
Is Lexus sending off its sexiest car in style?
The name, after all, means the highest, most successful point, or the culmination.
Just 100 examples each of the LC500 Pinnacle and LC500 Convertible Pinnacle will be offered in Japan, and there's no word yet on any Australian availability.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Lexus LC. Click here to get a great deal.
The special-edition coupe is tuned to be sportier than the more comfort-focused convertible, and features a hollow rear aluminium suspension member that Lexus says improves grip and rigidity.
Both body styles get one-piece moulded front bumper canards and unique 21-inch forged aluminium wheels.
They also wear a fixed rear wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, while Lexus also says it has fitted a retuned limited-slip differential.
The coupe is finished in matte Oboro Silver, while the convertible has Neutrino Grey paint and a Brown Silver roof.
Inside, the two special-edition variants differ in colour again. The coupe has a black and white interior, while the convertible has a saddle tan and white cabin "inspired by the scene of melting snow as sunlight hits the remaining snow and reveals the earth".
Both the coupe and convertible get exclusive embroidery on the passenger side of the dash, plus special scuff plates and Limited Edition centre console plaques.
Both the coupe and convertible are priced in Japan at ¥17,800,000 (~A$183,000), whereas the standard LC500 coupe costs ¥14,100,000 (~A$145,000) and the convertible ¥15,550,000 (~A$160,000).
No changes appear to have been made to the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine powering the Pinnacle specials.
This engine produces 351kW of power and 540Nm of torque, and is mated exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC is the grandest of grand tourers in Lexus' 36-year history.
It was first previewed by the LF-LC concept in 2012, and Lexus developed a new rear-wheel drive platform for it. The coupe entered production in 2017, with a convertible following in 2020, and continues to be offered with a choice of 5.0-litre V8 or 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrains (though the convertible is V8-only).
In June, Japanese outlet Creative Trend reported the entire LC line would end production after the last IS500 sports sedan – the only other Lexus road car to share the 5.0-litre V8 engine – rolls off the line in November 2025.
While the current LC could be on its way out, reports out of Japan suggest Lexus isn't withdrawing from the coupe segment.
A Best Car Web report from June pointed to the LC being replaced along with the RC (which was axed here in 2021 but lives on overseas) by a vehicle derived from the next-generation Toyota Supra.
There's been much speculation about the future of Lexus' flagship coupe. In 2021, Lexus appeared to tease a convertible resembling a next-generation LC (below, far left), while also revealing the Electrified Sport Concept (above, centre) that pointed to an electric successor.
Subsequently, reports have pointed to an entirely different flagship for the Lexus lineup: a supercar called the LFR, powered by a twin-turbo V8, based on Toyota's GT3 GR concept car and serving as a spiritual successor to the iconic LFA.
This vehicle has been spied testing and, while Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed whether the car will wear the 'L' badge, it has said it's excited to see the product.
To the end of June, Lexus has delivered 33 LCs in Australia this year – more than the LS sedan (6) and almost as many as the RZ electric SUV (34).
While a low-volume proposition, the LC still outsells the rival BMW 8 Series (13) and Mercedes-AMG SL (14).
Lexus has changed strategies with its flagship grand tourer before. Its first was the SC300/SC400 – a rebadged Toyota Soarer never sold here – which was more affordable than the LS and shared components with the Toyota Supra.
Produced from 1991 to 2000, it was replaced by the SC430 which was an even more comfort-focused model that was offered exclusively as a folding hardtop convertible. This exited production in 2010, leaving a gap of seven years before the LC entered production.
Click an image to view the full gallery.
MORE: Explore the Lexus LC showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lexus LC has received a special Pinnacle edition in Japan, which could signal the end of its flagship grand tourer after eight years in production.
The name, after all, means the highest, most successful point, or the culmination.
Just 100 examples each of the LC500 Pinnacle and LC500 Convertible Pinnacle will be offered in Japan, and there's no word yet on any Australian availability.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Lexus LC. Click here to get a great deal.
The special-edition coupe is tuned to be sportier than the more comfort-focused convertible, and features a hollow rear aluminium suspension member that Lexus says improves grip and rigidity.
Both body styles get one-piece moulded front bumper canards and unique 21-inch forged aluminium wheels.
They also wear a fixed rear wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, while Lexus also says it has fitted a retuned limited-slip differential.
The coupe is finished in matte Oboro Silver, while the convertible has Neutrino Grey paint and a Brown Silver roof.
Inside, the two special-edition variants differ in colour again. The coupe has a black and white interior, while the convertible has a saddle tan and white cabin "inspired by the scene of melting snow as sunlight hits the remaining snow and reveals the earth".
Both the coupe and convertible get exclusive embroidery on the passenger side of the dash, plus special scuff plates and Limited Edition centre console plaques.
Both the coupe and convertible are priced in Japan at ¥17,800,000 (~A$183,000), whereas the standard LC500 coupe costs ¥14,100,000 (~A$145,000) and the convertible ¥15,550,000 (~A$160,000).
No changes appear to have been made to the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine powering the Pinnacle specials.
This engine produces 351kW of power and 540Nm of torque, and is mated exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC is the grandest of grand tourers in Lexus' 36-year history.
It was first previewed by the LF-LC concept in 2012, and Lexus developed a new rear-wheel drive platform for it. The coupe entered production in 2017, with a convertible following in 2020, and continues to be offered with a choice of 5.0-litre V8 or 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrains (though the convertible is V8-only).
In June, Japanese outlet Creative Trend reported the entire LC line would end production after the last IS500 sports sedan – the only other Lexus road car to share the 5.0-litre V8 engine – rolls off the line in November 2025.
While the current LC could be on its way out, reports out of Japan suggest Lexus isn't withdrawing from the coupe segment.
A Best Car Web report from June pointed to the LC being replaced along with the RC (which was axed here in 2021 but lives on overseas) by a vehicle derived from the next-generation Toyota Supra.
There's been much speculation about the future of Lexus' flagship coupe. In 2021, Lexus appeared to tease a convertible resembling a next-generation LC (below, far left), while also revealing the Electrified Sport Concept (above, centre) that pointed to an electric successor.
Subsequently, reports have pointed to an entirely different flagship for the Lexus lineup: a supercar called the LFR, powered by a twin-turbo V8, based on Toyota's GT3 GR concept car and serving as a spiritual successor to the iconic LFA.
This vehicle has been spied testing and, while Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed whether the car will wear the 'L' badge, it has said it's excited to see the product.
To the end of June, Lexus has delivered 33 LCs in Australia this year – more than the LS sedan (6) and almost as many as the RZ electric SUV (34).
While a low-volume proposition, the LC still outsells the rival BMW 8 Series (13) and Mercedes-AMG SL (14).
Lexus has changed strategies with its flagship grand tourer before. Its first was the SC300/SC400 – a rebadged Toyota Soarer never sold here – which was more affordable than the LS and shared components with the Toyota Supra.
Produced from 1991 to 2000, it was replaced by the SC430 which was an even more comfort-focused model that was offered exclusively as a folding hardtop convertible. This exited production in 2010, leaving a gap of seven years before the LC entered production.
Click an image to view the full gallery.
MORE: Explore the Lexus LC showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lexus LC has received a special Pinnacle edition in Japan, which could signal the end of its flagship grand tourer after eight years in production.
The name, after all, means the highest, most successful point, or the culmination.
Just 100 examples each of the LC500 Pinnacle and LC500 Convertible Pinnacle will be offered in Japan, and there's no word yet on any Australian availability.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Lexus LC. Click here to get a great deal.
The special-edition coupe is tuned to be sportier than the more comfort-focused convertible, and features a hollow rear aluminium suspension member that Lexus says improves grip and rigidity.
Both body styles get one-piece moulded front bumper canards and unique 21-inch forged aluminium wheels.
They also wear a fixed rear wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, while Lexus also says it has fitted a retuned limited-slip differential.
The coupe is finished in matte Oboro Silver, while the convertible has Neutrino Grey paint and a Brown Silver roof.
Inside, the two special-edition variants differ in colour again. The coupe has a black and white interior, while the convertible has a saddle tan and white cabin "inspired by the scene of melting snow as sunlight hits the remaining snow and reveals the earth".
Both the coupe and convertible get exclusive embroidery on the passenger side of the dash, plus special scuff plates and Limited Edition centre console plaques.
Both the coupe and convertible are priced in Japan at ¥17,800,000 (~A$183,000), whereas the standard LC500 coupe costs ¥14,100,000 (~A$145,000) and the convertible ¥15,550,000 (~A$160,000).
No changes appear to have been made to the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine powering the Pinnacle specials.
This engine produces 351kW of power and 540Nm of torque, and is mated exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC is the grandest of grand tourers in Lexus' 36-year history.
It was first previewed by the LF-LC concept in 2012, and Lexus developed a new rear-wheel drive platform for it. The coupe entered production in 2017, with a convertible following in 2020, and continues to be offered with a choice of 5.0-litre V8 or 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrains (though the convertible is V8-only).
In June, Japanese outlet Creative Trend reported the entire LC line would end production after the last IS500 sports sedan – the only other Lexus road car to share the 5.0-litre V8 engine – rolls off the line in November 2025.
While the current LC could be on its way out, reports out of Japan suggest Lexus isn't withdrawing from the coupe segment.
A Best Car Web report from June pointed to the LC being replaced along with the RC (which was axed here in 2021 but lives on overseas) by a vehicle derived from the next-generation Toyota Supra.
There's been much speculation about the future of Lexus' flagship coupe. In 2021, Lexus appeared to tease a convertible resembling a next-generation LC (below, far left), while also revealing the Electrified Sport Concept (above, centre) that pointed to an electric successor.
Subsequently, reports have pointed to an entirely different flagship for the Lexus lineup: a supercar called the LFR, powered by a twin-turbo V8, based on Toyota's GT3 GR concept car and serving as a spiritual successor to the iconic LFA.
This vehicle has been spied testing and, while Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed whether the car will wear the 'L' badge, it has said it's excited to see the product.
To the end of June, Lexus has delivered 33 LCs in Australia this year – more than the LS sedan (6) and almost as many as the RZ electric SUV (34).
While a low-volume proposition, the LC still outsells the rival BMW 8 Series (13) and Mercedes-AMG SL (14).
Lexus has changed strategies with its flagship grand tourer before. Its first was the SC300/SC400 – a rebadged Toyota Soarer never sold here – which was more affordable than the LS and shared components with the Toyota Supra.
Produced from 1991 to 2000, it was replaced by the SC430 which was an even more comfort-focused model that was offered exclusively as a folding hardtop convertible. This exited production in 2010, leaving a gap of seven years before the LC entered production.
Click an image to view the full gallery.
MORE: Explore the Lexus LC showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
The Lexus LC has received a special Pinnacle edition in Japan, which could signal the end of its flagship grand tourer after eight years in production.
The name, after all, means the highest, most successful point, or the culmination.
Just 100 examples each of the LC500 Pinnacle and LC500 Convertible Pinnacle will be offered in Japan, and there's no word yet on any Australian availability.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Lexus LC. Click here to get a great deal.
The special-edition coupe is tuned to be sportier than the more comfort-focused convertible, and features a hollow rear aluminium suspension member that Lexus says improves grip and rigidity.
Both body styles get one-piece moulded front bumper canards and unique 21-inch forged aluminium wheels.
They also wear a fixed rear wing made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, while Lexus also says it has fitted a retuned limited-slip differential.
The coupe is finished in matte Oboro Silver, while the convertible has Neutrino Grey paint and a Brown Silver roof.
Inside, the two special-edition variants differ in colour again. The coupe has a black and white interior, while the convertible has a saddle tan and white cabin "inspired by the scene of melting snow as sunlight hits the remaining snow and reveals the earth".
Both the coupe and convertible get exclusive embroidery on the passenger side of the dash, plus special scuff plates and Limited Edition centre console plaques.
Both the coupe and convertible are priced in Japan at ¥17,800,000 (~A$183,000), whereas the standard LC500 coupe costs ¥14,100,000 (~A$145,000) and the convertible ¥15,550,000 (~A$160,000).
No changes appear to have been made to the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine powering the Pinnacle specials.
This engine produces 351kW of power and 540Nm of torque, and is mated exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
The LC is the grandest of grand tourers in Lexus' 36-year history.
It was first previewed by the LF-LC concept in 2012, and Lexus developed a new rear-wheel drive platform for it. The coupe entered production in 2017, with a convertible following in 2020, and continues to be offered with a choice of 5.0-litre V8 or 3.5-litre V6 hybrid powertrains (though the convertible is V8-only).
In June, Japanese outlet Creative Trend reported the entire LC line would end production after the last IS500 sports sedan – the only other Lexus road car to share the 5.0-litre V8 engine – rolls off the line in November 2025.
While the current LC could be on its way out, reports out of Japan suggest Lexus isn't withdrawing from the coupe segment.
A Best Car Web report from June pointed to the LC being replaced along with the RC (which was axed here in 2021 but lives on overseas) by a vehicle derived from the next-generation Toyota Supra.
There's been much speculation about the future of Lexus' flagship coupe. In 2021, Lexus appeared to tease a convertible resembling a next-generation LC (below, far left), while also revealing the Electrified Sport Concept (above, centre) that pointed to an electric successor.
Subsequently, reports have pointed to an entirely different flagship for the Lexus lineup: a supercar called the LFR, powered by a twin-turbo V8, based on Toyota's GT3 GR concept car and serving as a spiritual successor to the iconic LFA.
This vehicle has been spied testing and, while Lexus Australia hasn't confirmed whether the car will wear the 'L' badge, it has said it's excited to see the product.
To the end of June, Lexus has delivered 33 LCs in Australia this year – more than the LS sedan (6) and almost as many as the RZ electric SUV (34).
While a low-volume proposition, the LC still outsells the rival BMW 8 Series (13) and Mercedes-AMG SL (14).
Lexus has changed strategies with its flagship grand tourer before. Its first was the SC300/SC400 – a rebadged Toyota Soarer never sold here – which was more affordable than the LS and shared components with the Toyota Supra.
Produced from 1991 to 2000, it was replaced by the SC430 which was an even more comfort-focused model that was offered exclusively as a folding hardtop convertible. This exited production in 2010, leaving a gap of seven years before the LC entered production.
Click an image to view the full gallery.
MORE: Explore the Lexus LC showroom
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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The Australian
37 minutes ago
- The Australian
2026 Lexus RZ steer by wire tested
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MORE: Huge change coming to Aussie roads 2023 Lexus RZ electric SUV. This means there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the tyres. Instead, it uses an actuator to interpret the driver's right and left turns, and then electrically delivers those signals to the steering rack. It's like a video game – you steer and a computer interprets what it thinks you want. It might be relatively new for cars, but its equivalent 'fly-by-wire' has been in commercial planes for years. It's in fighter jets, too. MORE: The baby buy replacing the pram David McCowen in 2023 Lexus RZ. To be honest, I was expecting this to be a drastically different driving experience. I thought there would be a sense of unreality that comes with there being no link between the driver and the tyres. That wasn't the case at all. The RZ 550e F Sport felt perhaps a bit sharper, more precise – but not in a manner that would fundamentally change how a person drives. In fact, it would be easy to forget that the car even used steer-by-wire, were it not for the constant visual reminder that comes in the form of a yoke-style steering wheel. MORE: Gorgeous style for new Italian supercar 2025 Lexus RZ. Picture: Supplied These have been in Australia before. Famously, Tesla's X and S models both had similar designs before reverting back to round. Customer feedback said they were annoying for drivers who struggled to do three-point turns without the hand-space at the top. It normally takes two or three complete revolutions of a wheel to go from lock-to-lock, after all. But in a car with steer-by-wire, the yoke-style wheel makes sense. It takes less than one turn, or a maximum of 200 degrees, to move from centre to full left or right lock. As a bonus, the driver gets better visibility of the dashboard and road ahead. However, while testing the limits of the steering lock, I did find the yoke-style to be a tad uncomfortable. While parking, the driver's arms will likely have to cross over – it might be ergonomic but it didn't feel natural. Not being able to sense the condition and texture of the road through vibrations on the steering wheel also felt strange in the beginning. While I quickly adapted, it is worth noting that I was driving in perfect conditions: hot, dry, well-maintained roads in the middle of Portuguese summer. How this car feels in wet weather, icy conditions, or unexpectedly muddy roads remains to be seen. MORE: New look for family favourite 2025 Lexus RZ. Picture: Supplied But assuming the car handles well in all conditions, most customer reservations will likely come down to safety. Lexus has done what it can to appease anxiety on this matter. It says every element that controls the steer-by-wire system is duplicated with a redundancy. In addition, there's a separate battery that controls the steering, should the car run out of charge and need to be towed. Lexus also stresses that its steering system is different to one used in the 2014 Infiniti Q50, the only other car in Australia to have experimented with steer-by-wire. It was not a successful experiment. The Q50 was broadly panned for its inconsistent handling and faced recalls for steering faults. Infiniti's system had a full mechanical steering system waiting to take over at a moment's notice in case the electric version failed – which Lexus does not use. MORE: $1m hypercar unleashed 2025 Lexus RZ. Picture: Supplied For a vehicle which is pushing boundaries and re-writing a major component of car engineering, the RZ 550e F Sport, does pay homage to ICE engines. This comes in the form of its interactive manual drive. While in 'M' mode, the car's eight virtual gears can be shifted up and down using paddles on the side of the steering wheel. The car replicates a manual experience through the throttle, a tachometer displaying the virtual rpm, and virtual engine sounds that play inside the cabin. Frankly, I wasn't sold on the fake engine noises. It reminded me a little of a Dyson vacuum cleaner pretending to be a car. Most drivers, I imagine, will try the interactive manual mode once, have a laugh, and never touch it again. 2025 Lexus RZ. Picture: Supplied But in a racier mode, it does remind you that this RZ 550e F Sport is no slouch; it gets from 0-100 in 4.4 seconds. When it reaches those higher speeds, it handles them well. The car is comfortable, well-balanced, and the cabin is pleasantly quiet (except for the fake engine sounds, that is). While in M mode, the RZ 550e F Sport feels like a car that's trying to bridge a widening gap between the past and the present of motoring. On one hand, it uses genuinely innovative engineering for its steering technology – a system that could alter the manner in which cars are manufactured and driven forever. On the other, it's clinging to vestiges of old technology, with fake gears and fake engine noises. 2025 Lexus RZ electric SUV. (Picture: Supplied) It's lip service. An apologetic nod to motoring of yore, by a company that's fully dedicated to an electric future. Perhaps I'm a killjoy. I'm sure lots of people will enjoy being able to pretend to have gears in an electric vehicle. Fun doesn't need to make sense. But when we moved from horse and cart to motorised vehicles, humanity didn't agonise over making cars that could neigh, or kick you in the nads if they were angry. Sure, we lose some charm when technology moves on, but that's the price of progress. If the future is electric, it's better, I think, to fully embrace the possibilities that unlocks, rather than resorting to nostalgia for vehicles that are not yet obsolete. All that aside, Lexus clearly has an eye on the horizon with the RZ 550e F Sport.


7NEWS
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The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. 'It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack… range and battery size is what defines pricing,' GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver told us previously.


Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
GWM upgrades its answer to the Toyota Prado
GWM has upgraded its Tank 500 yet again, with the launch of a facelifted version of the large SUV in China last week, but it won't be available in Australia any time soon. The updated 2026 GWM Tank 500 brings minor styling enhancements plus a range of new luxury and safety equipment little more than a year after the Toyota Prado rival was released Down Under. But its new look and new equipment – which includes a built-in fridge and roof-mounted rear entertainment system – won't be introduced alongside a plug-in hybrid powertrain due in Australia from October. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'For now, ANZ [Australian and New Zealand] will continue with the current version,' said a GWM Australia spokesperson. '[We have] No plans to confirm our intention to align with revised specification recently seen in China.' China's MY26 Tank 500 brings a revised grille that now underlines the headlights on both sides, and differs from the 'sports' grille introduced earlier this year – including for the black-themed Vanta range-topper. There are also new alloy wheel designs, a Dunhuang (dark green) exterior colour option, revised GWM Tank badging at the rear and, inside, a column-mounted gear selector and new blue and white colourway. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The biggest interior upgrade is reserved for rear-seat occupants, who score a 50W refrigerator built into the centre console, and an entertainment system comprising a 17.3-inch 3K multimedia screen that flips down from the roof and can be controlled by voice, gesture, touch, or mobile phone. According to Autohome, the Chinese-market Tank 500 also gains a new roof-mounted Hesai LTX LiDAR sensor plus new cameras on the front fenders and rear spoiler to support upgraded advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) capabilities powered by GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra safety suite. The Tank 500 was first revealed in China in 2021, before its domestic launch in 2022 in both turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid forms. The latter has powered the Tank 500 in Australia since its local launch in March 2024, but the seven-seat off-road wagon did receive a safety and powertrain system upgrades in response to criticism in December 2024, which were made available to new and existing owners earlier this month. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Recently, GWM also revealed its first Tank 500 diesel, powered by the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel as the smaller Tank 300 and the Cannon Alpha ute. However, this Thai-built variant was ruled out for Australia, which will instead receive a beefier new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel by around 2027. For now, Australia's Tank 500 hybrid will be joined by one of two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains already available in China from October, beating both the Prado and the top-selling Ford Everest to market with PHEV power – and becoming the first large, ladder-frame SUV to offer such a powertrain in Australia. GWM Australia won't say whether it will be the same off-road-focused 'Hi4-T' system that's also available in the Cannon Alpha PHEV, which combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to produce 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque, or the on-road-focussed, dual-motor Hi4-Z powertrain that slams down a mammoth 635kW and 1195Nm. 'There's no confirmation yet on which powertrain will be offered for the ANZ market,' the GWM Australia spokesperson told CarExpert today. 'The [Tank 500 PHEV] launch in October will be centred on the powertrain reveal.' Supplied Credit: CarExpert Both of the Tank 500's PHEV powertrains are based around the same 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four, but while the Hi4-T continues with a mechanical four-wheel-drive system, transfer case and differential locks, there's no mechanical connection between the front and rear electric motors of the Hi4-Z, which has multi-link rear suspension and almost double the battery capacity. In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z has a 59.05kWh battery pack positioned between the axles rather than at the rear, offering a claimed 201km (WLTC) of electric-only driving range and 1096km of total range. But even the Hi4-T offers 45kW/102Nm higher outputs than the standard Tank 500 hybrid, while still being capable to ford water up to 800mm deep and offering similar off-road geometry, albeit with 11mm less ground clearance. It offers 110km of range on the WLTC cycle. The Tank 500 Hi4-T weighs 398kg more than the plugless hybrid version already on sale here, while the Hi4-Z weighs another 150kg at 2980kg. Supplied Credit: CarExpert GWM Australia previously told CarExpert the PHEV version would attract an estimated price premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current Tank 500 HEV, which is available in two equipment grades priced from $66,490 drive-away. So you can expect a starting price of about $72,000 drive-away for the cheapest Tank 500 PHEV, given the single-motor Hi4-T powertrain seems more likely for Australia. 'It's going to depend on the size of the battery pack… range and battery size is what defines pricing,' GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver told us previously. MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500