Not content to rest on its laurels, GWM has returned to Beer O’Clock Hill in Queensland to put another couple of its off-roaders through their paces on the challenging off-road climb.
The Chinese brand successfully completed the notorious hill climb in the Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of its Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs.
GWM notes the Tank 300 completed the climb in full production specification, even riding on its standard Michelin highway tyres – not all-terrains.
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The company says all the vehicles it’s climbed Beer O’Clock Hill with have received no mechanical modifications, calibration changes or software upgrades, with changes limited to tyres.
GWM has previously completed the climb with the diesel-powered Cannon XSR, in full production spec, as well as the Tank 300 diesel and Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV, which were both fitted with Mickey Thompson all-terrain tyres.
Beer O’Clock Hill, located in The Springs 4×4 Adventure Park southwest of Brisbane, is a rutted 100m hillclimb which, at its steepest point, has a 55-degree slope.
It has defeated vehicles before, with Chris Baker, who runs the All Terrain Action website, seriously damaging his newly purchased Shark 6 during his attempt to climb the steep and muddy hill, bending the chassis and disabling the vehicle.
CarExpert also took a contingent of utes to the hill, not all of which were able to complete the climb.
BYD-owned brand Denza took its B5 and B8 off-road SUVs to the climb, and they were successfully able to complete it – though the rival Chinese brand noted the vehicles had received software adjustments and were fitted with Mickey Thompson all-terrain tyres.
Volkswagen has also completed the climb with its Amarok, and Kia with its Tasman.
“Beer O’Clock Hill is becoming one of the toughest proving grounds for any off-road vehicle in Australia,” said GWM Australia and New Zealand marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver in a press release.
“Having no less than five vehicles across the range conquering Beer O’Clock Hill is something we are incredibly proud of, but certainly not surprised.
“The latest Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV climbing the hill on highway tyres speaks volumes about the engineering behind the Hi4-T system.
“New Energy Vehicles should enhance capability, not limit it, and what we have demonstrated is that GWM’s technology delivers both efficiency and serious off-road performance, without compromise.”
GWM offers myriad different powertrains across its body-on-frame ute and SUV range.
The Cannon ute comes with a choice of 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines, with a plug-in hybrid due this year.
The larger Cannon Alpha offers a choice of 2.4-litre turbo-diesel and 2.0-litre turbo plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrains, while the Tank 500 offers a choice of 2.0-litre turbo hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four due this year.
The Tank 300 has the most powertrain variety of all, with a choice of 2.0-litre turbo petrol, hybrid and (recently launched) plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four.
GWM’s Hi4-T plug-in hybrids feature conventional mechanical linkages as well as locking differentials and a low-range transfer case.
MORE: Explore the GWM Tank 300 showroom
MORE: Explore the GWM Tank 500 showroom