After all, the 1.5T four-cylinder engine, time-sharing four-wheel drive, non-load-bearing body and the same design language as the tank 500 really hit the weakness of many off-road fans, and the starting price of as low as 88,000 yuan is to reawaken people's buried off-road dreams, so it is not too much to call it "the first off-road vehicle for young people".
However, in the face of the expectations of many consumers, the official directly denied it three times: who said it, I did not say it, don't say it blindly.
Such an attitude is actually related to the development direction of the tank brand, after the tank becomes an independent brand, it is mainly to make it more convenient to take the high-end off-road route, such as the pre-price of the tank 500 launched to exceed 300,000 yuan, and the subsequent tank 700 is a higher-order existence.
In addition, the tank platform only supports models with a wheelbase of 2750-3750mm, and the smallest off-road SUV built based on the platform must also be B-class, making no smaller SUV of one size smaller, and the powertrain will only carry 2.0T and 3.0T engines, which is obviously different from the 1.5T advertised by the tank 100.
Therefore, the tank official frankly said that "there is no plan for this model at present", which is also a temporary dispelling of people's ideas about small off-road SUVs. Why is it temporary? Because this is only a denial based on the tank platform, but the tank brand behind the Great Wall as a backer, making a short wheelbase small SUV is not a particularly difficult thing, in the case of quality assurance, put on the tank family-style face, can be used as a tank 100.
As for why I don't admit this matter now, my personal guess should be to mobilize the taste first, and then buy a pass to stay in suspense, by the way, see what the market holds to small off-road SUVs, and do not rule out the launch of a "real" tank 100 in the future.
Indeed, the small off-road SUV segment has been relatively niche in China before, and after the representative Suzuki Jimney withdrew from the Chinese market, it is even more that can be played, although Jimney can be bought through parallel imports, but the price of 300,000+ is obviously paying IQ tax, so it has formed an embarrassing situation that imports cannot afford to buy and there are no models in China. However, with the rise of the hardcore off-road trend in recent years, this market gap may be improved and filled.
Tank 300 can be said to have opened a new stage of its own brand off-road SUV, in the case of the tank series taking the lead in playing a sample and achieving amazing results, many independent brands have set foot in the field of hardcore off-road SUVs. Chery's cost-effective Jietu Automobile launched a new hardcore off-road SUV T-X, trying to replicate the success of the Tank 300; Geely will also launch a high-end hardcore SUV market under the empowerment of THE SEA's vast architecture; BYD plans to release the first high-end hardcore off-road SUV at the Beijing Auto Show in April this year, or align with the Mercedes-Benz Big G. With the blessing of the new energy wave, Dongfeng will also take the military off-road model "Warrior" as the base to create a high-end pure electric off-road brand...
Since the domestic high-end off-road SUV field has begun to show signs of chaos, will the recovery of the entry-level small off-road SUV market be far away? It's just to see who will fill it.
In addition to the tank 100 bubbling up to brush the sense of existence of the wave, it is BAIC Manufacturing that is really driving the process of this market segment.
As a car company with a deep off-road heritage, BJ212, the originator of independent off-road, was resurrected some time ago, and it is reported that the new generation of BJ212 will be released around the middle of this year and listed around 2023.
In order to be able to get back on track in the off-road market, BAIC Manufacturing can be said to have spent a lot of effort on the BJ212, while retaining the design concept of the original model, it has created three model types and two interior layouts, and provided three powertrains, the overall body size is slightly larger but the wheelbase remains unchanged at 3460mm. The familiar formula is supplemented by fresh condiments, which has attracted the expectations of many consumers, hoping that this time BAIC's manufacturing attitude can be correct, seize the opportunity of this off-road trend, and do not play the trick of flashy embroidered pillows.
In addition to BAIC Manufacturing, which has begun to seize the opportunity, who will be the next to enter?
Personal speculation is most likely Tonyo, after all, there is a slogan of "what the people need to make", and whether the price or positioning is in the hinterland of the Wuling product camp. At present, Baojun also needs to save some market reputation and prestige for itself through a unique way, and the failure of the "100,000-level station wagon" Baojun Valli has become a foregone conclusion, but the "100,000-level off-road vehicle" is undoubtedly a good way out.
In addition, Chery is also very likely to join the filling army in the future. Chery's road to the high has not been smooth, so in the case of deep ploughing 100,000-level market to stabilize the base camp, it is necessary to explore a new direction of development, QQ ice cream involved in the micro-electric market has gained a lot, after tasting the sweetness, for the small off-road SUV field that is getting more and more attention, the probability will not sit idly by, after all, it is not nothing. Take the Tiggo 3 well, maybe some consumers will buy it.
In fact, the way out of the circle of the small off-road SUV is very simple, the shape should be refined, to be "hard" enough MAN, the interior does not need to be luxurious and outstanding, to meet the basic daily needs, but must have the reliable quality of leather resistance to do the foundation. It seems simple, but there are very few who can really do it in place, and I don't know who will become the first car company in China to eat the dividends of the times with the recovery of the small off-road SUV market in the future.
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