Proton S70 bookings open in Malaysia; launch soon

KUALA LUMPUR: After a long wait, Proton has finally confirmed the arrival of its new sedan, called the S70. Not only has the production of the Proton S70 begun at the brand's Tanjong Malim manufacturing plant, but bookings for the car have also been opened at Proton outlets nationwide.

The automaker unveiled the new model in Tanjong Malim at a ceremony, inaugurated by Dato' Hairil Yahri Yaacob, Secretary General of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia.

Proton introduced the S70 with a tagline that reads "Intelligence that Evolves". It also revealed that the new sedan is equipped with the latest safety technology, a 1.5L turbo engine, and a 7-speed DCT transmission.

Like Proton SUVs (X50, X70, and X90), the upcoming S70 sedan is also a rebadged Geely model i.e. the fourth-gen Emgrand. It is a B-segment sedan that underpins the same BMA platform as the X50. The car measures 4,638 mm in length, 1,820 mm in width, and 1,460 mm in height and carries a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. Compared to the Honda City, the Geely Emgrand is 85 mm longer and 72 mm wider.

Upon rolling off the first unit of the S70 on the production line, Proton CEO Li Chunrong said, “The Proton S70 marks a new chapter for Proton as we return to the family sedan market with a model that is the next step in the evolution of our offerings.

“We have high hopes it will prove to be popular with current and new Proton fans and help return us to the top of a market segment that was previously led by models such as the Proton Wira, Waja and Prevé,” he added.

The customer preview sessions of the Proton S70 are scheduled to take place in major Malaysian state capitals starting from November 11, 2023. The official launch is expected to happen by the end of this year.

Also read: Proton X50 R3 20th Anniversary Edition launched in Malaysia