PROTON today took the wraps off its second SUV (sport utility vehicle)—the Proton X50 at its plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Riding on the success of its premium sibling, the Proton X70, the new SUV punches well above its class and is expected to be competitively priced, although pricing details have not been officially revealed. Pre-order books will be open starting tomorrow, 16 September 2020 with a public city preview slated for 19 September onwards.
Like the Proton X70 before this, the Proton X50 will come in four variants: 1.5T Standard, 1.5T Executive, 1.5T Premium, and 1.5 TGDi Flagship.
Here are the four variants compared:
It’s worth noting that only the range-topping 1.5 TGDi Flagship is powered by the 1.5-litre three-cylinder direct injection turbo (TGDi) gasoline engine that pushes 174bhp (177PS) @ 5,500rpm and 255Nm of torque @ 1,500-4,000rpm. This is mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch (DCT) transmission found on the X70.
The rest of the variants use a three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine pushing a speculated 140bhp and 226Nm of torque (PROTON has declined to reveal official numbers).
Exterior colour options include Snow White, Jet Grey, Armour Silver, Ocean Blue, Citric Orange, and Passion Red.
Based on the Geely Binyue, the X50 adopts the sleek, sweeping lines from its Chinese sibling. However, PROTON has given the SUV its own unique touch specifically the front valance, reflecting the new corporate face and branding. Making a return is the infinite weave grille, inspired by batik and Malaysian wood carvings as well as the hunting bow-inspired red chrome accents surrounding the grille.
Only the top-of-the-line model packs a panoramic sunroof.
Overall, a handsome, contemporary looking car.
The X50’s good looks continue on the inside, again, thanks to the donor Binyue. Overlaid with dark grey, red, and silver, the cabin is spacious and well put together.
A D-shaped steering featuring the new roaring tiger logo is complemented by a 10-inch GKUI infotainment system (on the flagship model) and 8-inch head unit on the lower rung models.
Proton X50 runs the latest GKUI 19, which is faster and has received UI and feature enhancements.
The high-tech SUV also gains a remote start button and an autonomous parking feature.
In terms of safety features, the X50 packs the famed 360-degree camera system, latest Advanced Driver Assistant (ADAS) 2.0, six SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, stability control, and more. ADAS encapsulates Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). I would expect nothing less than a 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, as with most of PROTON’s current fleet of vehicles. Note that these features are variant-dependent.
For everything about the Proton X50, read this announcement post.
Pricing and availabilty
No pricing details have been revealed just yet. However, you can (blindly) pre-order with a MYR500 deposit starting Malaysia Day, 16 September 2020.
TL;DR version
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