Photo: Newspress
Have you ever pondered the use of the number 8 in car design? We haven't until seeing the GAC Trumpchi GS8, a huge SUV that presented itself today ay the 2016 Beijing Motor Show.
About the only thing the outside world knows about Trumpchi is that Top Gear once went to China and made fun of one. In reality, it's an automotive marque owned by GAC Group and has a very short history, being launched as recently as December 2010. So far, their biggest model has been the GS5 Super, an SUV with a 2-liter engine. However, once it's ready for production, the GS8 will inevitably overshadow it.
Two models will be derived from the same all-new platform, GAC says. The first will be this 7-seat SUV model, followed by the GA8 mid-size luxury sedan.
It seems the number 8 is supposed to bring the vehicle luck, as there are eight LEDs per headlight and the 8-symbol also appears in the taillights once you step on the brake. The front fascia is dominant, built using a mixture of geometric shapes. Meanwhile, the rear is a lot like the Range Rover.
The interior features a simple multi-functional steering wheel and a large LCD screen. The air vents that flank it are designed to look like wings. Lastly, the GS8 SUV is equipped with blue dials and push-button start.
Details regarding the engines will only be available towards the end of the year. However, the rumor mill tells us there will be a 2-liter turbo with 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque, followed by a 1.8-liter turbo with 177 hp and 240 Nm of torque. Both will be matched as standard to a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox developed in China.
In September 2012, GAC announced that exports of Trumpchi cars to regions including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia would begin the following year. But we still don't see the GS8 taking all the market share from the BMW X5.
Two models will be derived from the same all-new platform, GAC says. The first will be this 7-seat SUV model, followed by the GA8 mid-size luxury sedan.
It seems the number 8 is supposed to bring the vehicle luck, as there are eight LEDs per headlight and the 8-symbol also appears in the taillights once you step on the brake. The front fascia is dominant, built using a mixture of geometric shapes. Meanwhile, the rear is a lot like the Range Rover.
The interior features a simple multi-functional steering wheel and a large LCD screen. The air vents that flank it are designed to look like wings. Lastly, the GS8 SUV is equipped with blue dials and push-button start.
Details regarding the engines will only be available towards the end of the year. However, the rumor mill tells us there will be a 2-liter turbo with 190 hp and 300 Nm of torque, followed by a 1.8-liter turbo with 177 hp and 240 Nm of torque. Both will be matched as standard to a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox developed in China.
In September 2012, GAC announced that exports of Trumpchi cars to regions including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America and Southeast Asia would begin the following year. But we still don't see the GS8 taking all the market share from the BMW X5.
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