Fresh from its appearance at an ASEAN Summit event recently, the Proton Saga MC3 with the songket-inspired wrap is now on display at the brand’s Centre of Excellence. We’re not certain if the new sedan will be there for long, so here’s a gallery of it in case you miss it and have to wait until launch day. Alternatively, you can see the uncovered version in Ruby Red that prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed earlier this morning.
The heavy facelift for the Saga sees an overhauled front end featuring redesigned LED projector headlamps with integrated L-shaped daytime running lights and two inner indicator light bars. The latter is visually connected to an Ethereal Bow on a full-width concave grille, which has black pins on its insert and joined by a thicker upper chrome bar.
Also new is the bonnet that has its creases spread further apart than on the outgoing MC2. The lower apron now gets a rectangular-shaped intake flanked by small inlets that appear to channel air to cool the brakes.
Progressing down the sides, we find new side mirrors with integrated indicators and 15-inch wheels in a four-twin-spoke design with Atlas AS380 tyres in a 185/55 profile. The general profile, roofline, beltline and crease the runs through the door handles all appear to be unchanged.
At the rear, there’s a full-width light bar that links the taillights with dashed bars as its signature. The Proton script sits just below the boot lid with a small ducktail, with the rear bumper having a diffuser-like element.
The ‘i-GT’ badge on the left of the boot lid likely points to some engine technology, with the Saga expected to get a new 1.5 litre inline-four petrol engine (deep dive here). A leaked document previously indicates this will be paired with a conventional automatic transmission on Standard and Executive variants, with the top-spec Premium getting a CVT instead.
The COE display car was locked during our time with it, so we had to get crafty to obtain these interior photos. Changes are far as we can see include a brand-new dashboard that has a large housing to house a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system.
There are also pill-shaped air vents, with the central ones sitting just above physical controls for the air-conditioning and certain vehicle functions. Other cue include textured trim on the passenger side, with the wavy design also replicated on all the door cards, which now offer more practicality by having larger storage cubbies.
The centre console also gets a new design and accommodates a revised gear lever aft of a cupholder. To the right of the driver is a dedicated panel for side mirror controls and engine start button. This is likely the top-spec Premium given the partially perforated leatherette upholstery on the seats.
The Saga MC3 is built on the AMA platform, which is a platform used on models previously developed by the company but significantly upgraded to be relevant to newer safety standards and technologies.
The presence of a camera behind the rear-view mirror suggests some form of ADAS, which would be a first for the model. However, it doesn’t look like Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control is on the cards, judging by the absence of on-wheel controls for such functions.
Also visible on the inside are airbag labels on the front seats and interior pillars, indicating the presence of six airbags. This is a big jump from the two airbags currently offered, and it also beats its biggest rival, the Perodua Bezza. We expect this, along with ADAS, to only be offered on the top-spec Premium, as is the case with rivals in this price range.
With everything you know and have seen of the Saga so far, are you looking forward to the launch of the next chapter in the brand’s iconic nameplate? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Front plate stated all new saga dy, it’s not minor change.
Syukur the gear shift lever and physical aircond button switch still there. Price under rm60k i will buy.
rm60k might as well get the proton eMas
Good that we’ll have options between ICE & EV now
no, somebody say eMas5 dont have that aircond panel
noticed the Aircond panel, and thumbs up to proton.
perodua needs to learn from proton in this regards.
Perodua should invest more on that instead of dumb applications that most people won’t use
Especially the bugging eco idle, and then the asa 3.0 not much useful but drain your battery faster.
OMG, this look like what people buy during Qingming.
CVT is Punch or not? if Punch, i don’t want.
CVT from WLY
songket-inspired wrap design could be use for interior fabric.
Miss that thin vertical “vents” on rear bumper MC2 (since 2019).
Front headlights profile felt has similar inspiration from P2-Bezza Gen1.
2025 Proton black out bumper grille to match X50… felt meh if compare to MC2 (with or without DRL).
Notice the adjustable rear headrest appearance for the first time.
chrome accent at all external door handles now.
all led front and rear lamp including reverse and signal.
new left and right stalk.
etc
Lets hope with this summit, Proton could venture into all Asean markets and able to do 400k units a year with this model alone.
Perhaps, why not proton invite interested parties in the respective neighbouring countries to rebadge Saga as their own national car?
Allow them to change the bumpers, grille, wheels, side mirrors, top part dashboard incl instrument meter (provided they do own R&D, produced their own unique parts and assembly – whether fully manual factory or semi CKD). Otherwise, just rebadge and change the name. Being national car would generate more interests from the buying public .
Your proposal is interesting and a version of this will potentially happen as Proton owns all the Intellectual Property Rights for the AMA platform the car is based on. So it’s possible to sell the platform to other brands to put on their own top hat.
its a non-starter proposal . better to rebadge from any of the numerous jap brands instead
Exterior looks macam kecut . But then it will sell lah ..
giving me that volkswagen polo vibe ish. hopefully its lotus tuned or the famous proton tuned for good handling. bigger rims would be kinda nice
BYD Qin L PHEV – more than 2K KM – Price range 60K+ ~ 90K circa
If you can bring it in and sell it
I wonder if the suspension has been beefed up to go with the bigger engine? What can you tell about the suspension specs/ type?
Still do not have center armrest and console box??
Sebab ada yg tak nak ruang sempit, yg nak beli shopee jer.
In this category, Bezza also don’t have
Under the skin this is basically the chassis of the 2008 proton saga blm.
Heavily revised yes, but still 2008, makes you think.