It’s finally here, guys! After unveiling the first images of the most-anticipated car of the year over the weekend, Proton has now announced that the X50 (They’ve confirmed the name, too!) will open its order books starting tomorrow on Malaysia Day, and you’ll be able to place a booking with a RM500 fee at all Proton dealerships nationwide.
Four variants are on offer here, namely Standard, Executive, Premium, and Flagship. All variants are powered by the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, paired to the a retuned version of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission from the X70 to send drive to the front wheels.
The highest Flagship variant will get all of the 177 hp and 255 Nm from the engine, while the three lower-end models get a port-injected version of the same engine detuned to 150 hp and 226 Nm of torque. Interestingly, the Proton X50 is the first application of this engine across the entire global Geely family.
Proton says that over 400 components on the X50 have been added by the local carmaker to better acclimatise the compact SUV to our local market. These include the rear air-con vents as seen previously, a standard feature on all variants that is not available on the Geely Binyue (or Coolray in the Philippines).
On the exterior, LED headlights are standard across all variants, though automatic headlights and front foglamps are only available from the Executive variant and higher. Wheel size starts at 17-inch for the Standard and Executive models, while the two higher-end variants get 18-inch wheels.
The 1.5 TGDi Flagship variant stands out even further from the others with its dual-tone exterior featuring a blacked-out roof, hiding the panoramic sunroof in plain sight.
Inside, the Proton X50 is equipped with the GKUI system across the board, which means the “Hi Proton” voice assistant is standard on all variants. The two lower-end variants get an eight-inch infotainment display, but stepping up to the Premium and Flagship variants will see the central freestanding display upsized to 10.25-inch.
Impressively, sizing is the only difference here; both units are powered by the Geely’s own Ecarx E01 quad-core processors running the latest GKUI 19 software, which promises snappier performance and a 2.25 second start-up time. Both will have eSIM capabilities for always-on connected functionalities such as starting the engine and turning on the climate control, and the Baidu Maps from the X70 has been replaced by a new Amaps system.
The interior of the Standard variant gets fabric upholstery as standard. Stepping up to the Executive and higher variant nets you a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leatherette seats, while the Premium and Flagship gains powered seats for the driver.
One of the key highlights on the Proton X50 is the Level 2 autonomous driving features, available exclusively on the Flagship variant. Being one step higher than what is offered on its elder brother, the X70, the advanced driver assistance system utilises a millimetre-wave radar and high-definition cameras to help accelerate, brake, and steer the X50 during certain situations. The system is even able to change lanes automatically!
Otherwise, safety equipment on the standard variant includes four airbags and a reverse camera as standard. The Executive variant steps it up to six airbags, while the Premium and Flagship models gain a 360-degree around view monitor and tyre pressure monitoring system.
No pricing is announced as of yet, but bookings for the X50 can be made starting from the 16th of September 2020 at all Proton dealerships nationwide. A booking fee of RM500 is required, and the Proton X50 will be available in six exterior colourways – Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Ocean Blue, Citric Orange, and Passion Red.
Not convinced yet? Check out the car for yourself at the Proton X50 City Previews at selected locations, starting from the 19th of September.
GALLERY
