Proton X50 revealed, here’s what we know

KUALA LUMPUR: At last, at last, Proton has ended the mystery game and revealed the X50 to us and all the auto enthusiasts waiting out there. To be frank, we are pretty excited about it and have been waiting for the car for quite some time, not to mention all the speculations and rumours we gathered over time.

Well, let’s now check out the Proton X50. By the looks of it, the X50 sure looks edgier than any Proton car in the market, even the X70 SUV, for that matter. And as speculated, it is based on the Geely Binyue - the Chinese automaker’s crossover we have been studying all this while. The only differentiating element between the X50 and Binyue being the brand logo and grille. In X50’s case, we see Proton’s Infinite Wave grille along with the recently revised logo.

The red trim is seen running across the car’s grille and brake callipers, which adds to its rebel, rugged look. The cabin too features a red splash along with the black undertone that it sure complements the car’s entire look and feel. From the official images, the X50 also seems to have a panoramic sunroof that might be limited to the range-topping variant and is first in the segment. Like its Chinese and Philippines (Coolray) counterpart, it is most likely to feature hexagonal, chrome edged key fob.

The cabin sure looks spacious, and as far as the eyes can see is fitted with several comforting features. We first see the wide, touchscreen unit sitting on the dashboard just above the central air-con vents. We believe it to be the latest GKUI system. Other features that are most likely to be on-board include - automatic air-con system, digital information cluster, second-row air conditioning, USB charging ports at the front and back, selectable drive modes, and electronic parking brake.

Expect for a few images Proton has not revealed any information about the car. However, our job is to speculate and so we expect the X50 to be powered by the same mill as its counterpart - a 1.5-litre three-cylinder direct-injection turbo petrol engine making 177 hp and 255 Nm. It will be paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Gelly Binyue with the same engine configuration can hit the 100 kmph mark in 7.9 seconds and we expect the same for the X50.

Talking about X50’s safety features, we know it is built on the modular BMA platform, so a class-leading kit is on the cards. Also, Dr Li Churong, Proton CEO, even confirmed a full-fledged Level 2 semi-autonomous driving feature. Here are a few expected safety features - six airbags, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control with active lane-keeping assist, autonomous emergency braking and more.

The Proton X50 will very soon be joining the brand’s ‘Intelligent line-up’, so keep your eyes and ears open. Also, stay tuned with Zigwheels Malaysia for all the latest updates.