Proton’s second launch of the 12 months will likely be a sedan that we’ve all been calling the Proton S50, and never with out cause. The donor automobile is the Geely Emgrand, which is constructed on the identical Geely BMA platform because the Proton X50, and it’s offered within the Philippines at a worth level that competes with the Metropolis and the Vios, however providing a bigger physique as a aggressive edge.
So one would routinely assume that when the Emgrand is launched as a Proton, it will routinely be positioned a B-segment sedan and share a ’50’ mannequin suffix with the B-segment X50 SUV.
Taking a look on the Geely-derived merchandise that Proton has launched over time together with the Proton X90 launched not too way back, we will see that Proton doesn’t at all times observe the identical product positioning that Geely makes use of for its merchandise. In any case, each market is exclusive, and to blindly use the identical recipe in each market may imply a gross sales catastrophe.
VIDEO: Geely BMA platform
Take the X50 for instance. Proton fitted a 1.5 litre turbo engine and not using a GDI system in decrease finish variants of the Proton X50. This engine has by no means been utilized in Geely’s model of the X50.
One other instance can be the Proton X90. The Geely Haoyue for China and Okavango for Philippines was solely given a torsion beam rear suspension, however for the Malaysian market, Proton fitted a extra superior multilink suspension system.
Furthermore, the X90 comes with captain’s seats within the second row on the Flagship variant, one thing that has by no means been provided on the Hauyue and Okavango in another market.
Now we take a look at the Geely Emgrand. It’s fairly fundamental sedan within the Philippines market, constructed to supply more room at a less expensive worth. The engine utilized in each China and Philippines can be a fairly underwhelming 1.5 litre usually aspirated engine making 102 PS and 142 Nm, mated to a CVT gearbox.
It’s not that there’s something dangerous with one of these engine, it’s simply much less spectacular in comparison with turbo GDI engines mated to twin clutch transmissions.
The Emgrand can be devoid of any type of ADAS driving aids and even AEB autonomous emergency braking within the Philippines market. It’s a barebones automobile.
The newest sighting of the brand new Proton sedan posted on The Ajerul Fb web page reveals that it’ll have ADAS options. You’ll be able to see the ADAS digital camera featured prominently on the high of the windscreen. The ADAS digital camera has been there for a while now, even on earlier sightings of the Proton sedan prototype. This implies Proton will not be following the Philippines market barebones method.
In case you check out the comparability desk beneath, you may see that the Proton type of sits in the midst of the B-segment and C-segment in measurement particularly the wheelbase, with total exterior measurement dimensions being a lot nearer to C-segment than B-segment.
Proton already has the Proton Persona as a B-segment sedan product. As well as, Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong talked about the brand new Proton sedan will likely be an all-new mannequin and won’t exchange any fashions at the moment being offered in Proton showrooms for the time being. So it isn’t a B-segment sedan that may exchange the Proton Persona which remains to be being offered, however a C-segment sedan that may exchange the Proton Preve.
Which means that whereas everybody has been calling this the Proton S50 all this whereas, what we could possibly be is definitely extra of a “Proton S70”, denoting a sedan counterpart to the Proton X70 C-segment SUV.
To allow the “Proton S70” to compete as a real C-segment sedan, it’s anticipated to not use the 1.5 litre usually aspirated engine and CVT gearbox present in within the Geely Emgrand, however as an alternative will likely be powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with a seven-speed computerized dual-clutch gearbox identical to the Proton X50 and Proton X70 MC.
Proton has already talked about the primary engine for use on all of its new fashions sooner or later is the 1.5 litre turbocharged engine, recognized by the inner code GEP3. The engine is now assembled by Proton in its manufacturing unit in Tanjong Malim with an funding degree reaching RM1.8 billion. Round 70% of the parts of the engine at the moment are made by Proton distributors in Malaysia, and Proton states that it’s able to assembling 180,000 items of that engine per 12 months.
Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless unknown whether or not the brand new Proton sedan will obtain the 1.5L Turbo engine with a traditional gasoline injection system (PFI) with 150 PS/226 Nm of energy just like the Premium variant of the X50 and beneath, or in a model with direct gasoline injection system with 177 PS/255 Nm of energy.
Furthermore, the Proton Preve additionally beforehand used a multilink rear suspension, so it’s not inconceivable that its alternative may use the identical. In any case, Proton has confirmed that it will not hesitate to choose a multilink rear suspension over a torsion beam for the Proton X90, so possibly the identical selection will likely be made on this new “Proton S70” sedan.
Proton has registered many names within the new “Geely period” naming format that it has but to make use of on a product. This contains Proton PV7, Proton V7, Proton V50, Proton V500, Proton PV5, Proton V5, Proton C500, Proton C50, Proton PC5, Proton C5, Proton S500, Proton S5, Proton PS5, and naturally Proton S50 which is the title all of us assume that the brand new sedan will likely be referred to as. Most of those names have been registered someday in 2018-2019.
If we have been to have a look at potential mannequin names additional downmarket, even Proton S3, Proton S30, Proton PS3, and Proton S300 has been registered. As for upmarket, there’s a Proton X80 registered, may this be a coupe-bodied C-segment SUV based mostly on the Geely Xingyue FY11 coupe SUV?
Essentially the most not too long ago registered is in fact Proton S70. How current? It hasn’t even been authorised for registration and remains to be below the ‘below substantive examination’ standing. The functions have been submitted within the second half of 2022.
After three steady SUV launches, this new Proton sedan would be the first all-new sedan to be launched by Proton, which has been a standard sedan-based firm, providing fashions just like the Saga, Waja, Persona and Preve.
The brand new “Proton S70” could possibly be Proton’s greatest sedan but. Are you a sedan fan and looking out ahead to the brand new Proton sedan’s launch?