Goose paste: what the new Chinese hybrid can do
There were two premieres in the GAC Family House in St. Petersburg, which resembles a Chinese pagoda. In addition to the GAC S9 hybrid crossover, they showed a Hyptec HT coupe-like electric car, but they didn't put much emphasis on it. Why and how the GAC S9 stands out from the competition is described in the Izvestia article.
We decided to repeat the success
Despite GAC's persistent desire to "electrify" the Russian market, only the localized Umo 5, aka Aion Y Plus, demonstrates any tangible results. The Chinese admit that sales of the Aion V are sporadic, and the only Hyper SSR hypercar imported to Russia, which journalists liked so much, has not yet found a buyer.
GAC S9 dimensions: 5060×1950×1760, wheelbase — 2930 mm
It is difficult to attribute the love of experimentation to the youth of the GAC brand, especially since it is a large established manufacturer in China. Some of the company's steps in the Russian market do not look obvious: for example, it has removed the small stylish GS3 crossover from the lineup and at the same time is engaged in a not very popular "electric" theme. However, it is difficult to earn money on the import of mass models now, the hybrid premium is another matter. We are doing better in the hybrid segment than in the electric segment, and some brands have already achieved some success. And if some have achieved it, then others also have a chance. Therefore, the focus of the presentation was on the S9.
There are six color options for the car: black, ultra-black, white, silver, blue and two-tone blue-silver
The passion for repetition has played a cruel joke on Chinese automakers. As well as a passion for aerodynamics. Each subsequent hybrid crossover is similar to the previous one. A blind front, headlights connected by a luminous "monobrow", a silhouette a la Range Rover. The GAC says that they were inspired by the architecture of ancient Chinese palaces, but it seems that other local automakers were also looking at the same palaces. This is probably the same common place as the turbophane discs.
Goose, leather, wood
The taillights that can display animated images like a palm tree, an electric guitar with the words "rock and roll" and even a curious goose from the meme, the main nominee for the audience award, help to stand out in the S9 stream.
Neither the competitors nor the related S7 have this. It is not easy to confuse the "seven" and the "nine", despite their similarity and close dimensions — the difference in length is 160 mm. The younger crossover is more rounded and technologically advanced, the older one is closer to the faceted styling of the gasoline GS8. The door handles of the S9 are ordinary, although in China they are extendable. The S7 also has extendable handles, but the company believes that the "nine" will appeal to more conservative customers.
The interior can be dark, light, or terracotta.
The seats are upholstered in nappa leather, and the interior is decorated with natural walnut inserts. Manufacturers of Chinese hybrids with their "plastic" interiors should definitely repeat this. In general, the GAC seeks to refute popular opinions about Chinese cars. So, at the presentation, a video was shown demonstrating the rigidity of the S9 body. The car was simply thrown off the mountain, after which it got on its wheels and drove off.
Translation difficulties
With the exception of the rich finish, the S9 inside is a reference Chinese hybrid: an almost complete absence of physical buttons, a flattened steering wheel with balls on spokes, a floating console with wireless charging, a large central display with familiar menu items and translation errors unique to each Chinese company. For example, the menu suggests putting a "graceful" force on the steering wheel and a "strong" cornering aid.
The massage modes are called quite menacingly, one is "Buttocks", the other is "Stretching", you will think hard before pressing something.
The passenger on the right was not afraid, turned it on and did not lose. The GAC massage is really high—class - in addition to the pneumatic cylinders, the back is kneaded by rollers, as in large massage chairs. Moreover, the front-right passenger has the most advanced massage, the driver has a simpler one, and the second row has a very weak one. In addition, the front passenger seat is equipped with a pull-out ottoman, which the S7 has in the back row on the right. The rear right passenger of the S9 is compensated by a pull-out table, while both halves of the second row backs are electrified.
Similarities and differences
For Russia, the GAC S9 is offered only in a five-seat version (supposedly at the request of customers), although there are three-row versions in China. For the sake of the Russian market, the hybrid installation has been converted from a parallel-serial type to a serial one. First of all, for the sake of profitable taxation: with a peak power of 340 hp electric motors, you will have to pay for 147 hp. The same operation was previously performed with the S7. Both cars are built on the same platform, have the same gasoline 1.5-liter engine generator (156 hp), however, the S9 has more advanced shock absorbers, and the traction battery is not lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), but lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC). NMC has a higher density, and it tolerates frosts better. The battery capacity (44.5 kWh) of the S9 is higher than that of the S7, and the gas tank is 10 liters larger. This increases the "range" to 208 km on electric power according to the NEDC cycle and up to 1019 km in total.
The declared ground clearance is 188 mm.
How is he going
We managed to drive about a hundred kilometers behind the wheel of the S9, but we can get some impressions about the nature of the car. On the move, it is quiet due to the double windows — windshield, front and rear. I liked the setup of the hybrid setup — the smart mode does not immediately try to drain the battery, like some other hybrids from China. Gasoline consumption in charging mode is modest for a heavy car — 7.8 liters per 100 km. Probably, this result was caused by a decrease in the power of electric motors. Moreover, the designers did not really count on the return of energy from them — recovery is noticeable only in Eco mode, and its level can be selected only in individual mode.
At the same time, the car starts briskly, sitting on the rear axle, and accelerates willingly — the claimed acceleration to "hundreds" takes 7.2 seconds. You don't want to drive fast on it, the thick driver's seat with a soft pillow under the neck sets you up for unhurried movement. Reactions to the steering wheel are sluggish, the suspension does not become more elastic even in sports mode. Adaptive shock absorbers do a good job of dealing with road defects, but the body swings on waves and in turns. There is no air suspension for this platform, but the experience of the global automotive industry shows that even with springs, you can create a miracle if you try. In addition, the presence of adaptive shock absorbers simplifies the task.
Price and plans
In an effort to satisfy the client's wishes, the Chinese, however, do not forget about themselves. They estimated the S9 at 6.8 million rubles. This is noticeably cheaper than the official Lixiang L7, which is considered the main competitor of the new Gak, but the price tag seems too high.
A local build would help to correct the situation somewhat, especially since the GAC S7 was localized in Russia under the name Umo 8 and has already become a little cheaper.
The S9 accelerates from zero to a hundred in 7.2 seconds.
GAC representatives said that Russia is the most important export market for the company, and localization is a mandatory stage of development in the Russian Federation. Just the S9, along with the M9 minivan, is listed in the plans for the organization of assembly in our country.
The stated fuel consumption with a low battery is 7.4 liters per 100 km.
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