2019 GEC GD20 Range: Made for Your Head And Your Heart
GEC is proud to present its latest mid-sized family sedan, the GD20, at NAIAS 2019. Here’s a rundown of the three trims on offer for this model. All prices are in AMU and include a 10% markup.
1.8: Built with the eco-warrior in mind, this entry-level trim retails for $18623 and is powered by a highly efficient 1.8L turbocharged inline-four sending 151 horsepower to the front wheels. It comes standard with 16-inch wheels wrapped in low-rolling-resistance tires, with 17-inch wheels being optional.
GEC GD20 1.8 shown in Evergreen Metallic.
2.0: The midrange trim gets a 2.0L turbocharged inline-four developing 200 horsepower and comes standard with 17-inch wheels shod in all-season tires, with 18-inch alloys available as an option. Prices for the 2.0 start at $19165.
GEC GD20 2.0 shown in Ultramarine Metallic.
2.0 Sport AWD: At $22,270, this is the flagship of the range, with a 281-horsepower version of the 2.0L engine running on 95 RON premium unleaded (all other trims require 91 RON regular unleaded) and driving all four wheels. Comes standard with limited-slip differential, llarger brake discs, high-performance tires and 18-inch gunmetal-finish alloy wheels; adaptive dampers are optional but are exclusive to this trim level. Launch control is also an exclusive feature on this trim.
GEC GD20 2.0 Sport AWD shown in Aubergine Metallic.
Wagon: All three trims are also available as five-door wagons, for those who want extra practicality without resorting to a crossover or SUV. Trim shown below is 1.8 in Bordeaux Metallic.
Equipment common to all trims includes the following:
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Six-speed manual transmission (eight-speed automatic transmission available at no extra cost)
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Driver, passenger, knee, side and curtain airbags (10 in total), automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning system, blind spot monitoring, reversing camera, stability and traction control (both fully defeatable), adaptive cruise control… all the safety gear you’d expect from a car of this size comes standard.
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8-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, Apple Carplay and Android Auto support (9.5-inch touchscreen optional as part of Premium Tech Pack, which costs $1500, and also replaces standard instrument panel with 12.5-inch screen). Both systems come with physical knobs and buttons for infotainment, navigation and HVAC functions as a backup for the touchscreen.
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All trims come with high-grade cloth upholstery, with genuine Nappa leather being offered as part of the Premium Comfort Pack ($2500).
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60/40 split/fold rear seats ensure that extra-large items can be accommodated with ease, especially on wagons.
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Metallic paint available at no extra cost.
About the GEC GD20’s positioning as a crossover/SUV alternative:
“Today’s new-car market has so many SUVs and crossovers across such a wide variety of sizes and price ranges that it might as well be approaching saturation point, if it hasn’t gotten there already. With this in mind, we designed the GD20 to be a smart alternative to crossovers and SUVs. Its lower profile and lack of weight compared to an equivalent SUV pays dividends in performance and economy, without sacrificing too much practicality in the process. We understand that there will still be people buying conventional cars, as long as there is a market for them, but we must keep them affordable in order for them to remain viable. Thus, to amortize costs, we will sell the GD20 not just in North America, but also in Europe, Asia, and Australia, albeit with specific chassis tunes for each region. And the fact that all three trims are available as sedans or wagons gives buyers more choices no matter what the trim.”
- Denny Walsh, GEC Lead Product Planner
On the comfort-oriented tune of the standard models and the development of the Sport AWD trim:
“Most cars today are compromised by oversized wheels. They not only add weight, but also make the ride unnecessarily harsher than it should be. Thus, the standard wheels for the 1.8 and 2.0 are 16 and 17 inches in diameter, respectively, with 50-section tires. Combined with softer damper and spring settings, it makes you feel like you’re riding on a cloud compared with rivals with bigger wheels. Even the Sport AWD comes with modestly sized 18-inch wheels and 45-section tires. Speaking of which, we retuned the suspension on that model to provide a more invigorating drive when you’re pushing it, while retaining much of the compliance found on lesser trims. And unlike those, it comes with an LSD for better traction off the line and through the corners - even with AWD, 280 horsepower can overwhelm an open diff at times. In short, whether you’re looking for comfort, economy or sportiness, there’s a trim to suit everyone.”
- Frank Nash Jr., GEC Powertrain and Chassis Calibration