One of the most notable releases at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), from the same company that brought us the awesome Empow, was definitely the latest GAC EMKOO in the Philippines. Its futuristic exterior and aggressive body lines captivated spectators and exponentially increased curiosity about the brand.

From the outside, it’s clear that numerous Sci-Fi elements helped inspire the overall silhouette. Its V-shape grille, sharp LED lights, retractable door handles, and fastback design scream modernity from every angle.

Handsome 19-inch wheels give the vehicle a muscular stance and flaunt its excellent ground clearance. We personally like the taillights and find them very Volvo-like; that isn’t a bad thing. The exhaust vents, meanwhile, are angled like a performance model.

The GAC EMKOO is still a nice place to spend Philippines traffic in. The cabin has impressive amounts of ambient lighting to ooze out personality. All the necessary touchpoints are soft to the touch for long-term comfort.

Also, there’s a four-way adjustable multi-function steering wheel, a 10.1-inch multifunctional touchscreen with Apple CarPlay integration, speed-based volume adjustment, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a keyless start button. Other amenities include power adjust settings and ventilation for front-row seats, and automatic air-conditioning with second-row vents.

We mean, just check out those unique doorhandles.

Want to look at the stars? There’s a huge moonroof for that too.

Under the hood is a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine with 177 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque, mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed DCT. GAC proudly advertises average fuel economy figures of 16.1 km/l which we’ll put to the test when we get our hands on it.

GAC EMKOO Price Philippines

The GAC EMKOO will set you back PHP 1.413M for the GE model and PHP 1.553M for the top-shelf GL variant.

It will be available in five colors: Lagoon Green (launch color), Glacier White, Moon Grey, Starry Silver, and Elegant Black.