Since the start of the year under the distributorship of Astara Philippines, GAC Motor Philippines has been on a mission to rapidly expand its presence. So far, the company’s efforts are paying off as it registered a 224 percent year-to-date sales growth.
GAC GS8
The said all-time best sales performance from January to May was led by the all-new GS8 and Empow, two of the latest additions to the lineup. While the GAC GS8 offers the market a premium-looking midsize crossover with seven seats, the GAC Empow is a compact sedan bringing a sporty driving experience.
Specs-wise, the GAC GS8 gets 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps with an automatic headlight function, a powered tailgate, three-zone climate control, and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. It is also equipped with advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions such as full speed range adaptive cruise control (ISL-ACC) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
GAC Empow
Powering the vehicle is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine good for 248 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. It sends power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the GAC Empow runs on a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine capable of producing 168 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). GAC Motor claims the sedan can go from zero to 100 km/h in 6.95 seconds.
“Our tremendous sales growth in the last five months are being driven by the terrific customer response to our latest vehicles, which offer the best value for money in the market today,” said GAC Motor Brand Head Jun Cajayon.
The GS8 and Empow are off to a good start
Also contributing to the car brand’s strong sales performance was said to be the GAC Emkoo, a Sci-Fi-inspired 5-seater compact crossover launched at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).
“This growth momentum proves that more and more Filipinos are embracing the GAC Motor brand and appreciating the high-quality, reliability, and fine craftsmanship of our vehicles,” added Cajayon.
See the up-to-date car sales reports at Philkotse.com.
Know more about GAC GS8 2024
The next-generation 2024 GAC GS8 is a midsize, seven-seater SUV. In the Philippine market, its 4x2 variant comes with an introductory price of Php 2,398,000, while the 4x4 version is priced at Php 2,648,000.
Under the hood of the GAC GS8 is a 2.0-liter gasoline engine that can make up to 248 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The said engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The GS8 size-wise, spans 4,980mm long, is 1,950mm wide, and 1,780mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,920mm.
Locally, the 2024 GAC GS8 competes against the Toyota Fortuner, Mazda CX-8, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Terra, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Ford Everest, among others.
GAC GS8 Launch
The GAC GS8 first debuted in China back in 2021. It was then previewed at the 2022 MIAS, before its official launch in 2023. The 4x4 top-spec version was then brought into the local market in August 2023.
GAC GS8 Exterior
The only trim of the Philippine-spec GAC GS8 is equipped with LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, and rear fog lamps. Also present on this SUV is a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, power-folding side mirrors, automatic headlamps, and a set of 20-inch alloy wheels.
GAC GS8 Interior
Keeping all of its seven occupants cool is a three-zone automatic air-conditioner. All seats are then wrapped in leather.
Provided for the driver of the GS8 is an electronically adjustable driver’s seat, a leather steering wheel, paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a push-to-start button, a seven-inch digital gauge cluster, etc.
Technology & Safety Features
The GS8 has a comprehensive safety kit that consists of dual front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking with EPS, stability control, hill-start control, hill-descent control, tire pressure monitoring, ISOFIX child seat anchors, engine immobilizer, etc.
Supporting those standard safety features are adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, etc.
Entertaining the occupants of the GS8 is a 14.6-inch touchscreen with Phone mirroring, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. The said headunit is then linked to a total of eight speakers. Also present are a number of charging ports, as well as a wireless smartphone charger.
Platform & Chassis
The GS8 uses a MacPherson strut for the front, and a multi-link suspension for the rear. Braking for this model is then handled by disc brakes for all four wheels, as well as an electronic parking brake with an auto-hold function.
Engine & Drivetrain
Powering the GS8 is a 2.0-liter TGDi engine. At the maximum, this powerplant can generate up to 248 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. All power is sent to its front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Also present on this model are three drive modes which include Eco, comfort, and Sport.
There are four available color options for the Philippine-spec 2024 GAC GS8. There’s Elegant Black, Ink Seal Green, Crystal White, and Moonlight Grey.
The GAC GS8 is one of the most powerful midsize seven-seater SUVs on the market right now. Well, barring that of some luxury models. It is also on-par against its competitors when it comes to amenities and safety features.
The only thing that we see that might hold it back is its high starting price. There’s also the fact that it only has one variant in the local market.
GAC GS8 Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
₱ 2,398,000 - ₱ 2,648,000
Explore
Recent posts
- Next-gen GAC GS3 price reveal Jun 21, 2023
- GAC Trumpchi E9 MPV launched May 31, 2023
- GAC Emkoo new pricing anniversary May 25, 2023
