Chinese Manufacturer GAC Motor Hitting the U.S. Market
For the fourth time, GAC Motor will present a few models at the Detroit Auto Show next January. This time around, they mean business as the manufacturer has confirmed its entry into the U.S. market.
At the GAC Motor stand, showgoers will be able to admire its flagship model, the GM8 minivan that “represents the highest level of independent research and development (R&D) capabilities.” What we understand in that statement is that the vehicle is probably technologically up to date. Under the hood, there’s a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops about 200 horsepower.
On display will be the GA8 large luxury sedan that should be equipped by a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four that develops 194 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, matched to a six-speed automatic. The car is said to consume an average 7.9 L/100 km. According to GAC, its cockpit, which includes a refrigerated compartment for the rear-seat occupants, is a “noble and exclusive space that helps you make good decisions.”
Also in Detroit will be a new electric car concept that targets a younger audience in the United States. It could be the iSPACE, recently unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in November. It is said that this car is a mobile living room, connected to the Internet, with front and rear seats that fold down into a double bed. Thanks to its artificial intelligence, the car can detect multiple mobility scenarios such as commuting, airport shuttling and… dating.
GAC Motor’s press release also included images of the GS8 utility vehicle, which the company also touts as their flagship, but it’s not clear if it will be presented in Detroit or not. A midsize, seven-passenger SUV, the GS8 should also be equipped with a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, this one developing 198 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system with six drive modes are also included. The SUV is said to consume 6.4 L/100 km “at a constant speed of 90 km/h.”
According to GAC Motor’s website, we’d buy the GS8 “to conquer the world with aggressive appearance and courage,” and “in addition to domineering appearance, the brand-new hard-boiled flying dynamics will be the totem of the conqueror.” Sounds promising.
Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Co. sold more than 460,000 vehicles around the globe last year, a 39% increase over the previous year. The company should start selling vehicles in the United States by 2019.
Another interesting detail is that elsewhere in the world, these vehicles are sold under the brand Trumpchi. Should the automaker consider a name change for the U.S. market? Maybe if they sit inside the GA8’s cockpit for a while, they’ll end up making a good decision.