GAC M8 PHEV

GAC Motor’s (GAC Malaysia) latest 2025 release, the all-new GAC M8 PHEV, officially launched in Malaysia.

A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), the luxury MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) comes in one seating configuration (layout – seven-seater).

Locally assembled (CKD – Segambut), available via WTC Automotif (WTCA) are two variants (Premium – RM328,800, Luxury – RM388,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include vehicle (five years/150,000 km) and PHEV battery (eight years, 150,000 km) warranties.

Exterior (single-tone) colours (Premium, Luxury: Crystal White, Elegant Black). Interior (dual-tone) colours (Premium: Black-Brown – Luxury: Black-Red).

The all-new M8 PHEV has an angularly rounded and tiered dashboard, linked to a wide-high-rising-floating centre console (armrest, storage, wireless charger, crystal gear selector, engine Start/Stop button, drive mode switch).

Soft-/hard-touched (leather: dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees two colour schemes (Premium: Black-Brown – Luxury: Black-Red) with contrast stitching (Luxury: Red) and trims (Chrome, Gloss Black).

Equipped are driver/central displays (instrument cluster, infotainment), air-conditioning vents (rectangular: centre, vertical: corners) and an ambient lighting system (Luxury: multi-colour).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional) and straight-forward with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented). 

Installed is a 12.3-inch HD TFT-LCD (Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display) fully digital (Multi-Information Display – MID) driver display (instrument cluster) with a Head-Up Display (HUD – Luxury). 

Features are vehicle telematics, Bluetooth, navigation, voice assistant and customisable interface (drive mode dependent).

Comfortable, the interior sees one seating configuration (seven-seater: 2-2-3) with leather-leatherette (Premium: first row, second row-third row) and semi-aniline leather-leather (Luxury: first row, second row-third row) upholsteries in two colour schemes (Premium: Brown – Luxury: Black-Red).

The first row gets electric-powered (Premium: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, driver-one-touch-easy-entry-exit, ventilation, heating – Luxury: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, driver-one-touch-easy-entry-exit, driver-seat-alert-system, passenger-boss-switch, ventilation, heating) ergonomic seats.

The second row gets electric-powered (Premium: multi-way-adjust, ottoman, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, massage, ventilation, heating – Luxury: multi-way-adjust, ottoman, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, massage, one-touch-spa-mode, ventilation, heating) captain seats (individual seats).

The third row gets a manual-operated (Premium, Luxury: multi-way-adjust, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, 60:40 split-fold) bench (three-seater).

Included are headrests (multi-way-adjust: first row, second row, third row), armrests (first row – centre console, second row – individual, third row – side panels, centre fold-out), tray table (Luxury: second row fold-out), seat control panel (Premium: capacitive touch – Luxury: touchscreen – placement: armrests), sunshade (Luxury: second row), glass sunroofs (electric: open/tilt/slide, dark tint, heat/UV protect, sunshade, two section-front-rear – Luxury: rear ‘Starlight’ illumination) and headliner (Suede – Premium: Black, Luxury: Beige).

A people mover (MPV), the cabin (seven-seater) offers generous space with comfortable seatings, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (first, second, third row).

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is a three-spoke-round steering wheel. Leatherette (Premium: Black-Brown – Luxury: Black) with contrast trims (Chrome, Gloss Black).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, voice assistant, vehicle telematics), and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system (turning radius: 6.6 m).

Practical storage spaces. E.g., glove box (soft close), centre console compartments (armrest, partitioned, caverned, under-stowage), drawer boxes (second row: two) and pockets (seat backs, side doors).

Provided are 14 cup holders (first row: heating-cooling, second row, third row) and six bottle holders (first row, second row, third row).

Equipped are USB ports (Premium: seven – Luxury: eight), two 12 V sockets (first row, second row) and one wireless charger (centre console).

Accessing the boot’s electronic-powered (handsfree: kick-sensor, remote-key fob, interior/tailgate button – anti-pinch, height-adjust, electric-suction-close) tailgate, opens to 516 litres (seats up: first row, second row, third row) and 1,586 litres (seats down: third row) of load capacities.

Weighing in at 2,420 kg (Premium, Luxury), the all-new M8 PHEV stands at 5,212 mm long, 1,893 mm wide, 1,823 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,070 mm.

Electrifyingly elegant, it parades a largely boxy exterior, emphasised by symmetrically cut and angularly chiselled surfaces.

The front-end sees a formed bonnet (raised sides), tapered quarter panels (straight cut fenders) and an angular bumper (‘Lion Face’ grille: full length vertical slats, GAC emblem – vented: two-part slim lower).

Accentuations, body clad (Silver: lower bumper, side sills) and body trims (Chrome: grille, window surrounds, GAC emblem – Black: grille, side mirror arms, body pillars, side sill inserts).

Elegantly sculpted, it continues the largely boxy profile, emphasised by cleanly cut surfaces and horizontally symmetrical lines.

The rear-end sees a straight cut roofline (roof-edge spoiler), tapered quarter panels (straight cut fenders), an upright tailgate (middle slim strip, GAC emblem, M8 script) and an angular bumper (diffuser: corner cutouts, hidden exhausts).

Accentuations, body clad (Silver: diffuser, side sills) and body trims (Chrome: tailgate slim strip, window surrounds, GAC emblem, M8 script – Black: diffuser cutout inserts, body pillars, side sill inserts – body-colour: roof-edge spoiler).

Angular, the ‘Lion Eye’ headlamps are framed largely slim and inverted L-shape. Installed are full LED (Matrix Lighting) units.

Features are automatic On/Off/low-high-beam/cornering/levelling, Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), High Beam Assist (HMA), welcome/leaving lights, Dynamic Light Sequence and sequential turn signals (LED).

Angular, the ‘Time Portal’ tail lamps are framed full width (lightbar) with slit-like slim centre and vertical sides. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights, Dynamic Light Sequence and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a high-mounted stop light (roof-edge spoiler integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone: Black-body-colour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn signals (LED), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection – BSD), kerb view (automatic-tilt), heating and memory.

Fitted are ventilated (front, rear) disc brakes. 

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system and a Brake Energy Recuperation system (automatic operation: Intelligent Driving Mode).

Mounted (Premium, Luxury) is a set of 18-inch multi-spoke (dual-tone: Black-Silver – self-levelling wheel caps) alloy rims, wrapped in 225/60 R18 Michelin e-Primacy (front, rear) tyres.

The all-new M8 PHEV features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA), Intelligence Avoidance (IA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Rear Automatic Emergency Braking (RAEB – Luxury), Rear Car Approaching Warning (RAW), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR), Reverse Tracking (RT – Luxury), Smart Damping Control (SDC – Luxury), Adaptive Vehicle Dynamic Control (AVDC) and Full Automatic Parking Assist (FAPA – Luxury).

Other systems include Surround View Monitor (SVM – 360-degree, transparent chassis), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Hill Hold Control (HHC), Hill Descent Control (HDC), Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes six (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains, rear windscreen) airbags, seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two: third row), parking sensors (Premium: two-front, four-rear – Luxury: six-front, six-rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree, transparent chassis), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSD – interior: automatic-dimming), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering/low-/high-beam), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), door ajar warning, impact beams (side, front), emergency brake signal and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Enabled (Premium, Luxury) are three drive modes (ECO, COMFORT, SPORT).

Installed is a 10.1-inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment, multifunction control). 

Features are AM/FM radio, USB, Bluetooth, 5G/WiFi/WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), media, live navigation, voice recognition, customisable interface (drive mode dependent), vehicle telematics (drive), App Store and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates.

Included is a 15.6-inch rear display (ceiling-mounted – second row) and a 5.0-inch seat control panel (Premium: capacitive touch – Luxury: touchscreen – placement: armrests).

Entertainment is channelled via a Yamaha premium audio system (eight speakers).

The all-new M8 PHEV (Premium, Luxury) comes with a Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

Nestled is a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve Turbocharged Gasoline Direct-Injection (T-GDi) DOHC petrol engine (190 PS/140 kW, 330 Nm) and a transmission-integrated (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission – DHT) electric motor (Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor – PMSM: 134 kW/182 PS, 300 Nm).

Total system output (372 PS/274 kW, 630 Nm).

Fused (e-motor-integrated) to the setup is a two-speed DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system. Included is GAC’s Adaptive Vehicle Dynamic Control (AVDC).

0 to 100 KM/H is done in 8.8 secs. Top speed is 180 km/h.

Juicing-up the e-motor and completing the hybrid setup is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP – 25.57 kWh) battery (Magazine Battery).

Charging via AC (Type 2: 6.6 kW) takes 3.5 hours for a 30% to 80% State-of-Charge (SoC). Charging via DC (CCS2: 40 kW) takes 30 mins for a 10% to 80% SoC.

The pure electric driving range is 120 km (NEDC).

Fuel tank capacity is at 56 litres, and the combined fuel consumption (driving: city, highway) is rated at 6.1 l/100 km (NEDC).

The combined driving range (hybrid: petrol-electric) is 1,038 km (NEDC).

Included is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L – 3.3 kW) charging function for powering of external appliances.

The all-new M8 PHEV features these conveniences.

E.g., Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS – keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine start), electronic-powered (handsfree: kick-sensor, remote-key fob, interior/tailgate button – anti-pinch, height-adjust, electric-suction-close) tailgate, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), automatic headlamps (On/Off/cornering/low-/high-beam), automatic windows (anti-pinch, one-touch up/down), door ajar warning, parking sensors (Premium: two-front, four-rear – Luxury: six-front, six-rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree, transparent chassis), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSD – interior: automatic-dimming), interior illumination (LED: cabin/boot/ambient), triple-zone automatic climate control (rear air vents, Air Quality Sensor: AQS, air ionizer, PM2.5 air filter) system, steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, EPS), electric-powered (Premium: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, driver-one-touch-easy-entry-exit, ventilation, heating – Luxury: multi-way-adjust, lumbar, driver-one-touch-easy-entry-exit, driver-seat-alert-system, passenger-boss-switch, ventilation, heating) ergonomic seats (first row), electric-powered (Premium: multi-way-adjust, ottoman, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, massage, ventilation, heating – Luxury: multi-way-adjust, ottoman, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, massage, one-touch-spa-mode, ventilation, heating) captain seats (individual seats – second row), manual-operated (Premium, Luxury: multi-way-adjust, one-touch-easy-entry-exit, 60:40 split-fold) bench (three-seater – third row), headrests (multi-way-adjust: first row, second row, third row), armrests (first row – centre console, second row – individual, third row – side panels, centre fold-out), tray table (Luxury: second row fold-out), seat control panel (Premium: capacitive touch – Luxury: touchscreen – placement: armrests), sunshade (Luxury: second row), glass sunroofs (electric: open/tilt/slide, dark tint, heat/UV protect, sunshade, two section-front-rear – Luxury: rear ‘Starlight’ illumination), interior storage areas (centre console compartments, seat/door pockets, drawer boxes), charging outlets (USBs, power sockets, wireless charger), infotainment (first row, second row), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a triple-zone automatic climate control (rear air vents, Air Quality Sensor: AQS, air ionizer, PM2.5 air filter) system.

A suitable daily driver, the ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time, providing great power with agile handling.

Suspension fitted is a setup of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear). 

Included is GAC’s Adaptive Vehicle Dynamic Control (AVDC) and Smart Damping Control (SDC: electromagnetic dampers – Luxury).

Inside and out, performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory.

Good sound insulation with the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. The cabin is well-designed, enhancing the in-car ambience.

Equipped is acoustic glass (windows, windscreen).

Overall, the cabin can suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, even when cruising through bumpy terrains or at high speeds.

The all-new GAC M8 PHEV is built with an elegantly dynamic appeal, offering appearance, space and practicality.

Sharp and sleekly sculpted, its exterior is well-designed with angularly chiselled lines donating to a powerful overall character. 

Inside and out, the quality of the equipment installed is impressive with clean and modern detailing.

Ultimately, the all-new M8 PHEV bargains more than just good looks, as it also offers plenty of other amenities at the price it comes with.