Taking on the Tank 300? The All-New 212 is About to Hit the Market

The all-new 212 model is set to officially launch on August 22. As a replacement for the current 212 Sniper, the vehicle has undergone a redesign of its exterior and interior, and is equipped with a 2.0T engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. It’s worth noting that this new BAIC 212 is not the same as the original BAIC 212; the all-new 212 is the first product under the 212 brand. Beijing Auto Manufacturing Plant has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, “212 Off-Road Vehicle Co., Ltd.”

In terms of the front face, the new 212 has some slight modifications, with a smoother overall engine hood and the addition of a black panel to fill the gap. The lighting has also changed, with the LED lights moved to the bumper, reducing the size of the circular headlights and extending the grille frame to give a squarer overall profile.

The side of the car features the boxy design favored by hard-core off-roaders, with a short front overhang and square windows. The roof’s water channeling design is similar to that of the Mercedes-Benz G500.

At the rear, the spare tire of the new 212 has been moved to the center, the tail window has become squarer, and the taillights have been changed to three vertical light clusters. The trunk now uses a side-opening design, making the overall style simpler and more fashionable than the current model. Details about the interior have not been announced, but based on previously leaked images, the car is expected to feature a floating central control screen, a full LCD instrument panel, and a multifunctional three-spoke steering wheel, with further upgrades in intelligent features while retaining some mechanical buttons.

The dimensions of the new 212 are 4705mm in length, 1895mm in width, and 1936mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2860mm. The approach and departure angles are 40 and 36 degrees, respectively. Compared to the current model, both the body length and wheelbase have been significantly increased. In comparison, the Tank 300 is smaller, and the new 212’s wheelbase exceeds that of the Tank 300. In terms of exterior design, the new 212 is not inferior to the Tank 300 and may even be stronger, with a more pronounced vintage mechanical feel.

In terms of power, the new 212 has upgraded from its outdated engine system to a 2.0T turbocharged engine, with a maximum power output of 185 kW. It is expected to be equipped with an 8AT transmission and support low-speed four-wheel drive, offering a significant boost in power. The Tank 300 uses a 2.0T four-cylinder turbocharged engine with a maximum power output of 167 kW.

In terms of off-road performance, the new 212 uses a non-load-bearing body design and is equipped with a part-time four-wheel drive system, including low-speed four-wheel drive and off-road mode switching, and it also comes with a feature to disconnect the anti-roll bar. The chassis features a double wishbone coil spring solid front axle and a coil spring multi-link solid rear axle with five links, offering long suspension travel and some potential for modification.

Based on the basic parameters, the new 212 is very “hardcore” and offers more power than the Tank 300, but it’s still unclear which is “harder.”

It won’t be easy for the new 212 to carve out a place in the market. If it can fully leverage its classic mechanical feel and continue to improve in product quality and after-sales service, it has the potential to succeed.

The pre-sale price for the new 212 has not been announced, and pricing is now the challenge it faces. Considering the current 212’s price range of 99,900 to 105,900 yuan, a slight increase for the new 212 to around 120,000 to 150,000 yuan might be competitive against the Tank 300. However, to achieve the influence and sales volume of the Tank 300, it will still depend on the marketing strategy and capabilities of the team.