After being unveiled in China earlier this year, the 2023 GAC GS3 Emzoom has now made its official international market launch in the Philippines. The compact SUV will rival the likes of the Geely Coolray (Proton X50), Honda HR-V, and MG ZS T in the Archipelago, and it’s priced to match – with a price tag starting from PHP998,000 (approx. RM83.9k) which undercuts most of its competition.
The key selling point of the all-new GAC GS3 Emzoom is – quite obviously – its unique styling, featuring a futuristic design language that is characterised by sharp and aggressive lines. A key design element is the ‘Flying Mecha’ front fascia, which flanks the unique frameless grille with slim triangular daytime-running lights. The LED headlights, which are standard across the board, are instead placed within the large air intakes on the lower corners.
The tail lights round the back are also fairly unique, with a three-dimensional triangular design to tie in with the front fascia. And to emphasise its aggressive persona, there’s even a small ducktail-style spoiler moulded into the bodywork to complement the aggressive-looking roof-mounted spoiler.
Tying it all up are the 18-inch alloy wheels, finished in jet black to match with its other exterior accents, alongside the flush door handles on all four doors. Step up to the range-topping R-Style variant, and you even get an additional body kit featuring additional front splitters and rear diffuser elements, which we can only presume is here for aesthetic purposes only.
These are all highlighted in orange accents, too, alongside an orange ring around the larger 19-inch wheels.
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The futuristic design language is carried on to the inside as evident from the elaborate air-con vent design, although there also seem to be a focus on luxuries and functionality too. Equipment on the inside obviously depend on variants, but some key highlights here include the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, automatic climate control with rear blower vents, power-adjustable driver’s seat, powered tailgate, and two-tone leather upholstery.
No matter which variant, though, they’re all equipped with the same 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine that’s shared with the Emkoo and Empow in the Philippines. Engine outputs on the GAC GS3 Emzoom are rated at 177 hp and 270 Nm, with drive sent to the front wheels via seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
Uniquely, the range-topping R Style variant does get an additional “Sport+” driving mode, though it’s unclear what it actually does as engine outputs are unchanged even if you shell out extra.
As for safety, only the top-of-the-line variant will come equipped with the advanced driver assistance features, which includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, traffic jam assist, lane-keep assist, and traffic sign recognition.
The GAC GS3 Emzoom has already been confirmed for launch in Malaysia, as part of the company’s RM60 million CKD project that will also see the establishment of more than 70 showrooms nationwide. Its predecessor, the outgoing GAC GS3, was launched in Malaysia back in 2021, with two variants priced from RM88,800 to RM96,800.
