Raised eyebrows, shrugs and mirror-practised looks of disdain are more likely to become goldfish ‘o’ mouths, wide eyes and grins when prospective car buyers take the time to look closely at the latest offering from China in the form of the GAC Motor GS3 Emzoom.
Forget about the somewhat strange name and get a load of the diamond cut edgy styling, the neat and tasteful interior and the lengthy list of standard specification items attached to the three derivatives in the highly price competitive range.
But first, who is GAC?
GAC Motor is a subsidiary of China's GAC Group and was established in 2008, quickly rising to prominence as one of China’s foremost vehicle manufacturers, employing a workforce of 113,000. The company’s impressive growth has secured it the 165th spot on the 2023 Fortune Global 500 list.
To expand its footprint in Africa, GAC Motor has entered a partnership with the Salvador Caetano Group that will see the latter managing the distribution and retail operations of the Chinese carmaker in South Africa.
According to local GAC Motor Managing Director, Lesley Ramsoomar: “The GS3 Emzoom is the first of three model introductions in the planning for the next 12 months and we are currently finalising the dealer network that will see 20 operational by the end of the year and growing to a cap of around 40 strategically located throughout South Africa.
“At launch we have some R15-million in parts stock for our Johannesburg warehouse and on basic service type parts we are looking at same-day delivery in the Johannesburg area and overnight for the rest of the country with the aim of having a 90% or better pick rate.”
The Salvador Caetano Group is a Portuguese company with a Toyota manufacturing facility in Portugal and interests in several areas of automotive, aeronautics, bus assembly - the actual start point for the group making the ProBus seen at airports - and auto software systems.
It has 8,300 employees worldwide, 35 retail brands, operates in 43 countries and retailed 147,000 vehicles during 2023.
“This partnership marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration, helping to accelerate our international business. Together, we will leverage our strengths to introduce high-quality vehicles to the South African market, supported by a robust dealership network focused on customer satisfaction,” says Wang Shunsheng, Deputy General Manager of GAC Motor.
Closer look at the GS3 Enzoom
The Emzoom is a new vehicle design from the ground up, using GAC’s star diamond shadow design concept that sees several sharp crease lines on the external bodywork creating ever-changing reflections and refractions as the light changes or the vehicle moves.
The five-seater compact SUV’s design incorporates striking tail lights, a sporty rear wing and concealed door handles along with its distinctive flying-mecha front face.
Inside, the GS3 Emzoom offers ergonomic seating, while the spacious trunk meets a variety of travel needs. The cabin comfortably seats five occupants, with generous backseat legroom courtesy of a flat floor, and offers 21 flexible storage compartments.
The GS3 Emzoom boasts an advanced dual-screen dashboard, featuring a high-performance central console powered by an 8-core chipset and a 10.25-inch multi-functional touchscreen.
The range also includes an LCD instrument cluster up to 7.0-inches, a surround-view camera system and a suite of Level 2 ADAS functions, ensuring a safe and intuitive driving experience.
The SUV is equipped with an array of practical features, including keyless entry, push-button start, ambient cabin lighting, numerous charging ports and dual-zone automatic air-conditioning.
The R-Style model adds an extra touch of flair with its diamond-designed gear shift, sporty 18-inch wheels, and panoramic sunroof.
Let’s take it for a spin
Under the bonnet, the GS3 Emzoom is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 130kW and 270Nm of torque. Paired with GAC’s MegaWave Power technology, the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds, while maintaining claimed fuel efficiency of 6.2l/100 km on the WLTP cycle.
The vehicle offers three driving modes - Eco, Comfort and Sport - catering to a range of driving preferences.
The GS3 Emzoom’ s seven-speed automatic transmission with wet dual-clutch ensures smooth and rapid gear shifts, enhancing the overall driving experience.
For the launch event only the R-Style derivative was on offer but a 140-kilometre run provided more than enough opportunity to decide this is a vehicle worth more than just a cursory glance.
It is quiet, with minimal wind, road or tyre noise seeping through to disturb the comfort of the cabin and, in all three driving modes, responds eagerly and swiftly to throttle input.
Planting the right foot firmly does generate some talkback from the engine as it gets into the higher rev range but not enough to be irritating and always backed up with sufficiently rapid forward action. In Sport mode the steering is firmed up and this is backed up by accuracy through corners with decent levels of feedback.
While there were no race track antics on the drive, there were enough twists and turns on the route to suggest the Emzoom would not be uncomfortable being taken by the scruff of the neck and hurled into a corner.
The vehicle comes with a five-year/150,000 km warranty and a 5-year/60,000 km service plan, with service intervals every 15 000 km.
GAC Motor GS3 Emzoom Pricing in August 2024
- 1.5L T Comfort – R469,900
- 1.5L T Executive – R499,900
- 1.5L T R-Style – R549,900