GAC Motor, one of China's leading homegrown automobile manufacturers, has released its first seven-seat SUV, the GS8, a new variety helping to redefine the high-end domestic SUV market.

At the launch on Oct 26 at the Hangzhou International Expo Center, the main venue of the recent G20 summit, GAC Motor's General Manager Yu Jun said that the company would strive to make the GS8 the hottest model in its market, with sales expected to reach 100,000 units annually.

On top of that, nine new models will be launched next year, when GAC Motor will take up the challenge of selling 500,000 cars in 2017.

A high-end SUV developed by GAC Motor, the GS8 meets the North American SUV roof anti-force standard and redefines the Chinese high-end SUV market, Yu said.

It integrates GAC's production system, global research and development and global supply chains to form the core competitive advantage of sustainable development and leads Chinese brands with its innovative advances.

"The GS8 benefits from GAC Motor's pursuit of quality, performance, design and the ability to deliver continuous technological innovation," Yu said.

Through 10 years of efforts to constantly provide competitive products, the company has established a state-level enterprise technology center by taking the GAC Automotive Engineering Institute, which is ranked in the top 10 Chinese industrial technology research institutions, as the core of its operations and an enterprise R&D center as the support.

An important step in GAC Motor's strategic plan to fully enter the high-end market, the GS8 is a C-level high-end product based on creative cross-platform modular architecture, a platform that focuses on technological innovation to guarantee consistent quality, lower production and manufacturing costs, accelerate development and expand technical advantages over competitors.

One of China's top high-end SUVs, the GS8 is powered by the company's golden dynamic combination of the Ti POWER 320T engine and six-speed automatic gearbox.

By applying GAC Motor's second generation i-4WD 2.0 system, the GS8 offers a powerful yet smooth ride across six driving modes: sandy road, muddy road, snowy road, intelligent auto, sports and ECO (ecology, conservation and optimization). It also applies the latest Bosch electronic stability program 9.1(ESP 9.1) to improve stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding).

Other intelligent technology attributes include automatic tailgate opening and a series of auxiliary driving assistance systems for active and passive protection, such as emergency braking and lane departure warning.

The GS8's matrix-type LED headlights and U-shaped tail lights generate a deep, multi-layered lighting effect and combine for an impressive yet calm aesthetic, while the elegantly simple interior adopts a seven-seat, three-row layout and ultra-size panoramic sunroof.

Both the outside and inside of the car are testament to GAC Motor's ability to blend technical R&D strength and quality assurance with upscale design.

"The GS8 is another milestone for GAC Motor in terms of global outreach, demonstrating our R&D capability and quality assurance system," Yu said.

"Since it became available for pre-sale in August, we have already received over 8,000 orders, which marks another huge step forward for GAC Motor in terms of building world-class products that are able to compete with the best in the class."

GAC Motor has now released the GS8 and GA8 and is planning to release the GM8, another self-developed high-end product. GAC will then be the first Chinese brand to provide high-end products in the sub markets of sedan, SUV and MPV.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn

Iconic light design of GS8

With its square front face and straight bodylines, the impressive GS8 distinguishes itself by inheriting GAC Motor's iconic grille design - the Flying Dynamics inspired by grand sculptural light and shadow. Perfectly blended with the grille area are the matrix-structured headlights, each comprised of four LED modules, while the U-shaped tail lights share the same geometric silhouette for a deep, multi-layered lighting effect.

Artist's drawing of the headlights

Artist's drawing of the taillights

Taillights

Headlights

GAC Motor's iconic grille design - the Flying Dynamics

(China Daily 11/03/2016 page16)