China’s GAC confirmed for Australia: Emzoom petrol and Aion V electric SUVs, M8 hybrid van locked in for release
Initial trio of petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric offerings from GAC will provide yet more alternatives to established Chinese, Japanese and Korean rivals
Three models from another new Chinese brand will hit Australian roads next month, with GAC — short for Guangzhou Automobile Group Company — set for a November 2025 launch.
Those that know their Chinese-market brands might recall GAC as a major joint venture partner of Toyota and Honda, but the manufacturer has its own range of sub-brands.
Under the GAC head brand, Australia will initially receive three models in total, sourced from Chinese sub-brands Trumpchi and Aion, with the premium Hyptec badge off the cards for now.
Specifics like pricing, retail locations, warranty and servicing arrangements have not been revealed today but are expected to be announced in the coming weeks — with only a short turnaround between now and the expected brand launch date.
Interestingly, GAC’s launch range will consist not only of three models but also three distinct powertrain types.
Smallest — and likely cheapest — of the launch set is the Emzoom small SUV. Known in China as the Trumpchi GS3, the Emzoom is a Haval Jolion, Omoda 5, Kia Seltos and Toyota Corolla Cross rival.
Measuring 4410mm long, 1850mm wide and 1600mm high, the Emzoom is pure-petrol, with its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 130kW/270Nm, paired with front-wheel drive and a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic.
The Emzoom has a 10.25-inch touchscreen inside, as well as an available panoramic sunroof. Under the skin, it uses a torsion beam rear suspension — though some markets score a superior multi-link independent rear.
From the Emzoom, it’s a step into the more premium Aion V midsize SUV — which, as the name suggests, hails from GAC’s dedicated EV sub-brand Aion.
The Aion V is 4605mm long, 1876mm wide, and 1686mm high, riding atop the AEP 3.0 platform. It is available with a range of CATL ‘Magazine’ batteries, said to prevent the spread of thermal runaway.
In China, 62kW, 64.5kWh and 75kWh lithium iron phosphate battery sizes are offered, along with a longer-range 90kWh nickel manganese cobalt pack, with the 64.5 and 75kWh LFP units expected to be offered in Australia with around 500km (WLTP) range.
Inside, a 14.6-inch rectangular touchscreen sits aside an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. In some markets, a heat pump and cooled and heated refrigerator are available, with the Kia EV5 shaping up to be a key rival.
Finally, GAC will become another contender in the unexpectedly burgeoning luxury minivan space by way of the GAC M8 people-mover, known as the Trumpchi E9 in its home market.
Measuring a substantial 5212mm long, 1893mm wide and 1823mm high (on a long 3070mm wheelbase), the M8 packages dual powered sliding doors and second-row captain’s chairs with massage, heating, cooling and power ottomans.
The M8 will be the only hybrid in the range at launch, teaming a 140kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine to a 134kW/300Nm front electric motor and two-speed hybrid transmission.
System outputs are said to be around 278kW/630Nm, with a 25.5kWh traction battery providing around 85km electric range (WLTP estimate), with a total driving range of around 825km.
Competition to the M8 will be in the form of vehicles like the Kia Carnival, Lexus LM, Zeekr 009 and, most directly, the forthcoming Wey G8 plug-in hybrid from rival conglomerate GWM.
Ferrari announces its first EV: Mechanical underpinnings of all-electric Ferrari Elettrica detailed for the first time
5 days ago
Lukas Foyle
Contributor
New Elettrica slated to launch globally by end of 2026 featuring quad electric motors and over 1000hp
The world’s leading proprietor of bedroom wall real-estate, Ferrari, has confirmed the development of its first all-electric model, known as the Elettrica.
A monumental reveal for one of the world’s most pedigree sportscar brands, Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann described the Elettrica as “ [an affirmation of] our will to progress by uniting the discipline of technology, the creativity of design and the craft of manufacturing.”
The Prancing Horse has so-far unveiled only the underbody of its new Elettrica, which integrates a colossal 122kWh battery, four electric motors (one at each corner), 48V active suspension, and wheelbase of 2960mm — 56mm longer than a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo for context.
It will produce a combined claimed output of more than 1000cv (746kW), says Ferrari, with the Elettrica capable of sprinting from 0-100km/hr in a rapid 2.5 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 310km/hr.
The two electric motors at the front axle produce 210kW and send an incredible 3500Nm to the wheels, while the rear axle motors produce 620kW and deliver up to 8000Nm to the wheels. Incredible figures for a four-motor system which weighs just 194kg.
The Elettrica’s EV system is built on 800V electronic architecture, which can rapid DC charge at a peak of 350kW. Range is quoted to be more than 530km. More details on AC and DC charge times and AC peak will be revealed in the first quarter of 2026.
The Elettrica has a center of gravity 80mm lower than an equivalent combustion-powered Ferrari, engineered with a weight distribution of 47-percent front and 53 percent rear.
Finite details of the Elettrica’s body are not yet available. What is known is that the finished car will weigh around 2300kg, and that the body will be manufactured with 75-percent recycled aluminium.
We expect the body to have four doors – being that Elettrica is confirmed to seat four passengers.
Ferrari boasts that the design process of its new EV has resulted in 60 new patents for the brand. The Elettrica will no doubt pave the way for future Ferrari EVs, with the Italian company already confirming that its product lineup will consist of 20-percent EV by 2030.
So, will Ferrari be yet another brand to pump artificial sound into the cabin for its electric? We can happily report that this will not be the case.
Ferrari has explained in great detail that it will amplify sound generated by the rear-axle electric motors “like amplifying an electric guitar”, and send this sound into the cabin.
The system automatically adjusts the volume of this amplified sound, prioritising silence when commuting and “offering dialogue” when given the berries.
