‘Hi Proton’, Proton X70’s GKUI infotainment system is really impressive



At the second media preview of the Proton X70 held today at Sheraton Hotel PJ, the national carmaker has just revealed more information about their first ever SUV. This time delving into the infotainment system with voice command function and like all the previews they have hosted so far, there are no official pricing details on the X70.

Back to the topic of discussion today, the X70 will feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard across all four variants. The Android-based head unit features Voice Command that is activated with the prompt “Hi Proton”, Remote Control, Smartphone MirrorLink Connectivity, Online infotainment Apps and Over-the-Air connectivity (OTA). The infotainment is also connected to a nine-speaker setup but the company did not confirm whether it is exclusive for the range-topping Premium 2WD variant.

The infotainment system will operate on Geely Smart Ecosystem user interface or GKUI for short, comes with AI engine, Cloud-based storage, Online Apps and ID recognition functionality. It allows the user to login using their personal ID and access to multiple functions such as Baidu Maps, Music and online Radio.

For a seamless user experience, Proton is looking to partner with local telecommunications provider, specifically Celcom, to offer all X70 owners monthly mobile data access embedded to the vehicle’s e-SIM card which enables owners to access all online applications. Proton stressed that the monthly mobile data will come at no extra cost to owners, but the company will also reveal additional subscription plans in the future for those who require more quota.

The Voice Command function is activated by simply saying the prompt “Hi Proton” followed by the desired command. Functionalities that can be controlled by Voice Command include Dialling Phone, Radio, Music, Navigation, Windows, Sunroof and Air-Conditioning.

The system also has been calibrated to recognise “indirect voice commands”. For example, by saying “Hi Proton, I’m hungry”, the system will then pull up a list of nearby restaurants on the navigation or saying, “Hi Proton, it’s too cold” and the system will automatically increase the temperature of the climate control.

However, the (only) flipside of the GKUI infotainment system is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The only way to link your Apple device to the infotainment screen is through Bluetooth while Android phones have the added luxury for MirrorLink.