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Thank you: The first Chinese car center “Moscow-Tianya“ A new wave of Chinese vehicles keeps hitting Middle Eastern shores every now and then. They are finding sales success mainly because they are cheaper than comparable models from incumbent segment leaders i.e. Japanese and Korean brands. They are feature-laden, and more importantly, ready stock is available at their dealers. But what happens when they go beyond utility when they breach the boundaries of the luxury segment? This week we review the second generation GAC GS8 GX 4WD to answer that. For those who missed “Season One” or shall I say the first generation, know that the GS8 is a near-full-size SUV from the Chinese brand GAC, which stands for Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. Design and aesthetics If you’re looking to purchase a family SUV that is big, chunky, and has a certain amount of bling, the GAC GS8 just maybe it. Don’t want to take my word for it? Have a look at the pictures for yourself. With a stature as imposing as a Toyota Land Cruiser (4,980mm l x 1950mm h x 1780mm w) and oodles of style to complement its size, the GS8 isn’t something you can ignore. The body panels are very slab-like but somehow, they come together very elegantly, and the chrome-enriched details help keep its distinction from its peers and those a few price brackets above it. It has a sizeable grille decorated with a V-motif (created by strips of chrome) and the LED lamps that GAC called ‘Eyes of the Conqueror’ sit in the clear housing like precious gems in a showcase. Even the rear is capable of drawing attention with its H-shaped LED lamp clusters. Then there’s the floating roof effect up top and the sophisticated 20-inch multi-spoke wheel design down below to complete the look. There isn’t much you can hate about the GS8, except maybe the faux trapezoidal exhaust tips, which I admit is nitpicking. Just based on looks, this is a vehicle that many people would like to own whether it serves as a family vehicle or for business. Kudos to GAC for raising the style quotient in the segment! It’s not just big on the outside; this is a proper seven-seater SUV! The two front rows can easily accommodate six-footers and the third row can easily fit two kids. Big families are welcome. You can even make front seat adjustments from the second row to create airliner seating accommodation – like in a proper luxury saloon. Powertrain and performance Expectedly, like almost all other Chinese vehicles, this too comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. On paper, the 248 PS of peak power and 400 Nm of top torque (a 10 Nm bump over the previous generation) feel adequate. On the road, the GS8 came across as responsive both on the speedy highways and in the start-stop traffic of the city streets. While cruising, there is some delay in the kick down from the Aisin 8-speed auto, but once it does, the acceleration feels lively. It doesn’t seem fair to quote 0 to 100 sprint times for such a vehicle, but I’d say it's around eight seconds, give or take. If you’re looking for a bigger engine, know that there isn’t a V8 or V6 option here and that’s acceptable when you take into consideration the kind of purpose it was designed for, which is family and luggage hauling. With the use of independent McPherson Type suspension up front and the multi-link beam arrangement at the rear, ride comfort is kept compliant with luxury vehicle standards. The GS8 easily coasts over road imperfections and speed humps too. The cabin remained quiet allowing for casual conversations without having to scream over the other - many thanks to the insulated glass in the windshield and front windows. Also helping with the ride is the rather long 2,920mm wheelbase. This also allows it to retain composure along long sweeping corners. However, the chassis is not tuned for quick directional changes usually involved in sprinted drives. Read More
