GAC Trumpchi The second generation GS8
GAC Trumpchi's flagship SUV model, the GS8, has come to the time of the first replacement after five years. On December 12, GAC Trumpchi released the second-generation GS8 online. It is noteworthy that the vehicle introduces toyota's fourth-generation THS hybrid system, a joint venture partner of GAC, and becomes the first model equipped with this system after Toyota opened up its hybrid technology to the industry.
From the perspective of the whole industry, the current development of hybrids has major policy benefits. The "Energy-saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 2.0" prepared by the China Automotive Engineering Association mentions that in 2035, energy-saving vehicles and new energy vehicles will account for 50% of sales, and traditional fuel-powered passenger cars will be replaced by hybrids.
Reflected in the car companies, in the past two years, a number of independent brands have released hybrid technology brands, such as Geely Leishen HiX Smart Engine Hybrid, Great Wall Lemon DHT Hybrid, Changan Blue Whale iDD Hybrid, BYD DM-i Hybrid, Chery Kunpeng Hybrid, and so on. In the hybrid system of GAC, in addition to the self-developed GMC2.0 hybrid, there is also hybrid technology from Toyota.
Toyota is a pioneer in global hybrid technology, with more than 20 years of development history, and its global hybrid model sales have exceeded 18 million units so far. In this regard, the industry has commented that "there are only two kinds of hybrids in the world, one is Toyota hybrids, and the other is other hybrids", in order to describe the reliability of Toyota hybrid systems.
Gac Trumpchi introduced Toyota Hybrid, and one of the key points of attention is whether the engine independently developed by Trumpchi can be matched with Toyota's hybrid system, which is the technical difficulty of hybrid. According to GAC Trumpchi, the engine mounted on the second-generation GS8 is GAC's 2.0TM engine, which can be integrated with Toyota's THS hybrid technology after a long period of technical tuning. The data shows that the hybrid model of the second generation GS8 has an acceleration time of 0-100 km/ h of 6.9 seconds, and the fuel consumption of NEDC is 5.3L/100 km.
The official price range of the second-generation GS8 is 186,800-246,800 yuan, of which the fuel version includes 4 models, and the hybrid version includes 2 models, all of which are two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The fuel model is equipped with a GAC Julang powered high-power 2.0GDI engine, matched with Aisin's third-generation 8AT transmission, plus AVDC "Shadow Rider" (GAC Adaptive Vehicle Dynamic Control System), bringing a good driving experience.
From the perspective of market competition, the second-generation GS8 is a medium and large SUV in the class, benchmarking Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Honda Guandao, Nissan X-Trail, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trailblazer and other joint venture models of the same level. There are also some medium and large SUVs of independent brands, such as Changan CS95, Haval H9, and Lynk & Co 09, which are also competitors. However, judging from the price of the second-generation GS8 not exceeding 250,000 yuan, its real competitors are joint venture mid-size SUVs, such as Volkswagen Tiguan, Tanyue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and so on. In other words, GAC Trumpchi GS8 will compete with joint venture competitors "with big to fight small".
Among the above competitors, the industry is most concerned about the relationship between the second-generation GS8 and Toyota Highlander. After all, Toyota Highlander also uses THS hybrid technology as an important selling point. And the second-generation GS8, which borrows Toyota Hybrid technology, can it be looked up to?
GAC Trumpchi has a strong willingness to raise the brand image and gain market recognition through Toyota Hybrid. In the first two or three years of its initial listing, the first generation of GS8, with its sharp design and leapfrog space coupled with a lower price, killed a blood road in the medium and large SUV market, and achieved sales of more than 10,000 yuan for many consecutive months, becoming the only medium and large SUV in China's independent brands to break through the price band of 200,000 yuan. However, due to the adjustment period of the GAC Trumpchi brand and the aging of the product, the GS8's former scenery is no longer there. In this case, the second-generation GS8 shoulders the heavy responsibility of GAC Trumpchi's revitalization.
In November this year, GAC Group put forward the strategic goal of challenging "carbon neutrality" in 2045, and as an important part of the completion of the goal, gaGA Group's two independent brands, GAC Trumpchi and GAC Aean, respectively established future development routes. Among them, GAC Trumpchi future mainly focuses on the "hybrid + intelligent" route, while GAC Aean focuses on the "pure electricity + intelligent" route. GAC Trumpchi aims to achieve hybridization of all models in 2025, and hybrid sales account for more than 60% in 2030. The second-generation GS8 is the first car under trumpchi hybrid strategy, and hybrid is undoubtedly a very important selling point.
In addition to the hybrid system, the second-generation GS8 has also made improvements in platform modular architecture, intelligence, comfort and safety compared with the first-generation models. From the design point of view, the second generation of GS8 still continues the tough and stable style, but at the same time integrates many scientific and technological elements to echo the inherent intelligent image of the model.
Some of the technologies developed by GAC Group in the field of intelligence in recent years have been applied to the second-generation GS8, including ADiGO 4.0 intelligent IoT and intelligent driver assistance system, AR-HUD virtual head-up display system, and so on. The overall interior style of the new car is no longer the grace and luxury of the first generation model, but instead of a simple and technological style.
Second-generation GS8 interior space
In addition, as a 7-seat SUV, it is important to use a lot of space. The second-generation GS8 is based on the GPMA-L platform, with a wheelbase of 2920mm and a length of about 5 meters, which is larger than the previous generation. The second row of seat backrests is adjusted in 8 steps, and there is a "Queen's Recliner" with an adjustable range of 131°. Such a space setting reveals that the second-generation GS8 will focus on the use of home travel and business reception.
The highest sales of the GAC Trumpchi brand came in 2018, with a total sales volume of 530,000 vehicles that year. In the past two or three years, GAC Trumpchi has been in a period of adjustment. From January to November this year, GAC Trumpchi sold a total of 292,000 new vehicles, an increase of 11.33% year-on-year. Although sales have picked up, there is still some pressure.
The good news is that GAC Trumpchi is currently developing well in the mid-to-high-end market segment. For example, the medium and large MPV model M8, which accumulated 65,000 units from January to November this year, ranked at the forefront of the market segment. After determining the development route of "hybrid + intelligent", GAC Trumpchi hopes that the second-generation GS8 can also drive the brand to gain more in the high-end market.