GAC EMKOO

Model Overview

The EMKOO is the second model in GAC Trumpchi's "Shadow" series following the EMPOW, as well as the series' first SUV offering, spearheading Trumpchi's brand transformation. Built on the GPMA architecture as a compact SUV, it was officially launched on 25 September 2022, with an official price range of RM119,800 to RM169,800 across eight variants, encompassing both petrol and petrol-electric hybrid powertrains. The EMKOO stands as the fastest concept car brought into mass production in GAC Trumpchi's history; its styling faithfully carries over the tech-industrial aesthetics of the original EMKOO concept, positioned as a "Futuristic Tech Pioneer SUV" geared towards younger buyers seeking expressive design and intelligent connectivity. Dimensionally, the SUV measures 4,680 mm in length, 1,901 mm in width, and 1,670 mm in height, with a 2,750 mm wheelbase and a low drag coefficient of 0.31 Cd, delivering mid-size SUV-rivalling cabin room within compact exterior dimensions.

Design Language

The EMKOO adopts GAC Trumpchi's "Tech-Industrial Aesthetics" design language, combining futuristic mecha styling with subtle Oriental cultural cues. The front fascia is anchored by a V-shaped radiating "Quantum Leap" borderless grille, formed by 24 tungsten-steel-finished slats arranged in an arithmetic progression, paired with sharp "Eyes of Revelation" LED headlamps capable of musical rhythmic lighting sequences. Along the sides, a plunging shoulder line and a sloping fastback roofline establish an athletic stance, complemented by a 1,901 mm wide-body profile that reinforces its planted, road-hugging presence. At the rear, the "Quantum Lightsaber" taillights feature 128 integrated LED units with synchronised musical illumination, flanked by a mecha-inspired roof spoiler and dual twin-exhaust finishers for unmistakable visual drama.

The cabin architecture blends contemporary industrial design with the Oriental "circle" motif. The dashboard pairs two scroll-inspired air-conditioning vents with a floating central touchscreen, invoking the visual look of an unrolling traditional scroll. The interior is available in four distinct colour themes, utilising generous soft-padded trims to elevate perceived quality, complemented by tactile details such as a crystal electronic gear selector, rocker-type interior door releases, and an inductive wireless smartphone charging pad.

Powertrain and Performance

The EMKOO offers three powertrain options to cater to diverse performance and fuel efficiency requirements. The hybrid variant is powered by GAC's proprietary Mega Waves Hybrid GMC 2.0 system, pairing a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine with an electric motor; the engine achieves a thermal efficiency of 42.1%, delivering a combined system output of 175 kW (approx. 238 hp) and a peak motor torque of 300 Nm via a 2-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). This version returns a combined fuel consumption as low as 4.76 L/100 km under WLTC testing, completes the 0–60 km/h sprint in just 3.9 seconds, and recorded a 1,711 km driving range on a single tank in an extreme endurance trial, equating to an impressive 3.2 L/100 km. On the pure petrol front, the 1.5T engine produces 130 kW (177 hp) and 270 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission; the higher-spec 2.0T mill puts out 185 kW (approx. 252 hp) and 400 Nm of torque, paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox and achieving a WLTC fuel consumption of around 8.1 L/100 km. All variants are configured strictly with front-wheel drive (FWD).

Chassis and Handling

Underpinned by GAC's "MegaStar Chassis" architecture, the EMKOO features front MacPherson struts and a multi-link independent rear suspension as standard across the range; the rear multi-link setup enhances wheel tracking and bump absorption, tuned primarily for ride comfort to soak up road unevenness smoothly. It achieved an impressive 78 km/h entry speed in the moose test, ranking among the top performers in its segment. The braking setup uses an integrated brake-by-wire control system (one-box), offering prompt response and progressive pedal modulation. Petrol-powered models also benefit from the segment-exclusive AVDC (Adaptive Vehicle Dynamic Control) "Shadow Driver" system, which reads driving inputs in real time to proactively modulate power output and chassis response for improved handling agility. In addition, selectable ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT drive modes are on hand to match varying road surfaces and driving styles.

Cockpit and Equipment

At the centre of the EMKOO's digital cockpit is a 14.6-inch floating infotainment touchscreen, complemented by a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster. Running on the ADiGO 5.0 intelligent connected ecosystem powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset, the system delivers rapid 0.6-second voice recognition and multi-turn conversational memory. The interior is also fitted with one Driver Monitoring System (DMS) and three Occupant Monitoring Systems (OMS), which monitor driver fatigue, passenger mood, and rear-seat child status, actively triggering smart ventilation, fatigue alerts, distraction warnings, and child presence reminders. Multi-modal controls include voice, gesture, and touch inputs, supporting gesture-based track skipping, navigation map toggling, and a "finger-heart" gesture to save favourite songs. Audiophiles can opt for a 12-speaker Yamaha premium sound system featuring dedicated driver headrest speakers, allowing navigation instructions to be heard clearly without disrupting music playback for other occupants. Other amenities include a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, wireless smartphone charging, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Boot capacity starts at 638 litres, expandable to 1,586 litres with the rear backrests folded down.

Safety and Driver Assistance

On the safety front, the EMKOO was engineered to meet C-NCAP five-star and C-IASI top-grade crash safety standards, incorporating GAC's crash energy absorption architecture designed to withstand the stringent US 80 km/h rear-end collision test. Six airbags are standard across all variants, enhanced by an innovative 6-second pressure retention capability that keeps side curtain airbags fully inflated for up to six seconds during a rollover to provide sustained protection. Active and passive safety provisions also include Bosch Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

For intelligent driving assistance, the EMKOO is equipped with the ADiGO PILOT suite, underpinned by 27 hardware sensors including ultrasonic sensors, surround-view cameras, a forward-facing camera, forward millimetre-wave radar, and rear corner radars. The Level 2 semi-autonomous driving package encompasses six cruising assistance features including Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (iACC), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), and Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), alongside eight active safety features such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). Automated parking capabilities integrate memory parking, remote parking, automated fusion parking, and one-touch park-out, supporting up to 1,000 metres of long-distance multi-storey memory parking across tight bays, complex spots, and indoor/outdoor car parks. A 540-degree HD panoramic parking camera with an integrated transparent chassis view further eliminates blind spots around the vehicle.

Market Performance and Reception

Following its commercial rollout, the EMKOO's market performance traced an initial surge followed by a downward trend. The year 2023 was the vehicle's sales peak, with monthly deliveries topping 2,500 units across multiple months between May and December, and peak monthly sales nearing 4,600 units. However, sales momentum slowed noticeably from the second half of 2024 onwards, ending the year with total deliveries of 7,613 units—averaging around 634 units monthly. In 2025, market traction softened further, with cumulative annual sales shrinking to roughly 370 units. In January and February 2026, retail registrations stood at 1 unit and negligible data respectively, against wholesale volumes of 192 and 71 units. At present, the EMKOO is effectively discontinued in its home market, listed as a "discontinued model" on automotive portal Autohome.

In terms of consumer reception, the EMKOO holds a commendable rating of 4.35 out of 5 on Autohome, with user praise focused on its distinctive mecha design, strong value-for-money proposition, and generous equipment list; some owners noted minor drawbacks such as an overly light gear shifter action and noticeable A-pillar blind spots. Industry analysts observed that while the Mega Waves Hybrid GMC 2.0 system demonstrated world-class thermal and fuel efficiency—outperforming class-equivalent Japanese hybrid rivals on the WLTC cycle—the vehicle ultimately struggled to maintain long-term commercial momentum amidst intense price wars and rapid product renewal cycles in China's compact SUV segment. Nevertheless, as a pivotal SUV milestone for GAC Trumpchi's "Shadow" lineup, the EMKOO left a lasting impression with its bold design identity and advanced hybrid engineering.