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Not like a lot of Proton’s latest new mannequin launches, the Proton S70’s gestation interval is comparatively quick. First official particulars and pictures surfaced on November 1, and final week, we attended a media preview in Shah Alam to stand up shut with, and behind the wheel of Proton’s newest sedan on the corporate’s check observe. We could also be on the tail finish of 2023, however the S70 will likely be launched earlier than the 12 months closes.
For now, we’ll share all that we all know in regards to the S70, barring just a few components nonetheless underneath wraps akin to equipment and pricing. I see many debates in regards to the phase of the S70, and I’m not stunned that there’s a (heated, as at all times with Protons) dialog on this, as a result of it’s not easy – even the media have been discussing this on the occasion.
The Nice Debate
So, is the S70 a B- or C-segment sedan? Nicely, it’s based mostly on the Geely Emgrand, which sits on the BMA platform, and the automobile has a 1.5 litre NA engine/CVT combo elsewhere – 1.5L CVT is in fact the ASEAN B-segment default set by the Toyota Vios and Honda Metropolis.
In actual fact, everybody thought that automobile codenamed SS11 could be known as ‘Proton S50’ until we noticed spyshots of the S70 badge final month. The anticipated pricing of the S70 can also be squarely inside the Metropolis-Vios area, and the 2 class stalwarts have been chosen as rivals within the media preview acceleration check.
It’s a B then. However Proton complicates issues (by design, I’m certain) by giving the sedan the ’70’ identify. Formally, Proton is asking this a C-segment sedan, and ’70’ ties in with the X70, a C-SUV. The carmaker has additionally plonked in a 1.5 litre turbo engine and dual-clutch gearbox instead of the 1.5L NA CVT that powers the Emgrand in China and the Philippines. Suppose 1.5T, assume Honda Civic, proper?
What about dimensions? Glad you requested. We don’t have Proton’s figures but, however the Emgrand is 4,638 mm lengthy and 1,822 mm vast, with a 2,650 mm wheelbase. That’s 58 mm longer and 74 mm wider than a Honda Metropolis, and the S70’s wheelbase is 50 mm longer too. In actual fact, the S70 is longer and wider than the Preve and Inspira, Proton’s earlier two C-segment sedans.
It’s a C then. However automobiles develop in dimension, and a Civic then (FB, when the Preve was launched) isn’t the identical as a Civic now. On that notice, right this moment’s Civic FE is 40 mm longer than the S70, and the Honda’s 2,735 mm wheelbase is 85 mm longer. The Civic’s WB benefit over the S70 is greater than the Proton’s benefit over the Metropolis. All the Civic, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3 are additionally decrease slung than the S70, giving them sportier proportions.
We’ll go away it as much as you to position the S70, because it’s a little bit of a mishmash. Exterior of automobile man circles, Proton calling their new sedan C-segment will allow salesmen to make use of the “Civic rival at Metropolis worth” good worth pitch, identical to what they did with the X70.
Turbo-DCT from X50
We already know that the S70 can have turbo energy as an alternative of the Emgrand’s commonplace 1.5L NA unit, however now we are able to verify that the turbo engine in query is the 1.5-litre port-injected three-cylinder engine that powers the X50 Commonplace to Premium, and never the 177 PS/255 Nm 1.5L TGDi unit within the X50 Flagship and X70 MC. Like within the non-Flagship X50, the 1.5L MPI unit’s output is 150 PS/226 Nm within the S70.
For these holding rely, the Civic’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder VTEC turbo engine makes 182 PS and 240 Nm, which is 32 PS and 14 PS greater than the S70.
In addition to the purpose {that a} turbo engine would make the S70 a extra convincing C-segment sedan, it additionally makes good enterprise sense for Proton because the engine is already made in Tanjong Malim for the X50, whereas Geely’s 1.5L NA shouldn’t be utilized in any present Proton. Utilizing the engine in two fashions provides Proton higher economies of scale, and on this case, the buyer advantages too. Ditto the seven-speed wet-clutch DCT.
Native enter, deluxe Emgrand
Not a lot – it’s what it’s – however there’s some native enter. Within the change from left- to right-hand drive, the S70 challenge noticed the event of 453 new components with the involvement of 283 native suppliers, Proton says. The sedan has 145 knocked down (KD) components and 24 in-house Proton developed components. After all, the engine is made in Malaysia. A complete of 260,000 man hours have been utilised.
Nonetheless, the goal is to achieve 70% native content material in a few years, deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah revealed on the media preview. That’s nowhere close to the over 90% native content material of Perodua fashions from launch, and non-national fashions in all probability supply extra from Malaysia. This isn’t of concern to the shopper, in fact, and we solely noticed one Geely brand on the fleet of pre-production automobiles – on the sunroof.
The obvious change from the Emgrand is the S70’s grille, which mixes the ‘Infinite Weave’ and ‘Ethereal Bow’ cues from previous Geely-Protons to kind an elaborate but neat grille with pins. The facet edges of the grille are blacked out to stress the Ethereal Bow (decrease border), and Proton’s new spherical tiger badge floats within the center. To us, it’s a good-looking face and one which’s a lot better trying than the Emgrand, which has vertical strains in its grille.
Every thing else is as per the Geely, together with G20 BMW 3 Collection-style ‘facet intakes’, the two-tone 17-inch wheels, the marginally jarring protrusion of chrome from the A pillars and the flamboyant rear LED full-width signatures.
Talking of the tail lamps, they carry out a present if you unlock the automobile and look like naturally ‘smoked’ even in daylight. We’re additionally questioning why the good entry button on the motive force’s door deal with is in chrome, and never hidden away in physique color. There’s no button on the passenger facet by the way in which, and it’s a downgrade from the contact sensor on Proton’s SUVs.
If the outside is basically Emgrand bar the grille and rear Proton badge, the inside is a deluxe model of the sedan in comparison with what’s obtainable within the Philippines, and to a lesser diploma, China. The default gear lever is a traditional tall stick, however Proton is providing the stubby ‘T-design’ digital shifter from the X90, which appears to be like far more superior and premium.
Extra components sharing with present Protons (which aren’t from the unique Emgrand) will be seen within the steering wheel from the X50. Additionally, the sedan’s cabin is peppered with a smooth materials that has a songket-inspired sample. Yow will discover this S70-exclusive trim on the dashboard and door armrests – it’s a pleasant contact.
A very powerful side of the native enter is none aside from the well-regarded ‘Proton journey and dealing with’. The carmaker says that the S70 is tuned for Malaysian roads and the R&D crew spent 75,000 man hours and drove a mixed 1.2 million km of improvement miles. Sometimes, Chinese language automobiles are softly sprung and comfort-oriented to swimsuit the native palate, however Malaysians drive quicker and require extra management, extra dynamics.
A number of package, on the prime
The S70 will are available 4 variants, however we’ll name it ‘3+’. Not like the X50, there’s no Commonplace variant, and the sedan’s vary begins from Govt. The mid-level spec is Premium and the highest one is the Flagship. The Flagship X makes it 4, however the one distinction the ‘X’ brings is a sunroof and an unique Quartz Black paint possibility.
Is the S70 nicely outfitted? Sure, however the entry-level Govt is certain to look vastly completely different from the Flagship/Flagship X automobiles that have been on responsibility on the media preview. A lot of the outside and inside bits that make the S70 look fancy (LED headlamps, rear LED signatures, 17-inch wheels that look nearly massive sufficient, digital meter panel, infotainment touchscreen) are usually not current within the Govt. A low entry worth will get extra eyeballs.
All variants have the identical 1.5T 7DCT powertrain, six airbags, lane change help and an digital parking brake (we’re not 100% certain if auto maintain can also be commonplace throughout the board, nevertheless it needs to be). The Govt comes with material seats, halogen headlamps, 16-inch wheels and an 8.0-inch head unit. To get LED headlamps (projectors) and hind lights, you’ll have to purchase the Premium, which additionally provides on leatherette upholstery, auto air-con and a reverse digicam.
LED headlamps have been commonplace on the Perodua Myvi since 2017, and even a RM40k Axia will get them, so the bottom S70 is nowhere close to C-segment by way of gear. We’ll see what the value hole is between variants, nevertheless it appears to be like just like the Premium is the place the vary really begins. Even so, there’s no ADAS on the midpoint.
Proton is as soon as once more reserving driver help for the Flagship. The excellent ADAS suite consists of Autonomous Emergency Braking with Ahead Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Management with Cease & Go, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Lane Centring Management, Site visitors Signal Info, Clever Excessive Beam Management, Lane Change Help (blind spot), Door Opening Warning, Rear Collision Warning and Rear Cross Site visitors Alert. By the way in which, ADAS shouldn’t be obtainable on the Emgrand, so that is yet one more Proton-exclusive characteristic.
The Flagship additionally will get a tyre strain monitoring system, the 17-inch two-tone alloys you see right here, the cockpit’s twin display screen setup (10.3-inch meter, 12.3-inch infotainment with Hello Proton), wi-fi charger, powered driver’s seat (not one of the B-segment gamers have this) and 360-degree digicam with 3D show.
As talked about, the Premium X’s solely additional piece of package is the sunroof, however the vary topper does get an unique Quartz Black paint possibility. Black isn’t a typical color for Protons – will this automobile be equipped to the federal government? The Flagship X can be had in Snow White, Area Gray, Marine Blue and Teal Bayou Inexperienced – the latter is a new-to-Proton color impressed by our tropical seashores.
The signature inexperienced and Marine Blue, that are the colors you see within the studio pics right here, are reserved for the Flagship and above. The darkish blue automobile has a five-piece bodykit consisting of a entrance lip, facet skirts, rear bumper extension and a boot spoiler. Proton didn’t point out the bodykit in its presentation although, so we’ll have to attend for the launch for extra particulars. No R3 logos on the package, by the way in which.
First impressions
It may very well be simply me, however there’s at all times a unique sort of buzz after we’re seeing a Proton/Perodua for the primary time. Extra anticipation and extra strain too, as a result of it looks as if nationwide automobiles are nicely, of nationwide curiosity – everybody talks about it, everyone needs to find out about it, not simply automobile folks. We genuinely wish to see the automobiles do nicely, but in addition have the responsibility to report as it’s.
Kudos to Proton for having a few automobiles that it sees because the S70’s rivals on the preview. So assured they’re that it wasn’t simply the Vios and Metropolis current (that’s the value vary P1 is aiming for) – we have been all shocked to see the BMW 2 Collection Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan parked alongside for static comparability! Absolutely not ‘Asia’s reply to BMW’ once more? Extra on that later.
Our first impression of the S70 is an efficient one. This can be a three-box sedan that’s good-looking in a barely old style approach, and it jogs my memory of the third-generation Subaru Legacy (B4 RSK!). Proton might need simply modified the grille of the Emgrand, nevertheless it’s a change for the higher – the S70 appears to be like extra premium than the Geely. SUVs rule the market lately, however many guys nonetheless like sedans, and we predict that the S70 will seize the creativeness of many bros on the market.
Step in and also you’re greeted by a throughly up to date cockpit with three of the preferred components checked – horizontal sprint format (at all times emphasised by full-width look AC vents), a excessive centre console, and two screens (meter and central). The latter provides off a high-tech, superior really feel that goes nicely with (and is integral to) the minimalist design. Loads of X90 components, however the S70’s cockpit is far more fashionable.
Look nearer and also you’ll discover a pleasant native contact – the passenger-facing piece of trim under the AC vents is smooth to the contact and has a pleasant songket-inspired sample. This materials is repeated on the door armrests. This and the sprint prime each cross the knock-knock Malaysian showroom check – the sprint prime, which has stitching on the sting, feels stable. Additionally good is the stitched sample on the door playing cards, which jogs my memory of Asics’ Tiger Stripes.
This constructive really feel doesn’t move into the centre console and doorways; the latter is roofed in scratchy arduous plastic and the door handles, whereas properly built-in design-wise, has a lacquer-like silver end that feels low cost. So, total perceived high quality is a blended bag, and sitting within the BMW 2GC after the S70 merely emphasised the gulf in premiumness.
To be honest, arduous plastics are frequent within the B-segment, which the S70 will likely be priced in opposition to. But it surely’s Proton who’s calling it a C (Civic cabin feels extra premium in contact and really feel) and introduced a BMW alongside. As talked about, we just like the design and superior really feel, and the IP is high quality.
We pushed the S70 alongside a brief course in Proton’s Shah Alam proving floor and likewise had it in a drag race with the Metropolis and Vios. It didn’t take lengthy to infer that the S70 is tuned for consolation relatively than sport, as a sub-RM100k household sedan needs to be – it’s straightforward to drive with mild and easy steering, and first journey consolation needs to be good, based mostly on its calm, composed response to a dip within the course.
We didn’t attempt the sedan on tough surfaces, however based mostly on pattern and Proton’s well-proven capabilities in journey and dealing with, the S70 needs to be a well-damped, forgiving journey. Count on some lean on steady-state cornering from this comparatively tall sedan, however nothing too disconcerting.
It depends upon what your expectations are, however in case you hear 1.5T DCT and assume ‘VW TSI DSG’ or ‘Civic-beater’, be ready to be dissatisfied. There’s a major delay between your proper foot asking for full throttle and the powertrain getting the message, a lot in order that the Metropolis persistently beats the S70 off the road.
However give the Proton sufficient street and it’ll finally overtake and draw back from the Honda, because it ought to, being turbocharged. The Vios? Fairly a distance away from the opposite two, actually. Away from the drag strip’s standing begin, the in-gear acceleration of a turbocharged automobile could be helpful in reduce and thrust every day driving.
Talking of the every day grind, we seen that the S70’s transmission swaps gears fairly leisurely for a dual-clutch unit, and its engine is extra audible than the Vios at idle and low speeds, whereas sounding coarser. In terms of isolation, Toyota is tops – even the previous-generation Vios/present Yaris is extra refined on the transfer. Personally, I really feel that the dearth of powertrain refinement is at odds with the premium messaging.
Shifting to the again seat, we are able to report that the bench is properly formed and the seat base top is enough. The size is of the seat base is nearly proper for my 175 cm body. The S70’s rear headroom betters the Metropolis and Vios – it was my first time within the Toyota and I used to be shocked that they signed this off, and I’m not even that tall.
Essentially the most layman approach of measuring rear area is legroom, and also you’ll count on the ‘C-segment’ automobile to romp house. As a substitute, if stretching your rear legs is a crucial consideration, the Metropolis and Vios have extra acreage. Thoughts you, the S70 isn’t cramped by any means, however rear legroom is wanting the ASEAN B-segment’s abnormally excessive bar. Additionally, if the motive force’s seat is ready to the bottom place, there’s not a lot room underneath it for ft to tuck into.
Anyhow, it’s first rate on the again, and passengers get to take pleasure in AC vents (they give the impression of being surprisingly ‘bare’ although), a centre armrest, and two USB ports (1x A, 1x C). As with the entrance doorways, there are stitched stripes on the door playing cards and songket-patterned smooth materials on the facet armrests. Boot quantity is 500 litres and there’s an area saver spare wheel underneath the ground.
So, how does the S70 evaluate with its rivals, you ask. The reply depends upon who you contemplate its rivals to be, as mentioned above in The Nice Debate. Proton is asking the S70 a C-segment sedan, however fact be instructed, the Honda Civic has it beat in contact, really feel, drive and desirability. As such, there’s no want to debate the BMW 2GC.
Nevertheless, the S70 may very well be priced to cowl the RM70+ok to RM100k vary, which is at present owned by the Metropolis and Vios. Towards these two, there’s definitely a case for the Proton, which is loads of automobile for the cash – you’ll get a much bigger physique, a turbo engine, a lot of toys and a few feel-good options which can be first-in-class akin to electrical seat adjustment. The S70 is a good drive and it appears to be like good out and in, too.
It should be famous although that a lot of the good things you see listed here are reserved for the Flagship – full verdict when we’ve got the pricing. Now, learn my final level within the type of the late Farit Ismeth Emir from RTM. SUVs are dominant right this moment, however right here’s a query to guys of their 30s and 40s: if it was solely as much as you, do you really need an SUV over a sedan? We didn’t develop up wanting these smooth roaders, did we? Fikir-fikirkanlah.
For now, what do you consider the Proton S70 as it’s, and vis-à-vis the Honda Metropolis and Toyota Vios? Be a part of Hafriz as he takes you on an in depth video tour of the S70 under. Sure, he does complain in regards to the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto assist.
GALLERY: Proton S70 1.5T Flagship X
GALLERY: Proton S70 presentation
GALLERY: Proton S70 official photos
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