New GAC M8 launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

GAC has officially launched the new M8 in South Africa.

The M8 is a luxurious multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with seating for up to seven people, which is now available in a single plug-in hybrid (PHEV) specification.

The new people carrier has a starting price of R1,499,900, making it the most expensive Chinese car on sale in South Africa.

Powertrain

The M8 is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which develops 140kW and 330Nm on its own.

This is assisted by an electric motor generating 134kW and 300Nm, which is powered by a 25.5kWh battery.

When combined, the hybrid powertrain produces a substantial 274kW and 630Nm, letting it accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds despite the vehicle’s size.

Thanks to the e-motor and battery, the M8 can drive approximately 108km without using any petrol.

With the combustion engine factored in, it boasts a driving range of 1,032km.

Gear changes are handled by an eight-speed automatic box, which sends power to the front wheels.

GAC also claims that the MPV has a combined fuel consumption of 1.1l/100km, provided you mostly rely on the electric mode, but the real figure is closer to 8.8l/100km when using the petrol engine.

Features

The M8 boasts a striking appearance, featuring a large “Star Diamond Prism” grille flanked by slim LED headlights and daytime running lights.

It is available with one of two exterior colours – Elegant Black or Crystal White.

Similarly, the interior has two colour options for the Semi-Aniline stitched Nappa leather seats and panel surfaces, either Olympus Brown or a two-tone Black & Red aesthetic.

It has seven seats in a 2+2+3 layout, and the cabin receives additional light from a sectional panoramic sunroof, helping to make the interior feel more spacious.

In the front, you’ll find a 10.1-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital driver display, the former of which connects to an eight-speaker Yamaha stereo with ADiGO Virtual Arena Acoustics.

The people carrier also comes with ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, tri-zone climate control, and USB ports for all seat rows.

Additionally, the second-row seats have 10-point air massage, heating, ventilation, and electronic adjustment functions.

The side doors are electric, and the windows use soundproof laminated glass to reduce cabin noise.

Safety and assistance functions included on the GAC include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, an automatic parking assistant, and seven airbags.

Each purchase is backed by a 5-year/150,000km warranty, an 8-year/150,000km hybrid battery warranty, and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.

GAC M8