Tank on polar mission
The Tank 300 Diesel has been officially designated as an approved vehicle for China’s Antarctic and Arctic expeditions thanks to a partnership agreement with the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC).
The production-spec model will serve as a support vehicle at Antarctica’s Great Wall Station, marking the first time a Chinese automotive brand has participated in a polar expedition with an unmodified, mass-made model.
The selection follows comprehensive evaluations by PRIC including powertrain capability, off-road performance, low-temperature reliability and fuel adaptability.
During validation testing at GWM’s environmental wind tunnel laboratory, the Tank 300 Diesel successfully completed one-touch starting, defrosting and heating operations at minus 30C, while simulating severe polar blizzard conditions.
The marque also presented PRIC experts with its comprehensive test and validation system, encompassing more than 2,000 individual test projects.
Built for strength and safety, the Tank 300 features a ring-shaped structural design with 70 per cent high-strength steel construction, including 20 per cent ultra-high-strength 1,500 megapascal steel, enabling the roof to withstand more than 15 tonnes of pressure.
Powered by a 2.4-litre turbo diesel, the vehicle has undergone 14,000 hours of bench testing, which is equivalent to 4.8 million kilometres, and 4.2m kilometres of validation testing across 60 units.
