GAC Motor Philippines is out for blood as it kicks off the New Year under new management.

The Chinese carmaker debuted its Empow sedan and an all-new version of its GS8 sport-utility vehicle (SUV) on January 18, 2023. 

The two models are the first to come out following the December 2022 takeover of multinational mobility provider Astara, which also distributes GAC Motor in Chile and Peru.

Astara Philippines has also been the official local distributor of Peugeot since January 2022. The French brand recorded a 285-percent year-on-year sales growth for January 2023.

“Our first year in the Philippines was remarkable with Peugeot as our first brand,” said Astara managing director for Southern Europe and the Philippines Jorge Belzunce.

“Now, with GAC Motor added to our portfolio, we are excited to bring more value to our Filipino customers,” he added. “Astara’s global strength and track record in car distribution and mobility services, we hope to achieve great success for GAC Motor as we have done in Latin America.”

Honda Civic fighter

The GAC Empow has been in production since 2021 and will take on compact-sedan heavy hitters like the turbocharged Honda Civic.

Like the Civic, the Empow features a turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 170 PS and 270 Nm of torque. This is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

GAC claims the Empow can do 0 to 100 km/h in 6.95 seconds.

It also features fastback styling, an intricate front grill, 18-inch alloy wheels, and sharp LED headlights and taillights.

Step inside the Empow, and you get things like sports seats with electric adjustment for the driver, contrasting yellow leather trim, a moonroof, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters. 

The dash also features a prominent pair of displays – a 7-inch gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.

The Empow will also take on the Civic’s Honda SENSING system with active-safety features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-jam assist, and high-beam assist.

“The Empow is most ideal for customers who want a sports sedan that looks as great as it drives,” said newly appointed GAC Motor Philippines brand head Jun Cajayon.

“It provides the performance advantage without compromise at a price point that is well within reach,” he added. “The Empow is, without a doubt, a vehicle that makes a strong statement on the road.”

Ford Explorer rival

Meanwhile, the all-new GAC GS8 seven-seat SUV is a total revamp of the GS8 that has been available in the Philippines since the brand started in 2018.

As GAC Motor Philippines’ flagship, it gets intricate styling details like four-bulb metric automatic LED headlights, a V-shaped chrome front grill, 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust pipes and LED daytime running lights.

The cabin is also meant to take on premium SUVs like the Ford Explorer. Passengers are treated to a full leather interior with diamond stitching, along with power-adjust controls and memory settings for the driver and front passenger seats. 

The GS8 likewise gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, an electrochromic rear-view mirror, three-zone automatic air conditioning, multicolor ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof.

The dashboard is dominated by the 14.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the gauges are displayed on a 7-inch screen.

The GS8 comes standard with a suite of active-safety systems that includes:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Traffic Sign Recognition

• Forward Collision Warning

• Autonomous Emergency Braking

• Lane Departure Warning

• Front & Rear Parking Sensors with HD Surround Vision Parking System,

• Traffic Jam Assist

As with the previous GS8, the new model gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine. It now produces 251 PS and 400 Nm of torque that are coursed through an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

“The all-new GS8 builds on its success as GAC Motor’s flagship SUV with its complete package of style, quality, reliability, and safety,” Cajayon said.

“It has been masterfully designed to exude confidence on the road, making it the perfect match for customers seeking distinction and refinement in their SUV,” he added.

Introductory prices

GAC Motor Philippines said the Empow and the all-new GS8 will have the following introductory prices until March 31, 2023:

• Empow GE (Matte Fighter Green) – ₱1,283,000 (to increase by ₱90,000 on April 1, 2023)

• Empow GB (Ivory White, Moonlight Grey, Elegant Black) – ₱1,215,000 (to increase by ₱90,000 on April 1, 2023)

• Empow GS (Ivory White, Moonlight Grey) – ₱1,135,000 (to increase by ₱60,000 on April 1, 2023)

• GS8 (Ink Seal Green, Crystal White, Moonlight Grey, Elegant Black – ₱2,298,000 (to increase by ₱100,000 on April 1, 2023)

The company added that the GS8, Empow GS, and Empow GB models will be available at GAC Motor Philippines dealers within the next few days, while the Empow GE will arrive on February 2023.

All GAC models come with a five-year warranty for parts and servicing.

Do you think GAC Motor Philippines’ newest models will reverse the brand’s fortunes?