GAC M8 spied in Malaysia once again – Chinese Toyota Alphard/Vellfire finally launching soon?
The sightings are getting more frequent now – the GAC M8 has been spied in Malaysia once again, this time in Puchong along Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP). This luxury MPV would certainly help flesh out the Chinese carmaker and distributor Warisan Tan Chong Automotif’s (WTCA) lineup in Malaysia, currently consisting solely of the GS3 Emzoom and the Aion Y Plus.
As previously mentioned, this is a massive people carrier that’s even larger than the popular Toyota Alphard and Vellfire. At 5,212 mm long, 1,893 mm wide and 1,823 mm tall with a wheelbase of 3,070 mm, the M8 is comparable to the electric Zeekr 009 and Denza D9, both set to arrive in Malaysia soon.
Unlike those cars, however, the M8 gets a petrol engine under the short bonnet – in this case, a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 255 PS and 400 Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Those outputs are comparable to the Alphard’s 2.4 litre mill despite having less swept capacity (and thus, less expensive road tax). The hybrid model swaps the engine for an Atkinson-cycle version churning out 190 PS and 320 Nm, paired to a 184 PS/270 Nm Toyota-sourced electric motor and eCVT.
China also offers a plug-in hybrid version called the Trumpchi E9, boosting the engine to 330 Nm and mating it with a 182 PS/300 Nm electric motor and a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). This makes a combined 373 PS and 630 Nm, enabling the leviathan to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds. Juicing the motor is a 25.57 kWh battery that delivers a pure electric range of 106 km. With a 56 litre fuel tank, GAC claims a combined range of 1,032 km and a fuel consumption figure of 6.05 litres per 100 km.
The M8 certainly takes the Alphard-aping to the next level, particularly at the front where the full-height grille is akin to its Japanese rival’s posher Lexus LM sibling. The design, however, is more angular with sharp lines, large L-shaped head- and taillights (the former with neat fan-like lighting signatures) and lots of chrome on the window line, bumpers and side skirts.
As expected, the interior of the M8 is exceedingly plush, with seven luxurious pews including second-row captain’s chairs. These feature plenty of power adjustment, built-in ottomans and five-inch armrest displays, and passengers can bask in the 15.6-inch roof monitor.
There’s lots of tech for the front occupants, too, such as a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, pumping music through a 16-speaker Yamaha sound system. The wood panelling ahead of the passenger also features marquetry portraying mountains and birds – a nice touch.
Just like other GAC models, the M8 comes with the ADiGO Pilot suite of driver assists, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring with collision avoidance, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake, rear collision warning and mitigation, park assist and a door opening warning.
GALLERY: GAC M8
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