GWM is actively entering the South African pickup market by introducing a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. The Chinese automaker has disclosed pricing for these new models.
The price for the P500 Double Cab with the 3.0-liter engine starts from R724,900, while the equivalent Tank 500 SUV starts from R849,900.
GWM P500 Double Cab Pricing
Specific P500 variants include the 3.0 TD 4x2 model with an automatic transmission priced at R724,900 and the 3.0 TD 4x4 version with an automatic transmission for R799,900.
GWM Tank 500 Pricing
For the Tank 500, the following configurations are available: the 3.0 TD 4x2 Super Luxury at R849,900, the 3.0 TD 4x4 Ultra Luxury at R929,900, and the 3.0 TD 4x4 Overland at R999,900.
These prices are significantly lower than those of competitors with similar power, such as the Ford Ranger 3.0 V6, which costs just over one million. Furthermore, the P500 model with the 3.0-liter engine is R50,000 cheaper than the previous model with the 2.4-liter turbodiesel engine.
The GWM P500 3.0 is available from R724,900, and the Tank 500 3.0 starts from R849,900.
GWM claims that the new 3.0-liter engine is the most powerful four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, not a hybrid, available on the market. It produces 170 kW of power and 620 Nm of torque, exceeding the current 2.4-liter unit by 35 kW and 140 Nm.
Thanks to these characteristics, it confidently surpasses the Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (150 kW, 500 Nm) and Isuzu D-Max 3.0 (140 kW, 450 Nm), while also providing more torque than the Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 with 600 Nm, approaching its power of 184 kW.
The new engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission developed by GWM itself. This 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine will be used exclusively in the P500 and Tank 500 models.
Although exact local specifications were not confirmed at the time of writing, for equivalent Australian versions, GWM states a combined fuel consumption of 7.1 liters per 100 km for the Tank 500 and 7.3 L/100 km for the P500. Both vehicles have a towing capacity of 3,500 kg. The new engine underwent testing for over six months on various Australian roads, focusing on performance, durability, handling, powertrain calibration, and towing capabilities.