Human made

1 of 5

Why the GAC Aion UT is more than a cutie BEV

By Joyce Reyes-Aguila

IN A WORLD constantly being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI), Masato Katsumata champions human ingenuity. “This is not the job of AI,” he emphasized as he pointed to four square pixel graphic lights of the all-electric hatchback behind him. “Real people are doing it. This is human input. This is a professional job,” said the GAC International chief technology officer.

Mr. Katsumata then took “Velocity” and select members of the media on a walkaround of the all-new GAC Aion UT, highlighting features created by, yes, people. The futuristic front and rear light panels were not a result of big data that influence how other car manufacturers design their vehicles. “It’s cute,” he said with a smile as he regarded the car.

“At the dealership, it could be something that catches the attention of young families or (single) potential customers. I love this kind of styling,” he continued. Above the pixel lights are owl-head-inspired headlights in the front of the vehicle. The design cues of the vehicle are said to be drawn from Milanese design elements.

The executive opened the door to reveal the rear space of the second row that boasts legroom of 905mm. He then asked a tall person to sit “realistically” in the row — meaning not straight as a rod. “You should be more relaxed,” he said with a smile. “Its head clearance is deliberately designed to make you comfortable.”

Mr. Katsumata stressed, “This is what we describe as maximum space, maximum roominess,” the former Toyota engineer continued. “We have an experienced European-oriented styling designer who knows how to keep the interiors practical for customers. It’s a small car, but it’s very spacious.”

The GAC Aion UT features a 2,750-mm wheelbase and stretches 4,270-mm long, 1,850-mm wide, and 1,575-mm tall. Its triple-layer trunk has room for a 32-inch piece of luggage, with a boot space that expands to 440 liters. Inside the vehicle are 24 storage compartments. Meanwhile, the battery electric vehicle is bestowed peak power of 136ps and 145Nm of torque. The brand’s “Magazine Battery” technology is applied to a 47.1-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Fast charging can replenish the battery’s state of charge from 30% to 80% in as little as approximately 30 minutes.

Safety highlights include a comprehensive suite of features such as V-shaped curtain air bags, and ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) goodies such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning. It also has a 360-degree surround-view camera system; 16-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 205/60 tires. The Aion UT also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to power external electronic devices.

Inside the cabin is 8.88-inch LCD instrument cluster and a large 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen to manage the vehicle system and infotainment that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. “We are thrilled to bring another global hit from GAC’s line of innovations to the Philippines through the Aion UT,” GAC International Senior Vice-President Steven Wang said in a release. “This milestone allows us to further serve and diversify our brand offerings in the local mobility scene. We are confident that the Aion UT will bolster dynamic, safe, and sustainable driving for Filipinos upon its entry.”

The GAC Aion UT is priced at P1.068 million but, until June 30, gets a P50,000 introductory discount. An additional special promo discount of P20,000 is available for the first 400 buyers. The GAC Aion UT is available in five colors: Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, and Two-Tone: Rococo White + Emerald.