These Chinese cars have already punched a hole in the system, driving past the stigma
Chinese carmakers have gone a long way since it started the nuts and bolts of its own carmaking a couple of decades ago. From a several hundred square meters of factory space in a few of its backyards, to now growing humongously to sprawling factories and research and development facilities 30 years after, they have come to already earn the respect of the automotive world in one way or another. From the clutches of stigma of being ‘copycats’ of more established brands, they have managed to free themselves from the shackles and build something new, fresh, brighter or perhaps even better.
GAC Motor, for one, has been one of those Chinese carmakers that have come of age.
Recently, during a media appreciation tour to Guangzhou, China, GAC Motor’s headquarters in the mainland, this writer was able to take a few of the vehicles in its current lineup for a spin. This is probably a good way to demonstrate the vehicles’ engineering, balance, handling, chassis strength, road grip, so and so forth.
Among the vehicles here were the GAC Emkoo, GS3 Emzoom, the Empow, all-new GS8, M8, E9 and the full electric Aion Hyper GT.
We did the brief sessions on a makeshift track located in a seemingly abandoned port area in Guangdong Province that organizers prepped up. From the get-go, the track first started with a long straight which allows you to speed from 0 to 100kph. From there, you do a sweeping right that forces you to step on the brake first before turning. After turning, you do a slalom, snaking past three cones. After this, you drive through a ‘Figure 8’ section before entering a tight entry and unto a right corner, then a short straight before finally braking to stop, completing the whole track course.
Emkoo
The GAC Emkoo is probably a crossover SUV that exudes that funky feel in the lineup. It features “Eyes of Revelation” headlamps that bring a sharp yet stylish profile to the vehicle. This is complemented by the “Illuminant V-Shaped Grille” that features a radiant design, bringing that kind of zing to the car as it resembled the rays of the sun. Overall, it’s a crossover that brings about a youthful and dynamic vibe into it.
Under its hood is a potent Mega Wave 1.5L GDI Engine that produces 177hp and 270 N-m of torque.
During the short drive around the track, the Emkoo was nimble and had quite pretty good handling. It had heft, so trashing it around like the other cars in the lineup was not a good idea. Despite its size, it passed through the slalom sections and “Figure 8” adequately good enough.
GS3 Emzoom
This vehicle probably is considered a looker. Despite being an entry-level vehicle, its design tramps other models in its competition. It dons captivating aesthetics, cutting-edge technology and remarkable performance.
It is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. Power is delivered from the engine to the road through its front wheels.
It had pretty good balance and handling. Power-to-weight ratio was superlative and it was well-planted. It was smooth, to say the least, and I enjoyed my short time with this vehicle.
Aion Hyper GT
This is probably one of the highlights of the on-track session. The full electric Aion Hyper GT was one blissful drive. First of all, it’s highlighted by its scissor doors as you get to enter the vehicle in style.
The vehicle’s single motor version produces 250kW (340hp) and 434 N-m of torque. From the get-go, it was so lightning fast that it accelerated from 0-100kph in just 4.9 seconds. The vehicle was “torquey” that it carried lots of speed in the corners. So, braking was a must to get everything nice and neat. “Figure 8” was smooth and seamless. Overall, it was a short, yet exhilarating experience.
I wasn’t able to drive the Empow R and the other vehicles. But, after the fleeting experience, these Chinese cars, I can say, have already punched holes in the negative belief system and have, in fact, already turned the tables around. Now, as you look at them, they truly are “braking” those barriers.
