SA farmers to get first look at hulking new GWM products

South African farmers will be the first to have a look and feel of the new GWM P500 bakkie, Tank 500 SUV and the new Jolion Pro SUV at the 2024 Nampo harvest day in Bothaville, Free State to be held from May 14 to 17. The annual extravagance is known as the biggest agricultural show in the country.

This year’s theme is “Agriculture in a Digital Age”, and the Chinese brand will have some of its sophisticated new cars on display. The P-Series is the brand’s bakkie offering available in both single and double cabs, and for Nampo the Chinese brand will showcase the new P500 luxury 4x4 double cab.

Highlights of the flagship bakkie include an electrically operated split tailgate that can flip down in one piece, or open horizontally in two sections. There’s also choice of a hybrid 2.0l petrol turbo engine with 255kW and 648Nm on tap, or a 2.4l turbo diesel producing 135kW and 480Nm. Typical of the brand, the cabin is a razzle-dazzle of features including a panoramic sunroof, heated seats with heating, and wireless charging.

The Tank 500 SUV is another new GWM behemoth. Measuring 5,070mm in length, it comes in five- or electrically folding seven-seat configurations and boot capacity of 1,489l. Ground clearance is 224mm and approach/departure angles are 29.6/24 degrees.

Early indications point to the local specification being powered by a 2.0l petrol hybrid motor with 255kW and 648Nm and 11 driving modes, though in some markets it's sold with a 3.0l V6 twin-turbo petrol engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

It’s also equipped with a permanent four-wheel drive system with adjustable torque-on-demand and an electronic differential locking mechanism, 20-inch wheels and a retractable sidestep.

More tech to be found in the Chinese SUV includes automatic LED headlamps with high-beam assist, heated seats covered in leather upholstery, an electric tailgate, three-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger and digital instrument cluster.

While probably not the hard-knuckles Nampo tool you might expect, the new Haval Jolion Pro crossover with enhanced styling will also debut on the dusty fields.

Positioned above the Jolion, the Pro is available as 1.5l petrol turbo and in a more powerful hybrid guise.

is available with a 2.0l petrol turbo outputting 170kW/380Nm with a choice between two- and all-wheel drive. A two-wheel drive petrol-electric hybrid with 179kW/530Nm is also available.

The company recently launched the new Tank 300 in petrol and petrol hybrid guises.