GAC EMPOW

The cabin layout of the GAC Empow has a simple and elegant layout for the layers and components. However, it is the quality and design of the components which catch the attention of the occupants. GAC is offering three types of upholstery for the Empow – all-black, black with yellow accents, and black with red accents.

The luxurious cabin design of the GAC Empow consists of a flat-bottom multi-functional steering wheel, which has silver accents around the side spokes and gets a large and wide full-TFT cockpit behind it. This cockpit comprises a 7-inch screen for the instrument console and a 10.25-inch screen for the touchscreen infotainment system. With winged AC vents on the sides of the dashboard, the central layer, which flows below the TFT cockpit, has a sleek appearance, while the layer below it has a soft touch finish while accommodating the compact panel for dual-zone climate control buttons.

The slanted lower centre console here in the GAC Empow has a textured design and accommodates the compact transmission lever, electronic parking brake switch, buttons for drive modes and engine push start-stop button. The additional features available in the GAC Empow include a powered driver’s seat, rear AC vents, sunroof, ambient lighting, front and rear centre armrests, USB chargers and a 6-speaker audio system.

The GAC Empow has a very aggressive design language and has a low-slung stance, which coupled with its fastback-like stance, gives it a striking visual appeal. The presence of edgy creases all around and contrast orange accents further lift the appearance of the GAC Empow.

The long and swooping bonnet of the GAC Empow, which has a smooth curved hump in the middle, flows towards the low-slung grille. The bold-looking grille, which has gloss-black vertical slats throughout its layout, also has contrast orange accents around the faux air ducts present on its sides. These faux air ducts are surrounded by a gloss metal finish, which wraps around the upper parts of the front splitter. The front bumper has additional vertical air passages on the sides, with the GAC Empow also getting wing-shaped all-LED headlamps with vertical daytime running LEDs.

The dynamism of the GAC Empow is further extended on the side profile, where the sedan impresses with its fastback-like roofline, strong creases running through the entire side profile, inclined crease over the door panels and 18-inch machined alloy wheels. The gloss black extension of the upper window line over the C-pillar adds some more uniqueness to the design.

The rear profile of the GAC Empow has a sharply raked rear windscreen, which flows along the angle of the roofline. Here, the GAC Empow has a wide stance with a rounded profile for the boot lid, LED combination tail lamps, hexagonal housing for the license plate and quad exhaust outlet arrangement over the rear diffuser.

The low ground clearance and large 18-inch wheels of the GAC Empow give it a nice and planted stance, which feels impactful in the way it holds its ground at higher speeds. The independent suspension setup – Macpherson struts at the front and multi-link beam at the rear – is also tuned for a sportier driving experience. However, the steering doesn’t feel as sporty as the car’s overall design and suspension setup, with it feeling too light at higher speeds.

Powering all the variants of the GAC Empow is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which comes standard with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Here, like in the GAC GS3 Emzoom, this engine claims a maximum power output of 175 PS and a peak torque output of 270 Nm and impresses with its refinement levels but feels jerky at lower RPMs.

The comprehensive suite of safety features offered in the GAC Empow includes adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability program, hill hold control, tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse parking sensors, rearview camera and cruise control.

The GAC Empow is high on visual drama with its aggressive, fastback-like design, which along with the tech-laden interior, will catch the fancy of people, especially those who belong to the younger generation.