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Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
The GAC GS3 Emzoom is a refreshing and a different offering in a flooded SUV market
Sporty and stylish: The GAC Emzoom is a refreshing addition to the compact SUV market. It might come to the point where we lose track of how many Chinese brands there are in South Africa. We might even begin to lose track of how many compact SUVs are in the market because it has become congested with them. Chinese brand GAC Motor entered two SUV models into the South African market in the middle of 2024: the Emzoom and the Emkoo. In typical fashion, both cars looked good and came with all the fancy technology that we have become accustomed to getting in Chinese cars. The Mail & Guardian got behind the wheel of the Emzoom, which is available in three variants: Comfort, Executive and R-Style. We were lucky enough to get the top-of-the-range R-Style model and I was pleasantly surprised. I knew that the exterior and interior were going to be appealing, because Chinese manufacturers always put a lot of emphasis on bringing out a neat product. However, I did find some styling similarities with BMWs. For starters, on the R-Line trim, the black grille gets three gold panels, much like some BMWs, which have M-specific colours on their grilles. The colour coding on the inside also provided some similarities. The same blue plastics you see around the aircon vents in BMWs are present in the Emzoom R-Style. This is probably because Thomas Schemera, who has held key roles at both BMW M and Hyundai, is now the chief operating officer and senior vice president of GAC International. Alongside the ambient lighting inside the Emzoom, the air conditioning and volume dials also get a rainbow light around them. These style features give the car a fun and sporty atmosphere. Manufacturers sometimes try too hard to make compact SUVs feel luxurious with fancy screens, decked out interiors and the absence of buttons. While the Emzoom still has the fancy screens and is decked out, it doesn't aim for a luxurious interior, but rather something that boosts adrenaline. The Emzoom comes with the standard 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine that we are accustomed to getting in Chinese compact SUVs. Paired with a dual-clutch transmission gearbox, it will deliver 130kW of power and 270Nm of torque. The coolest feature of the car is the exhaust system which is designed to produce sound through 'active exhaust valves'. These can be toggled between open and closed, allowing for a louder and more sporty sound when open, especially in the sport mode. It adds to the fun feel the Emzoom was meant to have. You could actually fool people into thinking you were driving a sports car. But this feature also has a downside. I became obsessed with the exhaust sound, continually putting the car into sport mode. This exposed the sensitivity of the accelerator, making the car move too quickly. This is not ideal when navigating into tight parking spots or even pulling into your garage. Besides that, the Emzoom provides excellent handling and effortlessly picks up speed when you need it to. I experienced some turbo-lag, but it was not bad at all. It didn't make the vehicle feel unresponsive. The other downside is the fuel consumption. This is a pretty compact vehicle and, while GAC claims a consumption figure of 6.2 litres/100km, I averaged 8.1 litres/100km. Overall, I really enjoyed the GAC GS3 Emzoom. It felt different and refreshing. I loved the fact that GAC went all out in making it a fun and sporty experience without producing a performance monster. You get everything you need — and the lovely exhaust sound as a bonus but, in a flooded SUV market, it is difficult to say whether the Emzoom will make a splash. Pricing GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T Comfort — from: R419 900 GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T Executive — from: R439 900 GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T R-Style — from: R489 900
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
GAC approves V-Class rival and EV Aion model for South Africa
An official launch date for both models will be announced in due course. Available since 2022 in China, the GAC M8 will debut in South Africa in 2025. Image: Having remained relatively quiet since announcing a price drop of up to R100 000 on its flagship model in January, GAC Motor South Africa importer, Salvador Caetano Auto, has confirmed two additional products for introduction this year. M8 Its local line-up currently consisting of the Emzoom and Emkoo, the surprise first addition since the marque's arrival last year will be the M8 MPV, aimed at the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, Toyota Quantum VX and Kia Carnival. Sold under the Trumpchi banner in China and not as a GAC, the dramatic looking M8 made its world debut in 2022 as a second generation model complete with petrol, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. ALSO READ: GAC cuts Emzoom and Emkoo prices by as much as R100 000 The latter setup having resulted in it being called E9 and not M8, the former pair continue to be sold as M8 has measurements of 5 212 mm in overall length, a wheelbase of 3 070 mm, height of 1 823 mm and width of 1 893 mm. Incorporating a styling language called Soaring Wings 2.0, the M8 provides seating for seven in a 2-2-3 arrangement, with the second row consisting of a pair of captain-style chairs that can recline in an ottoman fashion. According to Malaysia's notable specification items include a 12-speaker sound system or an optional 16-speaker audio developed by Yamaha, tri-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch infotainment system and two supplementary displays for the second row. M8 has been described as a rival for the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Kia Carnival. Image: Dual sliding electric doors, an expansive panoramic sunroof, semi-autonomous driving tech and a surround-view camera system are additional features models en-route to South Africa could be fitted with On the power side, the petrol M8 makes do with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine sending 185kW/400Nm to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox Leveraging off of GAC's partnership with Toyota, the self-charging hybrid combines the same engine with an electric motor and battery pack for a total output of 177 kW. A Toyota-made CVT is the sole transmission available. Interior has little in common with the Emkoo and Emzoon on first glance. Image: >Introduced in 2023, the plug-in hybrid E9 pairs the 2.0-litre turbo with a 25.5-kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor developing 132kW/300Nm on its own With the combustion unit's 140kW/330Nm factored in, the E9 outputs a total of 274kW/630Nm directed to all four wheels via a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). The claimed all-electric range is 106 km, based on the NEDC ratings. With both combustion and EV mills operating, the E9 will travel a reported 1 032 km. Aion Y Plus All-electric Aion Y will make its long awaited debut later this year as well. Image: Announced during its formal market debut last year, the second new arrival will be long awaited all-electric Y sold under the EV-dedicated Aion brand. Set to be known as the GAC Aion Y and not Aion Y as in China, the MPV-styled model, which is classified as a compact crossover, made its world arrival in 2021 and has since spawned an improved model called the Aion Y Plus which will seemingly be the variant heading to South Africa. Updated in 2023 means the Aion Y carries the Plus suffix. Image: If so, the Y will have dimensions of 4 535 mm in overall length, a wheelbase of 2 750 mm, height of 1 650 mm and width of 1 870 mm A five-seater unlike the M8 specification, from Malaysia where sales commenced last year, amounts to two variants, with items comprising 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker sound system, ambient lighting, ventilated and electric front seats and a surround-view camera system. Interior has a typical minimalist design to it. Image: GAC Thailand Also included is a wireless smartphone charger, panoramic sunroof, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning, to name a few. On the power front, the Aion Y, again in Plus form, offers a choice of two battery packs; a 50.6-kWh module allowing for a range of 410 km, and a bigger 63.2-kWh unit that makes 150kW/225Nm and results in a range of 490 km More soon As is stands, no launch date has yet been announced, however, expect to this within the coming weeks and months Additional information and images from NOW READ: GAC Emkoo throws surprise spanner in Chinese vehicle works
