It’s official – Proton is hitting the ground running in 2026 with the launch of the new X70 on Thursday, January 8. Arriving just 17 months after the facelifted model, the latest iteration of the C-segment SUV will feature a brand-new engine, the national carmaker confirmed.
That engine is the 1.5 litre BHE15-EFZ turbocharged four-cylinder from last year’s facelifted X50, which Proton has given the Intelligent Green Technology (i-GT) badge to. It produces 181 PS at 5,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm – increases of 4 PS and 35 Nm over the old GEP3 three-cylinder, and a closer match to the original 184 PS/300 Nm 1.8 litre turbo four-pot mill.
All that will almost certainly be sent to the front wheels (the all-wheel-drive model was discontinued on the facelift) through the same seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission as before. Expect claims of reduced fuel consumption as well as lower maintenance costs, the latter thanks to a switch to a timing chain.
As with prior minor minor changes where the bulk of the upgrades were under the skin (think X70 MC and X50 RC), expect little in the way of design revisions, which will likely be limited to colour and trim changes. Hopefully, however, we will see driver assists such as autonomous emergency braking being expanded to the rest of the range (not just the Premium and Premium X variants) this time around.
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How to trust proton lah? Last time they say 3 cylinder better than 4 cylinder. After so many people bought, now they say 4 cylinder is bettee than 3.
Can you trust their words anymore? Well, I don’t.
1 year, 1 major facelift. This is why part shortage so prevalent.
Did a bit of digging and it looks like Proton will probably skip a full facelift for the current X70. Most likely they’ll just update whatever’s necessary to keep it going for another 1–2 years, then move straight to the 3rd-gen Boyue Cool (not the Boyue L — that one’s CR-V sized).
Boyue Cool uses the same engine and platform as the current X50, so it makes sense from a cost perspective. Tooling costs would be lower and production for both models can run side by side.
from wow (like premium) upon launching until now cheh (boring)!
Next time you get 3 silinder 1.0 haha Volvo tech fool you to buy now all cry. I buy Conti come visit me my shop I let you try one time see Shok or not still driving after 11 years.