Proton S70 is the (turbocharged) Geely Emgrand's Malaysian twin
Geely Emgrand revealed in Malaysia as the Proton S70
Earlier this year, Malaysian automaker Proton revealed the all-new X90. Despite having a different name, we all know that the X90 is essentially a rebadged version of the Geely Okavango.
Sure, it does get some key changes here and there, but overall it's the same vehicle underneath. Heck, the X90 also gets the same 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo that's assisted by a 48V mild hybrid system that delivers a total system output of 190 PS and 300 Nm of torque.
Fast forward to the tail-end of 2023, Proton is set to launch another Geely-based vehicle. Set to be revealed soon in Malaysia is the 2024 Proton S70, and it's essentially the Malaysian twin of the Geely Emgrand we get here in the Philippines. But what differences does the S70 have compared to the Emgrand?
Starting with the exterior changes, the S70 gets a similar grille design as the X90. The grille itself is adorned with several pins finished in chrome which gives the sedan a distinct appearance. The rest of the front fascia, however, is largely shared with the Emgrand with its LED headlights, long hood, and foglight bezels. The S70 also gets the same stylish alloy wheels as the Emgrand, eye-catching LED taillights, and a sunroof which is available in high-grade variants.
Inside, the cabin of the S70 seems to be the same as the Emgrand. From the steering wheel and digital instrument cluster, as well as the center console and dashboard, it's quite difficult to see any key changes between the S70 and the Emgrand. It also comes with a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system, piano black accents, and leather upholstery (higher-grade models only).
Powering the S70 is a 1.5-liter engine. But unlike the Philippine market which gets a naturally aspirated four-cylinder, this one gets a turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a dual-clutch transmission derived from the Coolray. No official performance figures have been revealed just yet although based on a leak our friends from Paultan found, the S70 will get the port fuel injection version of the Coolray's engine. This means it could only make 150 PS with 226 Nm of torque as opposed to the direct injection version the PH market gets which generates 177 PS with 255 Nm of torque.
The vehicle itself has yet to be revealed to the public. But with the digital renderings already giving us a good look at what to expect, the Proton S70 could go up against the likes of the Honda Civic and the MG GT in terms of power output and size.
