Proton is kicking off its busy 2026 with an announcement on its Facebook page that the updated Proton X70 will soon launch on January 8. No images of the SUV were shown, but the teaser does feature what might just be the biggest revision in this “minor change” update: a new engine, coming in the form of the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that made its local debut in the Proton X50 last year.
According to the social media post, the four-pot mill will produce 181 hp and 290 Nm of torque – identical to those of the “all new” Proton X50.
Compared to the outgoing 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, the new unit delivers an increase of four hp and 35 Nm. However, it falls 10 Nm short of the previously offered 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produced the same 181 hp but a higher 300 Nm of torque.
The previous 1.8-litre engine was also offered with an all-wheel drive option, but we expect that the latest 2026 update to be an all-front-wheel-drive affair, as it was on the last facelift update in August 2024, with the drive sent to the front axle via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
The current Proton X70, equipped with the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.8 seconds. With the new four-cylinder unit, performance could edge closer to the discontinued 1.8-litre turbocharged model, which achieved the same sprint in 9.5 seconds.
That said, this new engine isn’t solely about performance. The introduction of a timing chain should result in improved reliability, while efficiency is also expected to improve. The new Proton X50 boasted a 4.7% improvement in fuel efficiency upon its introduction – a figure the upcoming X70 facelift could potentially mirror.
We don’t know yet what the new 2026 Proton X70 will cost, but chances are it won’t be too different from what it’s priced currently. For context, the latest Proton X70 is available from RM98,800 for the entry-level Standard variant up to RM126,800 for the range-topping Premium X variant, both on the road and without insurance.
