By LESTER DIZON
GAC Motor Philippines, the subsidiary car brand of Astara Philippines, has made significant strides in promoting the brand, establishing multiple dealerships nationwide, and securing popular actor Dingdong Dantes as its brand ambassador. They have also taken great lengths to ensure people pronounce the brand name correctly. For the uninitiated in the auto kingdom, GAC stands for Guangzhou Automobile Group; thus the initials, pronounced as “gee-ey-see” (G-A-C) and not as “gak” or “gawk” as most people tend to do.
GAC Motor Philippines is going the extra mile to promote the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. Take for example, their GAC Emkoo Hybrid – a front-wheel drive mid-sized 5-door SUV powered by a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline 4-cylinder engine with a 134 kW electric motor – that was advertised as achieving a fuel mileage of 22.1 kilometers per liter (km/L). We took it for a 420-kilometer drive to Pangasinan and back with the 7-inch Digital Instrument Cluster displaying our best AFE (average fuel economy) at 5.7 liters per 100 kms, which is equivalent to 17.54 km/L.
Efficiency & comfort
We later realized that our steady driving style on the highways gave the regenerative braking system little time to recharge the battery pack. So, we changed our driving style, using regenerative braking more often, which charged the battery and allowed the electric motor to engage and take over from the gasoline engine, especially when cruising at low speeds. We achieved 8.4 L/100 km, or 11.91 km/L, when stuck in crawling traffic, while our best AFE in light traffic was 4.6 L/100 km, or 21.73 km/L. Of course, fuel efficiency is just one aspect of the Emkoo Hybrid’s multifaceted performance.
Its leather interior comfortably transports five occupants over long distances. The panoramic glass roof lets in the sunshine, while the infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch floating touchscreen and six speakers, enables music to flow. The 60/40 split backrest of the rear bench seat can be adjusted and folded down to increase the cargo capacity from 181 to 1,859 dry liters, further emphasizing the utilitarian aspect of this sport utility vehicle.
Design & performance
GAC Motor describes the exterior design of the Emkoo Hybrid as “ultramodern,” featuring an edgy and angular body, “Eyes of Revelation” headlights atop a unique cubist grille, and “Quantum Lightsaber” taillights that bookend a large tailgate with a roof spoiler. The 19-inch two-tone aluminum alloy wheels, wrapped with 235/55R19 tires, fit the wheel quite well. The hybrid powertrain, independent suspension system, all-wheel disc brakes, as well as its comfortable and spacious interior are all neatly tucked into a 2.75-meter wheelbase and svelte angular body that’s around 4.7 meters long, 1.9 meters wide, and 1.7 meters tall.
With 480 Newton-meters of combined torque at the tip of our right foot – 180 Nm from the engine and 300 Nm from the electric motor – the 1,670-kilogram Emkoo Hybrid accelerates like a muscle car from the 1960s. It lunges forward and pins you to your seat when you stomp on the accelerator pedal.
Advanced safety
Unlike a ‘60s muscle car, the Emkoo Hybrid is utterly civil and safe with its compete suit of Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS).
ABS (anti-lock brakes) and EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) helps rein it in while ADAS assists during spirited driving with traction control, blind spot detection, lane change assist, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and other safety systems coming as standard fare. It can even apply the brakes with AEB (autonomous emergency braking) in cases of imminent collision with other vehicles and AEB-VRU (automatic emergency braking –vulnerable road users) protection when it detects an imminent collision with pedestrians or cyclists. We love the exhilaration of accelerating quickly and forcefully while being rewarded with above-average fuel efficiency. We enjoyed being able to compress a 3 ½ hour trip from Metro Manila to Pangasinan into just 2 ½ hours, as we enjoyed spirited driving while achieving an Overall AFE of 7.0 L/100km or 14.29 km/L. If we sound truly impressed, it’s because we really are.
