GAC Motor has just unveiled its new luxury MPV, the 2023 M8. Taking on the Chinese carmaker’s new “Space Diamond” design language, it’s meant to blend dignity, speed, and power.
Size-wise, the all-new M8 now measures in at 1,893 mm in width and 1,823 mm in height. Moreover, it has a longer body and wheelbase than before—5,212 mm and 3,070 mm, respectively.
Meant to convey the way a diamond casts and refracts light, the M8 features a highly sculptural body. Upfront, it has the brand’s “Soaring Wings 2.0” grille and “Eye-Opening” headlights. Together, they’re meant to exude the proud, stately nature of a lion. At the back, the “Time Tunnel” taillights and “Royal Salute” turn signal lights impart a sense of futurism. Welcoming the passengers is a light carpet with “MASTER” logos at the front and back.
Inside, the GAC M8 continues with its “Space Diamond” theme as light and shadow interplay in details of the 7-seater MPV such as on the door panel trims, shifter knob, and even the arm rests.
Aesthetics aside, it’s basically a mobile living room. The space is filled with advanced technologies including a floating 14.6-inch center display and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster.
For the Chinese market, two interior color options have been made available. The black/white palette is inspired by the Baiyun Mountain and Pearl River—the most famous natural attractions of Guangzhou, the home city of GAC. Meanwhile, the black/red/gold hue is meant to convey the feel of a royal opera.
The seats themselves and door trims are embellished with Cantonese embroidery-inspired patterns capped off with genuine semi-aniline leather coverings.
Powering the all-new M8 is a choice between a conventional gasoline engine—a turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter with 252 horsepower, a plug-in hybrid with a combined 371 horsepower, or a hybrid featuring the Toyota Hybrid System.
Known as the GM8 locally, the M8 was first introduced in 2017 and has topped the Chinese domestic market for luxury MPVs for 34 consecutive months. In 2020, along with a mid-cycle refresh, the M8 Master Edition was introduced. So far, it has sold nearly 200,000 units cumulatively.
The all-new GAC M8 will go on sale in China in November 2022. Global sales, including in countries such as the Philippines, will commence soon thereafter.