Proton, at the Proton Tech Showcase today, announced that it will soon be discontinuing its “legacy and conventional line-up of PISE models”, for a new generation of “affordable and practical global cars”, built on the new Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) platform.
In case you’re unaware, PISE (or PIES, depending on their mood of the day) is Proton’s shorthand for its bread-and-butter models, an acronym made up of Persona, Iriz, Exora, and of course, the Saga – the latter of which, of course, recently saw the introduction of its fourth-generation model, which also debuted the new AMA platform.
Proton says the new AMA platform is designed to be highly versatile, supporting a range of engine and transmission combinations, including hybrid options.
While older models were fitted with Proton’s 1.3- and 1.6-litre VVT engines, the new AMA platform will see future models adopt the same locally-built Geely i-GT 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 120 hp and 150 Nm found in the all-new Saga.
As seen on the Saga, the engine can be paired to either a four-speed automatic gearbox (4AT), supplied by Aisin, or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Proton sources from Punch Malaysia and is being developed and built in Tanjung Malim.
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But more importantly, Proton says the engine is also compatible with the single-speed dedicated hybrid transmissions (DHT) developed by Horse Powertrain, the Geely-Renault joint-venture company specialising in powertrain systems. The DHT system essentially combines electric motors, a fixed gear ratio, and a power-split assembly to function in a series-parallel setup.
Like the 1.5-litre Geely engine, this transmission will also be locally assembled at Proton’s manufacturing plant. Proton claims it is 14% lighter and more compact than conventional transmissions, while achieving an efficiency rating of up to 98%.
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So what models can we expect to come from the AMA platform? Well, no need to guess, because Proton has revealed that these cars will consist of at least two SUVs and one MPV, code-named AMA02, AMA05, and AMA06.
One of the SUVs, alongside the MPV, will be hybridised, pairing the Saga’s BHE15PFI (port fuel injection) 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine with a “DHT120” transmission, likely referring to a total output of 120 hp. We’re thinking these should be the AMA05 and AMA06 models.
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As for the remaining SUV in the trio, it will be powered by the same 1.5L engine and 4AT combo as found on the Saga, and its position on the chart right alongside the sedan leads us to believe that it’ll be an SUV model based on the Saga itself, and likely the one to be codenamed AMA02.
A related slide mentions that these AMA models will be targetting the “sub-RM80k segment to win back market share with series of national people’s car”, suggesting that even the hybrid models would be priced under that.
Another hybrid SUV was also shown on the presentation, to be powered by the DHT160 transmission, which again, we presume means higher outputs at 160 hp. This is likely referring to the Proton eMAS 7 PHEV, but that is of course based on the Global Modular Architecture (GMA) platform rather than AMA.
Customers can also expect updates to the X70, X90 and S70 models. Meanwhile, the GMA platform will see two new models — one of which likely the production version of the eMAS 7 PHEV, and another code-named GMA03.
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