With over 3,000 units sold last month alone, the
Proton Saga doesn’t have trouble finding buyers, but three years on from its
launch it’s high time for a facelift. And that is exactly what it will get, as
updates for both the Saga and the Exora MPV are “on the way,” the national
carmaker has confirmed.
The Saga is a known quantity, as we’ve already seen
spyshots of the refreshed budget sedan on the roads. Development prototypes
have sported a new Infinite Weave grille and new front and rear bumper designs,
bringing the car in line with Proton’s new design language, first seen on the
X70 SUV. There will likely be some improvements under the skin as well, even
though the 1.3 litre VVT engine should remain unchanged.
What is new is the Exora, which is set to receive
its third update since the introduction of the Bold model in 2011 and an
enhanced version in 2017. Expect similar aesthetic updates to those applied to
the Saga (and the recent Iriz and Persona facelifts), plus a raft of measures
to reduce noise, vibration and harshness – the Prevé sedan received a similar
product update last year.
Also expected to be on the cards is a new head unit,
similar to the one that was introduced on the Iriz and Persona last week. The
new seven-inch touchscreen system, based on Geely’s Global Key User Interface
(GKUI) unit found on the X70, is offered with a 4G internet connection,
allowing for online music streaming, live traffic updates and the “Hi Proton”
voice command system.
It’s notable that the Exora is getting improvements
despite the fact that a replacement, based on the Geely Jiaji, is already
earmarked for production.
