With Proton soon debuting its first model developed in partnership with Geely – an SUV based on the Boyue – our attention to other fruits that will undoubtedly come from the pair’s labour. Looking at the current lineup, a replacement for the Saga might be next up – sure, the budget sedan was only launched in 2016, but it’s based on a platform that has been around in one form or another since 2005.
Our resident Photoshop wizard Theophilus Chin has rendered his idea of what a next-generation Saga will look like, and as you can see, his vision of the car has turned from a small, cheap sedan into a more sophisticated B-segment offering, more in line with what the Persona is like now. It certainly looks larger and appears to have a design that prioritises interior space, similar to the current Honda City and Toyota Vios.
Although it isn’t actually based on a current Geely model, it does borrow styling cues from the larger Emgrand GL, such as the sweptback headlights, pronounced front fender bulge, slim wraparound tail lights and dual exhaust exits. We know that future Proton models will be influenced by Geely’s designs, although they will retain a little bit of Malaysian flavour, and the car’s “winged grille” is a reminder of Proton’s past.
What about the bits underneath? Well, Geely has already dropped hints that Proton will utilise the Chinese carmaker’s B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA), saying that it will be used by Geely’s foreign brands and that it will be built in Southeast Asia. It is designed to accommodate all the latest active safety technologies, future Level 2 and Level 3 autonomous driving and Geely’s latest petrol engines.
These include a 1.0 and 1.5 litre turbocharged and direct-injected three-cylinder engines as well as a 1.4 litre turbo four-pot, plus mild hybrid, parallel hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies. So, what do you think of Theo’s latest work?
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In 10 years time, Proton models will be collectors cars. This is because Malaysia will only have Geely models.
Pity Proton, they cannot see China’s long term plan for Geely in Malaysia
“interesting” comment from an “interesting” person. i hope you will read & learn more about global automotive industry.
Malaysia’ car industry will be annihilated by Chinese insideous marketing strategy… followed next by Asian market using Proton’s facilities. It will be the dumping ground for China’s excess production… thanks to Proton and DRB opening the gates to them. DrM is probably very right that a relook at Malaysia’s automotive policy is overdue – esp as Proton is no longer national and should stop enjoying tax benefits or any other preferential treatment.
That you’re saying DrM is right immediately just shows how backward thinking and flawed your argument is.
Izham what is so flawed in asking for a review on the automotive policy ? You takut ? And yes I agree too that Proton should not enjoy tax benefits anymore. And that calls for a review…. The only thing that is backwards is your reading and understanding capabilities of the word relook … due to your flawed eyesight
Other than the 60 staff under Proton Design team and Theo. Proton could tap MIMOS design team to give some local design flavors and bring that to life in new P1 cars.
MIMOS team was the ones that designed Savvy, u know.
No wonders Savvy failed big time!
There are a few design principles in engineering, but ultinately the most cost effective of all is ‘Design for Manufacturing’. The Savvy might have been very stylish on paper, but various design elements might have been too expensive to implement. The Exora was also very stylishly penned, supposed to rival the Caldina in looks. But the elaborate creases of the body panels and swooping lines would require more intricate tooling with tighter tolerances, and maybe also trickier to weld and paint.
What Proton need is the money to produce them close to the intended styling, and the production number to get the cost per unit down; both of which they don’t have.
Dudeeee. If the new Saga receives the 1.8L turbo from the Geely Boyue, I would definitely buy it in a heartbeat! Just imagine 180HP in a sub 1 tonne car. My dream shall fulfill.
It would also be the most expensive subcompact sedan in Malaysia, or possibly the world. 180 hp in a sub 1000kg body? That is Lotus Elise territory, and it’s not exactly a budget sports car. To make the chassis only just stiff enough so that the steering is decently accurate would be difficult with that weight restriction.
I don’t think they will use Preve grille design anymore.
i am with you. its just too conservative, and in car design term its getting old. preve was launched 6 years ago, going to be 7. proton needs a new design language to last until 2021 and byeond
“Volkswagen, Merc, Bmw, and Audi are conservative as well,” said proton head designer.
VW, Audi, BMW, Mesidis all got bashed for having 1 generation design for all the range of their cars.
Audi had got the worst and most boring design currently for the price.
Some Protons design are better for the asking price.
Hope this will be the next saga. Design looks cool if the colour is black. I like if the engine is 1.5 turbocharged. Maybe can compete with Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo too.
If future proton going to use this platform and i presume the geely’s engine, whats going to happen to the TGDi engine that proton develop recently?
that TGDI belongs to Ricardo UK, they the one who made the engine and has the blueprint. Proton came in to get the engine to match with the body mountings and transmission.
proton only has campro SP4H and SP4E.
Fyi Geely has already started work on four new models and they are using the new BMAplatform so below are the models:
SX12=Next gen Saga (Not rebadge ie launched after 2021
PX04T:Next Gen Persona (Might be given a new name )
IXO2:Next Gen Iriz (well be aimed at the Swif )
XXM20:B-segment MPV (production of Ertiga will stop in 2 years)
There will be Next generation for Exora ,Preve/Suprima and also Perdana but they will be on the Boyue’s platform ,there are noise that the Preve will be called the Persona as its the most oldest name for Proton.
That much look nicer! Theophilus Chin design is balance although I might not a huge fan of the rear end design. too skodaish and audish but overall is good!
Seems like more to next WAJA @ PREVE ..imho
Front looks like Preve thou….
Angan kosong. Looks from front and side mimics accord last gen.
U that this render is not done by p1 but Theo Photoshop manipulation.
Looks upmarket..the current one also good looking…
Seems like preve platoform.
Looks good enough to become the next persona. Will proton replace the expensive iris platform with the bma? That’s what we should be asking. And not about the Saga. Mind you the persona still drives better than cars that cost 70k. Proton still needs to work the public to show them this.
Omg. Title also like entertaiment tabloid.
“Siti ditampar teman lelaki?”
“Aishah kahwin lagi?”
“Pelakon sado diugut?”
exactly like preve at front.. and BMW at bottom..
geely will destroy Proton like that..
haiyoo..
Are you stupid?this is theo’s render not the real deal
The looks itself is way better than the current Saga. Lets hope it will drive better too with input from Geely.
it doesnt look exciting
headlamp – honda city
grill – proton preve
body shell – tata
rear – audi
-_-“
the car cannot beat the almighty civic 1.5 turbo.
Almighty?…civic more powerful than ford focus?
Looks quite ok and handsome. I hope proton consider this rendering as their design proposal. But in my opinion, they better replace Preve instead of Saga. Because we are more thirsty on C-segment car that comes with an affordable price tag.
i still feel that geely binrui nicer…
Binrui is Gen2 replacement
hope proton ditch the idea of using CVT..
or atleast find a good CVT..
Everyone else is moving towards CVT. So why…?
Saga should be targeted to value & EEV segment.
Weak brand !