Now that Proton’s first-ever SUV has finally received its name, the question on the minds of most Malaysians is why the model is being called the X70.
As you may know, the national carmaker previously organised an online poll inviting the public to vote for the name of the Geely Boyue-based model. At the time, four choices were available – X7, PX7, X70 or X700.
During this morning’s media preview of the X70, it was revealed that almost 90,000 people took part in the poll, of which 60% voted for X70. The fact that the name won by a majority isn’t just a demonstration of democracy in action either.
Proton says X70 was selected as it would be more acceptable in ASEAN as well as other international markets without having to adjust for naming conventions in other markets. As the SUV will be exported outside of Malaysia, the need for a standardised nameplate would make things easier from a coding perspective as well.
Breaking down the name, Proton explains that the letter ‘X’ serves to denote vehicles in the crossover or SUV segment. Meanwhile, the number ‘70’ refers to the size/class of the SUV, and provides Proton with naming system that allows bigger or small models to be added in the future. Think Volvo’s XC line-up that ranges from the compact XC40 to the XC60 and on to the XC90.
To add, Proton CEO Li Chunrong mentioned during the preview that the name was also chosen to emphasis the automaker’s name rather than the model on its own.
The X70 is the first Proton model to use an alphanumeric naming system but it won’t be the only one, as future models being introduced will follow the same system as well. Whether this will spell the end of iconic nameplates such as the Saga, Perdana, Persona, etc. remain to be seen.
GALLERY: Proton X70 colours
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Such a good name. China knows what they are doing and they always do things right. The have good business acumen and they know how to run a business well. This car sure to do well
Proton CEO Li Chunrong done very commendable build stronger business. A local ready to takeon the seat now and grow further
Proton CEO has lost all power to negotiate a Malaysian name for this car. By right, it should carry a Malaysian name such as Proton xxxx
Pity we have lost total control of Proton models. The local Proton management should fight for a Malaysian name for this car
Nah bro i think its a really good name. If proton uses back the same old naming system, it wont improve as a company just like your brain. Stuck in the past.
Asyik nak copy orang lain… Skrg nak copy ala BMW naming… Selalu memalukan owner saje
Local beggars cant be choosers.
I don’t pity, because proton has been given many chances in the past to improve. Yet, they still fail on their own. Now with Geely on board, it should be fair to give Geely the chance to make a change. So I support this change, those proton management should take opportunity to learn & grow. That is the whole purpose IMO
for those who like a Malaysian name, u can pronounce X70 as X Tujuh Puluh. It is still a Malaysian name, LOL.
Typical head in the sand
Really? Lmao!
Lolz…It means the price must below RM70,000 plus 7 yrs warranty free service or else sure tidak laku like Accordana lar…rotflol…kah kah kah!!
It just took 6 months for Li Chunrong to turn around Proton what local CEOs could not do in 20 years.
Bravo Li Chunrong. You have brought so much of positive change
Learn the power of capital
Pretty shocking 30 years have passed and we cannot be teaching Geely how to make a car. Geely was born in 1997. Proton was born in 1985. It is Proton who should be teaching Geely how to build a car because Proton is the elder brother.
It is shocking also how Geely can make RM136 billion in profits last year.
Proton had the chance to market their cars all over the world and including to the China market as well
Why we don’t have RM136 billion in profits?
Lmao! This katak in cave has no idea how the automotive market works. Only talks bull out of his rear.
the forthcoming Geely SX11 B-segment SUV will be rebadged Proton X50 1.5 Turbo.
proton rimau sound better and local though
Not to offend you but it sounds damn kampung in my honest opinion
30 years have passed and Proton just remains a rebadger. How to be proud of Proton?
Lolz…the only part designed and produced locally is the logo badge. The rest 100% celup and blame Perodua for starting the celup culture…kah kah kah!!
I wonder what did we learn the past 30 years from Mitsubishi? Supposed to have transfer of technology.
Even Suzuki also we supposed to have transfer of technology. What happened? Did we get any transfer?
Mitsubishi is not that generous of a partner. Proton ended up learning engine tech from Renault for the early CamPro.
And what do you mean “remain” a rebadger? They’ve only recently got back into it because of cost. Almost half of their models are designed completely in-house from the ground up, apart from the gearbox.
OMG…transfer what? u know I know lah, that time P1 sales damn good and get a lot profit..then where the $$$ goes?
the last P1 Ceo got Transfer back to Drb.
Thats becoz P1 had bad teachers from Jepun. Ajaran sesat. Now got gud teacher from China to set things straight. Ini semua sarahan Jepunis lords.
Myvi just recently came out with their own deaign. Last 10 years is all rebatch with daihatsu model. But still people proud with perodua and not proton? Lol.
We should also bring in more people from Mainland to help us kickstart business in Malaysia and also run Putrajaya more efficiently
Why it is named such? Nak dekat-dekatkan diri dengan Volvo la. Because Volvo is the only brand name they can tumpang… Takkanlah nak pakai nama Bayou, Boyou, GeBin, GoBin, Mr Bin…
Should use a Malay name like Proton Singa or Proton Rimau.
Pity Proton has lost all bargaining power to the extent that they can’t even give this car a local name
Why did you replied to your own dupe?
Toyota no sales nowadays deswai salesmen so free. All depends on commercial orders and gov purchases of Fortuner
The main concern is how much?
Price must below RM70K or else sure tidak laku.
You sure below RM70K can laku?
Be reasonable dude. Preve 73k suprima 80k. You want this suv below 70k? Seriously you are not the target market. Cheap minded.
Why not telling us the price?
Price keep it below RM70K or sales tidak laku.
The X70 is the first Proton model to use an alphanumeric naming system
Did someone forget GEN.2? Haha..
GEN2 is the first Proton without front glove compartment. Very weird parts omission, troublesome and anti-consumerism.
Lol its name has nothing to do glove compartment availability
But the CPS facelift corrected that problem and much more. It goes to show that Proton takes feedback from customers seriously and continuously strive to improve. Kudos to Proton!
Better not to have glove compartment instead of useless dinky compartment like French RHD cars
I drive the first batch gen2 auto and tbh, the interior is f’d up with the weird shelf, amount of cupholder and the placement of power window switches(same as old wira and BMW). But the car is really fun to drive, the way this car handle tight turns and corners is so sweet and the engine is quite powerful also at high rpm, now my car is 13 years old already and mileage is 298000km but the performance is still good, can still go up to 190kmh, 195kmh is the highest record, while tailgating my friend’s old e36 325i
The Gen.2 was not alphanumeric in the truest sense. It was a play of the name of Tengku Djan, Mahaleel’s son. Djan became Gen, which was fitting given the idea was that this was the first true all-Malaysian PROTON. Two was added to herald the so-called second generation of cars. As it turned out, it fell flat on their faces….
New batch of PT writers din know that PT had gave gud review for my Gen 2, Im so sads. https://paultan.org/2008/08/13/proton-gen2-cps-highline-manual-test-drive/
We want to know the price. Not how they named the car.
Hope that for the next model they reuse the old nameplate like how thew make the new Saga. Still have Wira, Waja, Iswara, satria. Hate the name preve(should be waja), suprima(should just be satria). Just look at all the global car reusing their old reliable name
Kat putrajaya, tok pa je zaman kerajaan dulu yang betul2 rajin bekerja. Proton geely adalah jasa terbesar tok pa. Semua pegawai yang duduk bawah dia kerja siang malam untuk malaysia
Below RM100k sure hotseller.
I’d say with variants ranging from 60-80k would be just nice
copycat BMW…. BMW came out with the X1, X3, X5 and X6 first.
Can’t proton be more creative?
Proton 70SX maybe ?
Didn’t know BMW owned the letter X.
Say that to Volvo, also got “X” in front XC40, XC60…
Forgot mazda have CX series.. ahahahaha
ya la like volvo c70 coupe, like honda c70.
or MB A class (A170 etc…) whic is eerily close to Audi’s A moniker (A4, A6, A8 etc). or kawasaki’s GTR 1400 which almost same as nissan GTR….happy yet?? go bash them also la…no? bias much?
What a morbid name for a car.
If you read it in chinese,70 is 七十 (qi shi), sounds almost like ‘go die’.
On a serious note, does it comes in black colour? Would probably book one if it comes with black colour.
If only Boyue had comes with Mesidis Digital Lights, i wud program it to show ‘qi shi’ to cars in front of me.
Damn.. was lobbying for Proton Hang Tuah.
Nope ady named for preve concept
Proton Buaya sounds better and more aggressive.
Suzuki: Now what?
Being ego, patriotic will come second. Business first, this is how China can move so fast.
Once Geely car score worst in the crash test. What now, they purchase the safest car brand, Volvo and turn their Geely car in to that standard.
Business is a business, main objective is to make Proton a company that making money again.
No money, country no money and in debt, what negotiation power you have?
Every angle of the car looks good except front.
GEN2 was alphanumeric so X70 is not the first :)
“Proton CEO Li Chunrong mentioned during the preview that the name was also chosen to emphasis the automaker’s name rather than the model on its own.”
Absolutely brilliant. When a new CEO says this, he’s actually wanting to help build up the brand. I respect him, or anyone else with the same business-mentality, regardless of their ethical background.