GWM Tank 300 gets Arctic Trucks treatment in Russia

The GWM Tank 300 SUV from China has become the latest vehicle to be modified by off-road specialists Arctic Trucks – the firm famous for transforming the Toyota HiLux into the first vehicle to reach the North Pole.

Dubbed the Tank 300 AT35, Arctic Trucks’ Russian division has jacked-up the SUV, which is now equipped with 35-inch tyres, wrapped around wider alloy wheels than GWM’s factory-fitted rims.

Upgrades include a two-inch (50mm) lift –increasing its ground clearance to 274mm – and an adjustable panhard bar, aimed at making the GWM Tank 300 an even more off-road capable vehicle.

On the outside, Arctic Trucks has beefed up the Tank 300 with wider front and rear wheel arches, chunky mudguards and a revised front bumper which now houses an in-built winch.

As a result, the Tank 300’s approach and departure angles have increased to 40 and 42 degrees, respectively – a jump of seven and eight degrees compared to the SUV in standard form.

There are no changes to the GWM Tank 300’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder petrol engine, which produces 162kW/380Nm on its own – or 225kW when combined with a 78kW/268Nm electric motor.

In Russia, the Tank 300 AT35 can be purchased as a complete package for about 5.3 million rubles – equivalent to $83,000 in Australian currency – or as an upgrade to existing examples of the GWM SUV for 1.2 million rubles ($AU18,800).

In Australia, the GWM Tank 300 is priced from $46,990 drive-away in petrol-only guise, or $55,990 drive-away as a hybrid.