BrandsGWM Tank 800 Is Coming to Australia — 735kW V8 PHEV to Take On the LandCruiser
AI-generated concept illustration of the GWM Tank 800 — not an official GWM image. | Rev N Rise
China just confirmed its most powerful SUV for Australia. The GWM Tank 800 — a full-size body-on-frame off-roader with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid producing 735kW (986hp) — has been officially approved for Australia in Q2 2026. It costs an estimated $100,000 AUD. The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has a serious problem.
GWM Australia Public Relations Manager Justin Stefani confirmed the news directly: "The Tank 800 has just been approved for Australia for the second quarter of next year." That confirmation, delivered to CarsGuide this morning, makes the Tank 800 officially the most powerful Chinese vehicle ever confirmed for the Australian market — and one of the most powerful SUVs ever offered for public sale anywhere in the world.
GWM — Great Wall Motors — is already one of Australia's fastest-growing car brands. The Tank 300 and Tank 500 have both proven popular with Australian buyers seeking serious off-road capability with modern technology at competitive prices. The Tank 800 is a different proposition entirely. It is not a budget alternative to the LandCruiser. It is a direct challenger — larger, more powerful, better equipped and priced at a level that puts it in direct competition with the LandCruiser 300, the Nissan Patrol and the Lexus LX.
The headline number is extraordinary. The Tank 800's range-topping powertrain consists of a brand-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine producing 403kW on its own, combined with at least two electric motors through a dedicated hybrid transmission. The combined output of the V8 and electric motors reaches 735kW — approximately 986 horsepower. No production SUV sold in Australia has ever offered this level of output.
The V8 is a completely new engine — not related to any of GWM's existing four or six-cylinder units. It uses a hot vee configuration, with two identically sized turbochargers mounted in the valley between the cylinder heads for shorter spool times and more compact packaging. The engine has a 6,000rpm redline — high for a V8 of this displacement — and is designed from the outset to support both hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems. The result is an engine that delivers V8 character and sound while meeting Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard CO2 targets through its electrified assistance.
A second, more accessible powertrain is also expected for Australia — a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo petrol Hi4-T PHEV producing approximately 283kW and 800Nm. This is the same basic architecture used in the smaller Tank 700, where it delivers 385kW in higher state of tune. For most Australian buyers who want serious off-road capability without the extreme performance of the V8, this will be the variant to consider.
The Tank 800 rides on a new, larger separate-chassis ladder-frame platform — bigger than the platform used under the Tank 700, which is itself larger in every dimension than the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. The Tank 700 measures 5,105mm long, 2,061mm wide and 1,985mm tall on a 3,000mm wheelbase. The Tank 800 will be bigger still — a properly full-size three-row SUV designed to slot above the LandCruiser rather than alongside it.
The ladder-frame construction is significant for the Australian market. GWM is not trying to sell a compromise — a crossover-SUV with pretensions toward off-road capability. The Tank 800 is a genuine body-on-frame truck, the same fundamental architecture as the LandCruiser 300 and the Nissan Patrol, built to wade rivers and climb rocky terrain while carrying seven passengers and their luggage. The separate chassis also means three rows of seating — something the five-seat Tank 700 does not offer.
GWM's own description of the Tank 800's interior draws comparisons to the Range Rover — and based on the Tank 700's cabin, which has been praised by Australian journalists for its impressive quality and luxury specification, those comparisons are not unreasonable. The Tank brand's interior philosophy prioritises a minimalist high-tech approach: an electronic cluster for the driver, a large central touchscreen and brushed metal accents throughout.
The Tank 800's interior is expected to offer a significant step up from the Tank 700 — with equipment and luxury specifications aligning it more closely with the Lexus LX and Infiniti QX80 than the standard LandCruiser. Nappa leather, massaging seats, multi-zone climate control and advanced driver assistance technology are all expected as standard or near-standard equipment at the $100,000+ price point.
| Brand | GWM — Tank sub-brand |
| Body Style | Full-size body-on-frame SUV — 3 rows, 7 seats |
| Platform | New larger ladder-frame — bigger than Tank 700 |
| V8 Engine | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 — hot vee configuration |
| V8 Engine Output | 403kW standalone |
| V8 PHEV Output (combined) | 735kW (986hp) |
| 6-Cylinder Engine | 3.0L turbo petrol Hi4-T PHEV |
| 6-Cylinder Output | ~283kW / 800Nm |
| Configurations | Series-parallel hybrid + PHEV |
| V8 Redline | 6,000rpm |
| Interior | Luxury — Range Rover comparisons, Lexus LX positioning |
| Rivals | Toyota LandCruiser 300, Nissan Patrol, Lexus LX |
| LandCruiser 300 Price | From $82,990 — tops at $147,910 AUD |
| Nissan Patrol Price | Tops at $110,660 AUD |
| Tank 800 Est. Price | From ~$100,000 AUD |
| Australia Approval | Confirmed — Q2 2026 |
| Confirmed by | Justin Stefani, GWM Australia PR Manager |
The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series is Australia's most iconic large SUV — a 75-year institution that defines the category in this market. Its V6 twin-turbo petrol produces 305kW and 650Nm. The GX petrol starts at $82,990. The top-spec GR Sport reaches $147,910. For that money you get Toyota's legendary reliability, an 800mm wading depth, a 3,500kg towing capacity and a resale value that has no equal in the segment.
The Tank 800 enters this space with a massive power advantage — 735kW versus the LandCruiser's 305kW — and a price that is expected to be significantly lower than the equivalent LandCruiser spec. Where the Tank 800 has to prove itself is in long-term reliability, dealer network quality and resale value — three areas where GWM is a relative newcomer compared to Toyota's seven-decade track record in Australia.
What GWM has on its side is the rapid progress of the Tank brand since its arrival in Australia. The Tank 500's five-star ANCAP safety rating, strong warranty coverage and competitive pricing have won genuine respect from Australian buyers who might previously have dismissed Chinese vehicles entirely. The Tank 800 will not overcome Toyota's advantage overnight. But at $100,000 with 735kW and three rows, it will give Australian LandCruiser buyers more reason to consider an alternative than anything before it.
GWM's most expensive Tank model in Australia currently is the Tank 500 Ultra PHEV at $76,990 drive-away. The Tank 800 is expected to start at approximately $100,000 AUD — making it one of the most expensive Chinese vehicles ever offered in Australia, but still significantly below the LandCruiser's top-spec $147,910 and the Lexus LX's price point above $200,000.
Australia launch is confirmed for Q2 2026. More detailed specifications, trim levels and confirmed pricing will be announced by GWM Australia in the coming weeks. Given the Tank brand's sales momentum in Australia — with the Tank 300 and Tank 500 both performing strongly — expect significant buyer interest the moment order books open.
"The Tank 800 has just been approved for Australia for the second quarter of next year."
— Justin Stefani, PR Manager, GWM Australia — May 18 2026735kW. Three rows. Body-on-frame. Approximately $100,000 AUD. The GWM Tank 800 is the most serious challenge the Toyota LandCruiser has faced in a generation — not because it is better than the LandCruiser at everything, but because it is dramatically more powerful, comprehensively equipped and priced at a level that makes the comparison unavoidable. Australia's large SUV market will never look quite the same again. China has arrived in the outback. And it brought a V8.