Proton has unveiled the updated X50 crossover, based on the Geely Coolray L, with an exclusive interior. The main changes are design, interior, and technology.
The updated Proton X50 — a crossover based on the Geely Coolray L — has been officially presented. The model will soon appear in Malaysia and may eventually reach Kazakhstan. The main feature of the novelty is a unique interior, which is not even available in the Chinese versions.
Proton is Malaysia's oldest car manufacturer, founded in 1983. In 42 years, the brand has released cars on the Mitsubishi platform, bought the British Lotus, and in 2017 sold 49.9% of its shares to China's Geely.
The collaboration with Geely led to the emergence of Proton models based on the Coolray, Atlas, Emgrand, and EX5. Now it is the turn of the updated X50 — a deeply modernized version of the Coolray L with an exclusive interior.
The manufacturer calls the X50 a completely new model, although in essence it is a major facelift. Proton emphasizes that it is not just a copy of the Geely Coolray L: 412 thousand man-hours were spent on refinement, test prototypes ran 4.3 million km, and 245 new parts were added to the design.
The design is inherited from the Geely Coolray L: a massive grille, narrow LED headlights, and a sleek LED strip connecting the rear lights. The top version features a large spoiler. The dimensions are probably identical to the Coolray L (4380 × 1800 × 1609 mm, wheelbase — 2600 mm).
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter turbo engine (181 hp, 290 Nm) paired with a 7-speed "robot". The acceleration to 100 km/h takes 7.6 seconds, and the fuel consumption is about 6.1 l/100 km.
The interior is the main difference between the Proton X50 and its Chinese counterpart. It features a 14.6-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8.88-inch digital "dashboard," wireless charging, and a minimal number of physical buttons.
The list of options includes adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree view system with a 3D effect, voice control, and remote control via an app.
Three trim levels are available:
Prices have not been disclosed yet, but the novelty is expected to be more expensive than its predecessor, currently priced between 86.3 and 113.3 thousand ringgit in Malaysia (from $20,000 to $26,500).