Proton has started a countdown to the official launch of the Proton S70 sedan. The time is 4.30 pm and the date is November 28, which is seven days from now. Yes, the S70 rides on Geely’s BMA platform, which also underpins the Proton X50. It’s based on the Geely Emgrand sedan, which has dimensions that are in between current B- and C-segment sedans. Proton has elected to call it a C-sedan, with the ’70’ name to match.
Also more C than B-sedan is the 1.5L turbo
engine and seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox combo. This is the same pairing
found in the non-Flagship X50, which means a 1.5-litre port-injected
three-cylinder engine with 150 PS/226 Nm, and not the 177 PS/255 Nm 1.5L TGDi
from the X50 Flagship and X70 MC. The Emgrand uses a 1.5L NA + CVT combo
elsewhere but the 1.5T MPI is made in Tanjong Malim so it makes perfect
business sense to use in the S70.
The S70 will come in four variants, but
we’ll call it ‘3+’. Unlike the X50, there’s no Standard variant, and the
sedan’s range starts from Executive. The mid-level spec is Premium and the top
one is the Flagship. The Flagship X makes it four, but the only difference the
‘X’ brings is a sunroof and an exclusive Quartz Black paint option.
