The full-size premium sedan (at least that's what the Chinese company thinks) GAC Trumpchi GA8 in serial form debuted in April 2016 during the G20 Sherpa convention, and its public debut will take place at the Shanghai Motor Show, where it is exactly one year old. back and a concept version of the car was presented for the first time. On the home market, the car will go on sale at the end of April immediately after the official premiere, but whether it will go beyond the Celestial Empire is still unknown.
The appearance of the Trumpchi GA8 three-box, despite some similarity with the models of famous brands, turned out to be pretty and very expressive - the sedan has not only a modern design, but also harmonious body proportions.
A solid front end is formed by moderately aggressive headlights and a large "shield" of the radiator grille, and its stern is decorated with beautiful LED lights and a raised bumper with trapezoidal exhaust nozzles. From the side, the car shows a classic shape with graceful splashes of stamping and regular strokes of the wheel arches.
The outer dimensions of the GAC Trumpchi GA8 define it within the E-class according to European standards: the length of the three-box is 5003 mm, it has a wheelbase of 2907 mm, and the width and height are 1910 mm and 1508 mm, respectively.
The interior of a large Chinese sedan is designed with a claim to solidity, and it is made mainly of decent finishing materials - pliable plastics, real leather and natural wood inserts. The center console is topped by a 10-inch "TV" of the multimedia system, just below which are neatly arranged blocks of "music" and "climate". The multifunctional steering wheel is beautiful and comfortable in shape, but the overly simple "toolkit" clearly does not correspond to the premium status of the car.
Front riders in the Trumpchi GA8 are assigned comfortable seats with a thoughtful profile and ample room for customization. In the rear seats, depending on the version, a full three-seater sofa can be installed, or a pair of separate seats with ventilation and heating.
The three-volume from the Middle Kingdom has a spacious luggage compartment - its useful volume is 500 liters. The shape of the "hold" is comfortable, but the hatch in the back of the rear sofa for transporting long items is available only in the five-seater version.
Specifications. At first, the GAC Trumpchi GA8 will be equipped with only one gasoline engine - a 2.0-liter "four" with a turbocharger and direct injection, generating 197 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 300 Nm of torque in the range from 1600 to 4500 rpm.
A little later, it will be joined by a "junior" turbocharged engine with a volume of 1.8 liters, the performance of which has 177 "mares" and 242 Nm of ultimate thrust.
Together with both units, a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual gearshift mode and drive wheels of the front axle work. How agile and economical the car is - the Chinese company has not yet reported.
The flagship GAC Trumpchi GA8 triple box is based on an Alfa Romeo 166 front-wheel drive platform with independent suspension on both axles: a double wishbone structure at the front and a multi-link architecture at the rear.
The machine is equipped with a rack and pinion steering center with an integrated electric power steering with a variable gear ratio. The brake package "Chinese" is formed by the disc mechanisms of the front and rear wheels (in the first case with ventilation) and a set of modern assisting technologies - ABS with EBD, BA and others.
Options and prices. In the Celestial Empire, for the Trumpchi GA8 sedan in 2016, they ask for from 169,000 to 299,800 yuan (1,725 ~ 3,060 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate), but the car will most likely not reach the Russian market.
In the basic configuration, the four-door "flaunts" full LED optics, 17-inch aluminum wheel rims, heated and electrically adjustable front seats, front and side airbags, three-zone "climate", ABS with EBD, ESP, infotainment and information complex and other modern equipment.
The privileges of the most "packed" version are 18-inch "rollers", a panoramic roof, separate rear seats with heating and ventilation, all-round cameras and other high-tech "gadgets".
