GWM’s flagship SUV has been spotted overseas with a remodelled interior, and signs that more advanced driver assist tech is likely to be included in the seven-seater’s first update.
These images of the GWM Tank 500 large SUV point to an updated model coming soon, with the possibility of more advanced driver assist systems, and a styling overhaul for the interior.
The photos, published by CarNewsChina.com show a lightly camouflaged Tank 500 undergoing testing with a tell-tale roof bump above the windscreen, suggesting the adoption of a lidar sensor.
Further down on the front guards, further masking hides what appears to be a side camera mobile.
The inclusion of these two features points to a suite of more advanced driver-assist technology.
It’s not uncommon for Chinese market vehicles to feature ‘hands off’ driving assist modes that allow the car to take full control on previously-mapped highways and main roads, allowing features like automatic lane changing and merging on and off highways in some situations.
Other changes spotted on the development vehicle include a redesigned centre console and a new steering wheel design.
The centre console has been changed, with the area that previously housed the chunky gear selector now featuring a pair of rocker dials.
The rest of the console, including storage areas, remains unchanged. The main control panel for drive modes, off-road settings, and hybrid modes appear to have been reconfigured into a simpler, more cohesive design.
The steering wheel has also moved to a new two-spoke design.
The vehicles shown testing are equipped with larger alloy wheels than the 18-inch alloy wheels fitted in Australia, but 19- and 20-inch wheels are already available for the Chinese market, albeit in a slightly different design.
The grille of the lidar-equipped GWM Tank 500 has also been revised, with a simpler four-bar insert in place of the fine nine-bar design previously used in Australia.
This update is not the same as the newly introduced ‘sports grille’ styling update introduced in Australia for Tank 500s built from April 2025.
The local styling update sees new versions of the Tank 500 shipped with software updates and a revised suspension tune, but does not include the interior or driver assist revisions being tested overseas.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
