Last week, national research and development centre for information and communication technology MIMOS revealed a teaser sketch of a new SUV called the Proton Bayu. The design, penned by the agency’s head of industrial design, Saharudin Busri, has now been fleshed out with two further renderings.
The Geely Boyue provides the foundation for the Bayu, but elements have been given a suitable tweak to distinguish the new creation. We finally get to see the vehicle’s fascia, and the front end offers a very different take to that proposed by another rendering we ran last month.
The Bayu’s face presents a bolder outlook, with more angular lines at work in the upper section. Large headlamps frame a grille design complete with a double louvre bar reminiscent of that seen on Mercedes-AMG 45 series offerings. The lower half continues the overtones, a small aperture lower grille and large skid plate providing suitable aggression.
As intimated in the outline sketch, plenty of metallic elements present on the Bayu, and the large L-shaped chrome trim that starts from the beltline and sweeps up the C-pillar is even more striking in the new sketches.
Similar contrast points can be found on the front bumper, lower side flanks and rear end, where there’s even a lower garnish strip to be found on the tailgate. It also dresses up the upper window trim, which flows across the rear spoiler to unify both side trims as a single entity.
New two-piece tail lights can be found, and the rear valence design follows on that outlined by the initial sketch, though the rear diffuser now goes for an metallic outline look compared to the fully metallic presentation of the early rendering. Turbine-design five-spoke alloy wheels complete the look of the Bayu.
The designs created by MIMOS are meant to showcase its expertise in automotive design – the agency, which previously only designed products for its own projects, is offering its design consultancy services to other companies.
What do you think of the Proton Bayu? How does it compare to the original and the more formal look of the previous renderings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
The comments largely express enthusiasm for the Proton Bayu's design, with many praising MIMOS for their modern, aggressive look and potential to boost Proton’s appeal. Some fans hope the car will be affordable and reflect creative Malaysian design. However, there are concerns about the realism of the sketches translating into actual production, manufacturing constraints, and whether the design can be executed well. Critics question MIMOS’s role, suggesting their involvement is primarily in design consultancy, not manufacturing, and some doubt the feasibility of the project. There are also criticisms of the design's originality, with comparisons to other brands, and skepticism about Proton’s ability to control costs and vendor relationships under Geely's influence. Overall, sentiments are optimistic but cautious about the final product's execution and market impact.