A small automobile is currently being tested by Proton Holdings in Malaysia.
According to an update from a well-known Malaysian automotive news source, Paul Tan, the vehicle was issued as a Proton S50 based on the appearance of the disguised test unit. The tiny sedan, sold as the Geely Emgrand in China, will go up against the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and other C-segment cars there.
A CVT automatic transmission on the Emgrand in China transmits 114 horsepower (hp) and 147 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque to the front wheels via a normally aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine.
According to Proton CEO Roslan Abdullah, a premium version for Malaysia would have a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that generates 150 horsepower and 226 Nm of torque. This engine will also drive the front wheels via a DCT automatic transmission.
The sedan is supported by the same Geely BMA platform as supports the Proton X50 SUV. Although the S50’s debut date and pricing are not yet confirmed, rumors that it would shortly replace the Proton Preve make it seem likely that Malaysia will see its release.
