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When Proton recently revealed their 200,000-unit annual sales target for 2026 – a projected increase of 26.5% over the 157,976 units achieved in 2025, it was met with some skepticism given that from 2024 to 2025, the increment was only 3.7%.
And then you glance at the January 2026 sales chart from JPJ and there are four Proton models in the top 10, with the rejuvenated Proton Saga MC3 galloping ahead of the Perodua trinity of Bezza, Axia, and Myvi, and topping the list. Mind you, this is before the new Proton S70 MC1 and e.MAS 7 PHEV start contributing from February onwards.
In the big basket of automotive features, horsepower (and torque) remains the most sought after in a vehicle, whether it’s electric, hybrid or combustion powered. Central to Proton’s lofty sales targets lies their trump card – the new i-GT four-cylinder engine. No doubt, rolling out this global powertrain in a coordinated fashion across the model range (bar BEVs) might have taken years in planning, but it’s starting to pay off.
In normally aspirated form, the new Geely-sourced 1.5-litre four-pot deployed in the Saga MC3 churns out 120 hp and 150 Nm – an output which trounces whatever Perodua (and most Japanese rivals) can muster, and Proton plans to roll out three more models from the AMA platform (which the Saga is based on) most likely powered by said i-GT engine.
READ MORE: Proton to introduce new hybrid SUV, MPV models based on Saga’s AMA platform – priced under RM80k?
With turbocharging, the output from the 1.5-litre four-cylinder raises significantly to 181 hp and 290 Nm – the kind of numbers that punches well above Proton’s price positioning. The fact that the new engine has come virtually without any increase in the prices of the X50, Saga, X70 and now the S70 must be distressing not just to the usual competitors from Asia, but also brands perceived as premium. It is a clear signal of Proton’s intent to conquer market share and to surpass the 200K mark in 2026 and become Malaysia’s best-selling brand again by 2029.
Take for example the recently launched Volkswagen Golf 1.5 eTSI; RM186,000 gets you 150 hp and 250 Nm from a turbo 1.5-litre four-pot, along with a 7-speed DCT. Meanwhile a BMW 218i Gran Coupe, powered by a 156 hp/230 Nm 1.5-litre turbo 3-cylinder and mated to a 7-speed DCT, starts from RM220,000. I’m not saying that someone eyeing a Volkswagen or BMW will be dissuaded and ends up buying a Proton S70 at less than half the price, but it does shake up perceptions and recalibrates the definition of ‘bang for buck’.
Developed under Aurobay, a joint venture between Geely and Volvo which subsequently entered into a JV with Renault in 2024 to form HORSE Powertrain (kid you not), the modularity of the BHE15 engine series cannot be understated – it offers flexibility to manufacturers grappling with the fast-changing landscape of automotive markets. That the BHE15 four-cylinder can be paired with different transmissions in the Saga, while also being applied to the eMas PHEV is proof that having a partner with the necessary tools and scale is imperative in this cutthroat environment.
