03/08/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY AUG 3, 2025

Major evolution All-new Proton X50 on the road from RM89,800

WITH the advent of Chinese cars in the Malaysian market, my time reviewing cars these days has largely circled around cars from China and Japan. Of course, you the reader and I the writer, have also been bombarded with a lot of information about cars from China and how advanced they are and such. I have never doubted that and truly do believe that Chinese cars are good for the market. This belief was reinforced recently when I drove a European car. I won’t mention the brand here, but it was not a Volvo, Porsche or a Ferrari for that matter. And after driving it for about an hour, I am more appreciative of Chinese cars. Why? Because they give much more for much less. And that is great for car buy ers. What was the problem you may ask? I thought that this particular entry level vari ant which costs under RM250,000 had the basic idea right, but it just did not feel right. The interior was modern, but too simple. Minimalism is a fancy word for cost cutting. It focused on ambient lights and the infotainment system, which is small in com parison to what the Chinese offer. Curved or not. And let’s get real, buyers are only excited about ambi ent lights in the first few weeks. We may change it every now and then but don’t really care if there were 256 colour options or just 10. And then there is the refinement levels. I was flab bergasted at the amount of tyre roar that was intruding back into the cabin at moder ate speeds. It was very unbecoming of a marque known to make some of the best cars in the world. The Chinese and Japanese have done a stellar job in comparison. If you have no idea what I am talking about, try taking a Honda CRV e:HEV RS out for a test drive and just put an ear down to focus on tyre and ambient sound. You will be impressed. Even the Haval H6, Jaecoo J7 and Tiggo 8 Pro have impressive refinement levels. Cars like the Omoda C9 and Jaecoo J8 have advanced suspension sys Chinese cars are a wakeup call!

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

tems with more computing power than the first Apollo mission. All in the name of keeping its occupants safe and comfortable. On a personal note, refine ment is very important. It shows how much care has gone into building the car. How much material and tech nology there is. And the ultimate result is a car that is nicer to drive and feels a lot more expensive than it actually is. Some of the more estab lished brands, particularly the Europeans, have dropped the ball. It seems like they are no longer focused on creating great cars that feel good to drive. It almost like they are riding on the power of their brand – at the moment at least. But let’s also face it – arriv ing in a BMW versus a Chery makes a very different state ment – even though the Chery may offer more bang for your money. I truly do appreciate European marques, there is no denying that they have brought a lot more tech to buyers which some of the Chinese and Japanese car makers have simply reverse engineered and made it cheaper thanks to mass pro duction. If you are in the market for a car and budget is of con cern, my advice is this: drive them all. Don’t be ashamed to harass salesmen everywhere for a test drive. And tune in to everything. Take note of how easy it is to connect your phone to the infotainment system. Browse the software to see how man ageable it is even when driv ing. And just focus on the driving pleasure as well. As tempting as it is, don’t just focus on the brand. As what I found out, expensive doesn’t always mean better and cheaper doesn’t equate to inferior. You will be surprised at what you can get at below RM200,000. As for car makers, I am glad the Chinse car brands are here and giving the Europeans and the Japanese a proper nudge to step up. It is good for all car buyers.

PROTON has officially launched the All-New Proton X50, unveiling a bold reinterpretation of its best-selling B segment SUV. Building upon the formidable foundation laid by the original X50, first introduced in October 2020 and having surpassed 134,000 units sold, the revamped model signals a major evolution in Proton’s SUV strategy, bringing with it enhanced styling, upgraded interior refinement, and a suite of cutting-edge technologies. The redesigned X50 departs significantly from its predecessor in both appear ance and function. Externally, it adopts a sportier and more sophisti cated aesthetic, courtesy of a redesigned front grille and bumper,

The centrepiece of the updated technology suite is a striking 14.6 inch infotainment

touchscreen, which now offers full inte gration with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Further enhanc ing user interaction is a voice recognition feature that The newly improved Proton Link 2.0 smart phone app allows users to remotely start the engine and air-conditioning, check vehicle status in real time, and schedule service appointments directly from their mobile devices. In terms of safety, Proton has enhanced the X50’s existing 5-star Asean NCAP credentials with the inclusion of a refined Level 2 Advanced

supports Bahasa Melayu, underlining Proton’s focus on localised innovation and accessibility for Malaysian motorists.

a sleeker rear spoiler, and quad exhaust outlets that accentuate the SUV’s aggressive rear stance. A fresh two-tone exterior paint scheme injects a sense of modernity, while newly designed alloy wheels add a touch of intricacy to the overall silhouette. In addition to returning favourites such as Snow White, Passion Red, Jet Grey, and Armour Silver, the new Teal Bayou Green colourway debuts as a standout option. Inside, the transformation is just as pronounced. Proton has elevated the premium feel of the cabin with generous use of soft-touch materials and a re-imag ined layout, including a floating floor console and lux ury-inspired column gear shifters. A particular highlight is the introduction of a 72 colour rhythmic ambient lighting system, offering drivers and passengers the ability to tailor the cabin’s ambience to their preferences.

Driver Assistance System (Adas). A new Rear Side Radar System (RSRS) significantly improves blind spot monitoring, while the updated Auto Park Assist system simplifies tight urban manoeuvres. A next-generation 360° HD camera has also been introduced, complete with a 180° undercarriage trans parent view that allows for unparalleled visibility around and underneath the vehicle. Performance has not been left behind in this over haul. The All-New X50 is powered by the latest 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine, producing 181PS and 290Nm of torque. Coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmis sion, the SUV accelerates from 0 to 100kph in just 7.6 seconds – 0.3 seconds quicker than the previous model.

Alongside this performance gain is a 4.7% improvement in fuel efficiency, offering a more economical drive with out sacrificing dynamic engage ment. Official prices for the all-new Proton X50 start from

RM89,800 for the executive variant, RM101,800 for the pre mium variant and RM113,300 for the flagship variant. The first 10,000 customers get a RM4,000 cash rebate! The first 10,000 customers also get a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, six times free labour service, upgraded five-year in-car data package, which is 2GB per month and trade-in sup port up to RM2,000.