Spied: A pair of GAC Trumpchi GS3 Power testing in Klang – Is Malaysia first RHD market?

Remember the mysterious SUV that made waves around the internet a few weeks ago? The office had a fun debate determining what it was and we concluded that it is likely to be the 2021 GAC Trumpchi GS3 Power.

Now one of our readers who goes by Jeff spotted not one but a pair of GS3 Power making their testing rounds in Klang. While the rear might show some hints that the pair of SUVs is the GS3 Power, it is interesting to note that one of them is missing a pair of roof rails.

That’s not all, the GS3 Power with the roof rails deleted also has a bee-sting antenna in lieu of a shark fin antenna. Could there be at least two variants of the GS3 Trumpchi for Malaysia?

In China, the GS3 Power is powered by a choice of two turbocharged 1.5-litre engines: a 3-cylinder engine making 163 PS/235 Nm and a 4-cylinder engine that makes 168 PS/265 Nm. Both engines are paired to a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission respectively.

Currently, the only market GAC Motor is serving in the ASEAN region is the Philippines. While the GS3 is offered there, it’s a different variant altogether and GAC hasn’t served any RHD markets, so there might be a possibility that Malaysia might be the first RHD market for GAC Motor.

Hold your horses, here comes the but…

Back in December, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad (TCMH) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese carmaker to evaluate the possibility of TCMH being the distributor for Malaysia and Vietnam.

Though it remains to be seen whether the GS3 Power is bound for Malaysia, if it does make it here, 2021 could be the year that sees this, and perhaps the MG ZS make an entrance in the growing B-segment SUV market.

If you want to know more about the Proton X50-fighter, we have a pretty comprehensive guide on what you need to know about the GS3 Power and why is it called the Trumpchi.