GAC Motor recently held an action-packed weekend highlighting its sporty compact sedan, the GAC Empow. The action-packed track day at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) was part of a three-prong EMPOWered Drive event that included limited-time discount offers at all GAC dealerships and a mall display with a test drive event held at the Alabang Town Center from September 30 to October 1, 2023.
The first-ever Empow track day was well-attended by GAC owners, automotive enthusiasts, bank partners, and motoring scribes who were able to test the Empow’s capabilities firsthand under the tutelage of champion racer Georges Ramirez and his team. With everyone’s safety in mind, all participants were required to attend the mandatory safety briefing and orientation and wear proper helmets when getting behind the wheel of the Empow. The first activity was a braking exercise, which demonstrated the Empow’s stopping distances at varying speeds. This was immediately followed by a short slalom course, which highlighted the sedan’s handling and agility. To showcase the Empow’s electronic brake distribution and traction control—features that are great to have but hope you never need to use—everyone rode shotgun with Ramirez, who explained how and when the features activated and why those particular features made the Empow easier and safer to drive. (Insert ‘Do not do this at home’ warning here.)
As expected, the grand finale of the track day was hot laps around the track that Ramirez marked with pylons to outline the racing lines. The impressive 174HP and 270 Nm of torque produced by the Empow’s turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with GAC Motor’s in-house Megawave technology were more than enough power for some fun on the track. Proving to be action-ready straight out of the showroom, the Empow displayed impressive composure with its superior handling and stability throughout all the exercises. A word of caution, though. Those who are used to conventional automatic transmissions or CVTs will need to get used to the distinct feel of the Empow’s 7-speed wet double clutch transmission (DCT) which is a bit trickier and not as smooth as the former.
Another thing that Empow has over its competition is that the GE trim already comes with sporty accents inside and out, including the non-black seatbelts. Alternatively, those who prefer a more conservative design can go with the other variants.
Overall, the Empow lived up to the hype of being a proper sporty sedan at a fraction of the price of its competitors in the segment.
“It is an EMPOWered day—not only for the GAC Motor team but especially our media friends, partners, and customers who joined us today. We are delighted that people had the chance to witness and experience the promise and exceptional qualities of the EMPOW, showcasing its power, safety, and precision in a controlled environment,” said Franz Decloedt, Brand Head of GAC Motor.
The Empow is available in three variants: the top-of-the-line 1.5L GE DCT priced at P1,348,000; the mid-grade 1.5 GB DCT priced at P1,305,000; and the base variant 1.5L GS DCT priced at P1,225,000. Body color options include matte fighter green (exclusive to GE trim), ivory white, moonlight grey, and elegant black (exclusive to GB trim), while interiors come in either all black, black with yellow accents, or black with red accents.
All GAC Motor vehicles sold in the Philippines have a 5-year warranty on parts and services.
For information about the Empow, visit https://gacmotorph.com/ or follow @gacmotorph on Facebook and Instagram.
