GWM Tank 700 to Feature V8 Petrol Engine, Targeting Australian Market
GWM has confirmed that its flagship off-road SUV, the Tank 700, will be equipped with a V8 petrol engine. This development is expected to position Australia as one of the key markets for the new powertrain.
At the 2026 Beijing Motor Show, GWM chairman Jack Wei made statements to Australian media, indicating that a future version of the Tank 700 will also use a V8 engine. He explained that while the supercar uses a high-performance V8, the Tank 700 will feature a standard V8. This move is seen as a departure from current trends in China, where smaller engines are more common.
“We developed this V8 to meet the needs of more global users, in markets such as Australia and New Zealand,” Wei said.
The details shared by GWM suggest that the petrol V8 will be twin-turbocharged and have a 4.0-litre capacity. It is a further development of its existing 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 engine. The V8 is expected to feature plug-in hybrid technology in its non-supercar applications.
“At the Beijing Auto Show, GWM confirmed its all-new GF supercar will feature a 4.0-litre twin-turbo hybrid V8, demonstrating that multiple V8 powertrains are in development across different vehicle applications,” GWM Australia stated in a media release.
“As part of this broader strategy, the Tank 700 V8 represents a key step in expanding GWM’s high-output powertrain offering, enabling the brand to respond to demand in markets where large-capacity engines continue to resonate, such as Australia and New Zealand.”
If the Tank 700 with a V8 engine arrives in local showrooms, it would join the GMC Yukon and Mercedes-Benz G-Class as the only body-on-frame SUVs to offer V8 petrol power in Australia. The Nissan Patrol will switch to a twin-turbocharged petrol V6 engine with the Y63 model later this year.
It is understood that the V8 engine in the Tank 700 will likely appear in a new-generation or heavily facelifted version of the five-seat large SUV, rather than the current model. A test mule spotted near GWM’s research and development centre in Baoding, China, appeared to be longer than the current Tank 700, potentially being an early look at a new-generation version.
First launched in China in 2024, a mid-life facelift for the Tank 700 went on sale this month and debuted at the 2026 Beijing Motor Show. This suggests that a new model could launch in 2027 or 2028.
The current Tank 700 remains under consideration for Australia, with Chinese-market versions featuring a 260kW/560Nm 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine, or hybrid versions. Similar to the Tank 500 plug-in hybrid, the Tank 700 Hi4-T retains mechanical four-wheel drive, while the Tank 700 Hi4-Z uses electric motors instead of shafts.
The Tank 700 Hi4-T V6 has a 385kW/800Nm combined system output, while the Tank 700 Hi4-Z V6 develops 720kW and 1375Nm.
