 500 SUV for South Africa, giving it a handful of new black cosmetic touches.

The rest of the package, from the powertrain to the spec sheet, is unchanged, but GWM is nevertheless referring to the updated model as the Black Edition, which has a starting price of R1,228,950.

“Keeping pace with GWM’s design philosophy of “style with substance”, this latest styling update on the Tank 500 now exudes sophistication, amplifying its commanding presence with stealthy finishes,” said the company.

This includes a 7-year/200,000km warranty, a 7-year/75,000km service plan, a 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan, and an 8-year/150,000km hybrid battery warranty.

Engine

The Tank 500 is equipped with HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) drivetrain, which consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery.

The result is a combined output of 255kW and 648Nm, which is channeled to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

It achieves an average fuel consumption of 10.5l/100km, and can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in a brisk 6.9 seconds despite its size.

Furthermore, the Adventure SUV can tow 2,500kg, and features a rear differential lock, underbody protection, Crawl Control (off-road cruise control), and Tank Turn, which locks the inside back wheel to allow for much tighter turns.

It also has 10 different driving and terrain modes including Standard, Economic, Sport, Expert, Snow, Mud, Sand, Irregular, Rock, and Mountain.

Features

The update has given the GWM a new gloss black mesh grille, dark-chrome roof rails, blacked out side mirror caps, and 18-inch black alloy wheels.

“This aesthetic upgrade sharpens the vehicle’s stance while staying true to the Tank 500’s luxury-meets-adventure DNA,” said the automaker.

A similar treatment has been applied to the interior, where you’ll find black Nappa leather surfaces accentuated with dark-metal trim and subtle ambient lighting.

“The Tank 500 already leads in power, comfort and technology. Now its design reflects that same leadership. It’s bold, modern and unmistakably forward-thinking. This update goes beyond style – it’s about making a statement,” said Floyd Ramabulana, Head of Marketing at GWM South Africa.

“It embodies confidence and sophistication. Every detail, from its blacked-out exterior accents to its luxurious interior, has been designed to make an impression – showing that power and refinement can coexist seamlessly in a flagship SUV.”

The rest of the seven-seater’s spec sheet is the same, meaning it comes with light-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, automatic side steps, and a panoramic sunroof.

It also features electric front seats with heating, ventilation, and memory settings; reclining second-row seats with ventilation, electronically folding third-row seats, and climate control vents with separate controls for each seat row.

Other highlights include keyless entry and start, a heated leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, ambient lighting, a wireless charger, a 12-speaker Infinity stereo, tri-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, and a 14.6-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

On top of this, the Tank has a driver assistance suite with adaptive cruise control, rear-collision warning, cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, emergency lane-keep assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring, intelligent parking, a 360-degree camera with chassis view, and automatic emergency braking.