GAC M8 for $600K: Everything You Need to Know About the Luxury Minivan from China
Feb 29, 2024The luxurious Chinese minivan, GAC M8, has been unveiled. With its new generation, this minivan has the potential to replace the Toyota Alphard. Its technical specifications have been enhanced, and both the exterior and interior designs have become more modern. However, the price has unfortunately increased. Significantly, the model has seen a price hike with a difference exceeding $22,000 between the GN8 and M8. We're diving into this new model to understand how it differs from its predecessor.
In China, the first generation GN8 (also known as GM8) was launched in 2017, and it entered the global market at the beginning of the summer of 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was gaining momentum. At that time, the minivan was aimed to compete with the Volkswagen Multivan and Toyota Alphard, becoming GAC's most expensive model.
In 2022, the GN8 underwent a generational shift in China and was rebranded as the M8. By 2023, this model began to be sold in limited quantities outside of China. The second-generation minivan is distinguished by its impressively large grille that extends down to the very edge of the bumper. Its spindle-shaped design and vertical slats lend the M8 a resemblance to the Lexus LM minivan. Meanwhile, the distinctive 'dripping' design of the headlights draws parallels with Cadillac models. From the side, the vehicle presents a sleek and minimalist profile, topped with a subtle spoiler, while the rear features boomerang-shaped taillights linked by an illuminated strip.
When comparing the dimensions of the M8 to the GN8, the former is longer (5212 millimeters versus 5066) and narrower (1893 versus 1923), while both share the same height (1823 millimeters). Additionally, their wheelbases measure 3070 and 3000 millimeters, respectively. The M8 is available with a seven-seat configuration, following a 2+2+3 seating layout. Under the hood, it features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 231 horsepower (with a Chinese specification reaching 252 horsepower), paired with a traditional eight-speed Aisin automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This minivan accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 9.8 seconds.
