Proton Iriz facelift: Changes explained

We know that Proton Malaysia has been testing the Iriz facelift for quite some time now. We’ve seen a few spy shots of the car and the test mule was even captured on a video. Then we got to know the Iriz facelift a bit more when a new video was uploaded to the official Youtube channel of prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad (Chedet). Now, Proton has released the official pictures of the upcoming hatch which appears to be quite an exciting package.

There are a number of changes that Proton has implemented on the Iriz facelift. To begin with, the headlights have been made a bit slimmer to suit the new front grille. There’s a chrome line flowing from one headlight to the other via the grille which carries an infinite weave pattern and houses the brand’s logo. Proton has also revised the front bumper, it comes with a new radiator grille that is mounted lower than before. The LED daytime running lights that are also positioned in the lower part of the bumper.

The side profile of the Proton Iriz facelift is more or less the same as that of the current model. The only feature that’s new here is the alloy wheels that come with rotor blade design. There’s also a shark fin antenna located on the roof giving the hatch a hint of sportiness.

It’s the rear end of the car that has been given the major makeover. Proton has included a much noticeable blacked out portion which bears the brand’s lettering. To make this element work with the rest of the rear design, Proton also changed the tail lights. They are now enlarged. The rear bumper is also revamped and now gets vertical garnish inserts. The number plate finds its spot in the bumper but is located very low.

Inside the new Iriz facelift, we get a new gear knob similar to what we have seen in the Proton X70. We also get a new color touchscreen infotainment system that is developed together by Proton and eCarX - the Chinese firm that built the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI) for the X70. This new system comes with a host of connectivity options along with a few voice commands. Proton has also done a minor touchup on the instrument cluster. There are new graphics for the analogue gauges and the MID is now a color unit.

The ongoing Proton Iriz specs sheet, include a 1.3-litre engine that produces 94 hp and comes with either a manual or CVT transmission. Proton has not said anything about the powertrain of the facelift model but it’s being speculated that the same engine will be given the responsibility.

Proton hit a home run with its recently launched X70 which is also the company’s first ever SUV. The X70 is really doing very well in the market. In fact, it’s leading the C-segment SUV segment in terms of sales in Jan 2019. Proton delivered a total of 2,777 units of X70 which is the highest registration any C-segment SUV has received in a single month. Also, with a total registration of over 1,300 last month, the X70 has set a record for most registration in the launch month itself.

Now, with the new Iriz facelift scheduled to be launched sometime this year, Proton seems to be playing aggressively. The new Iriz will be Proton’s first facelift after its tie-up with Geely. It looks much sportier than the outgoing model and should appeal to a wider audience. As far as the price is concerned, expect a slight increase. We are expecting to see more details regarding the Iriz facelift later in the year. Stay tuned for future updates.