Trumpchi GS8 History
History
Unveiled at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, the GS8 was Trumpchi's largest vehicle at its launch, positioned to compete with joint-venture seven-seat midsize SUVs in the Chinese market. Styled by former Mercedes-Benz designer Fan Zhang, the first-generation car came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 201 PS and was priced between 163,800 and 259,800 yuan. The slightly smaller five-seat GS7 variant was spun off in 2017.
A thoroughly redesigned second generation arrived in 2021 with a substantially larger footprint — 4,980–5,110 mm long on a 2,920 mm wheelbase — and a more powerful 185 kW (248 hp) engine paired with an 8-speed automatic. A hybrid version using Toyota's THS (Hybrid System) technology was also offered alongside the conventionally powered models, and a plug-in hybrid ES9 variant arrived in 2023 with a combined output of 373 PS. The GS8 is Trumpchi's halo SUV and its most prominent export product under the GAC Motor brand.
Generations
-
First generation · GS8 / GS7
Designed by ex-Mercedes stylist Fan Zhang; 2.0T, 201 PS; GS7 five-seat variant added in 2017.
-
Second generation · GS8 / ES9 PHEV
Larger footprint (up to 5,110 mm); 248 hp; Toyota THS hybrid and 373-PS ES9 PHEV variants.
Body styles
- SUV
Notable special editions & performance variants
-
ES9 PHEV
Plug-in hybrid flagship variant of the second-generation GS8; combined system output 373 PS (274 kW).
Related models