Lives in the balance
Imagine the worst thing that could happen to you while on a family drive: a situation that would cause you to crash. An errant tricycle knifes into your path while you’re turning sharply. One lane of a high-speed section of the highway has been blocked off with little or no warning.
Gutter-deep rainwater causes one side of the car to lose contact with the road. These aren’t scenes from “Final Destination,” but events that happen frequently on Philippine roads. Even a professionally-trained driver may find it hard to get out of such hairy situations.
Robust active safety systems, like those on board the GAC M6 Pro, can make the difference between a close shave and disaster. How close?
To find out, we paid a visit to the R33 Driftrack in Pampanga, where GAC set-up a handling and safety course to demonstrate the active safety features on board the GAC M6 Pro. We had driven on such courses previously, in sedans and sports cars. This time, we would be behind the wheel of a 1.6-ton MPV.
The M6 Pro is GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group)’s mid-level MPV. Within its 4793mm long x 1837mm wide footprint, it has a seven-seat interior in 2+2+3 configuration. The middle row is a pair of captain’s chairs with dual armrests. The third row can split-fold flat into the floor, to expand the cargo room up to 1100liters. Charging ports are available for all three rows.
First up, the handling course. We threaded the large MPV through a series of closely-planted cones. The M6 Pro handled this with aplomb, willingly changing directions without any drama.
Then came a more severe test. This would have us drive the van quickly through a bend, then brake at full force while turning the wheel even more sharply. This simulated a vehicle or pedestrian or animal that suddenly jumps out into your path without warning.
With driving instructor George Ramirez telling us to “Brake as hard as you can!,” we felt the M6 Pro remain controllable even with the weight transferred to one corner of the vehicle.
For the infamous “moose test,” or “askal test” as we might term it here, we had to swerve the M6 Pro left then back to the right, while keeping on the throttle. The M6 Pro’s electronic stability program kept the van pointed in the right direction. We could hear the tires protest and the car’s braking system working overtime to achieve this.
What if the van suddenly loses grip, such as the puddle situation we mentioned? With the left side of the GAC rolling on soapy wet linoleum to simulate nearly zero grip, we braked as in an emergency stop. Again, George yelled “Brake harder!” The ABS brakes did their job, keeping the van pointed straight with only minor corrections needed on the steering wheel.
After the M6 Pro came to a stop, we mashed the pedal to try unsettling the van with the uneven grip. The traction control system did its job here, dishing out just enough torque to allow the van to move forward without pulling it to one side.
“A driver in these situations would be easily overwhelmed with trying to control the car. What the safety systems do is take 60% of the load of staying in control, so the driver can handle the other 40% and keep the car safely on the road,” Ramirez explained. We are glad to note that GAC has made safety features such as the electronic stability program standard on all variants of the M6 Pro.
The course also demonstrated a low-speed and everyday safety concern: parking. The M6 Pro has an available surround view camera system (on the top GE and GL variants) that allow the driver to avoid clipping curbs and parking barriers. It’s an essential feature since the van’s dimensions can block the view of the vehicle’s extreme front and rear.
Other driver assist features were handy while following our convoy on the highway. The adaptive cruise control automatically keeps a set distance from the car in front. Autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, and high beam assist are available on the top GL variant. The GL even sounds a warning when speed limits are exceeded, thanks to its traffic sign recognition system.
Such safety systems are only effective if the vehicle itself performs adequately. The M6 Pro delivers in the power department, courtesy of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with turbocharger that delivers 130kW. As for torque, it’s right there on the M6 Pro’s tailgate: 270 Nm—it’s the first time I’ve seen the torque figure displayed as a badge. The 270Nm is indeed adequate to accelerate the M6 Pro up to the speed limit on the highway.
In town, it’s easy to modulate, once we got the hang of using the throttle to engage with the van’s 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Shifts are seamless, and the engine is quiet, allowing the passengers to relax and catch a nap in comfort. The van remains planted and stable, even as speeds reached 140kph. The available 18-inch Michelin tires are well-paired with the van’s suspension.
Keeping its occupants safe should be the primary function of an automobile, one carmaker once espoused. Thankfully, safety features that were exclusive to flagship models from luxury carmakers are now being deployed in more affordable vehicles. Case in point, we’re delighted to note, is the GAC M6 Pro, with a starting price of P1,230,000.
