SPYSHOTS: Proton Iriz gears up for first major facelift

SPYSHOTS: Proton Iriz gears up for first major facelift

Click to enlarge

Here are some images of a taped-up Proton Iriz roaming Klang Valley streets, thanks to reader Prasanth Hari Kharan. They show a red five-door hatchback, which is clearly the Proton Iriz, wearing swirl camouflage on the front and rear bumpers, and black tape across the rear hatch.

What this means is that Proton’s Myvi/Jazz-fighting B-segment hatchback is ready for its first major facelift, and second update since it made its debut in 2014.

In June 2017, Proton released an updated Iriz with NVH refinements that included a reduction in the number of engine mounts (from four to three), a new exhaust system and higher-quality sound insulation. Proton also retuned the ECU and the CVT’s transmission control unit (TCU) for quicker, more linear response.

Click to enlarge

The exterior was left untouched then, but it won’t be so this time. The covered up front and rear bumpers hint at new mouldings, and we can see that the rear reflectors are placed higher than on the current car, which has them in the “diffuser” piece. The black horizontal covering on the hatch could be hiding spaced-out Proton lettering, as seen on the soon-to-be-launched Geely Boyue-based Proton X70 SUV. New rims are on the cards, too.

Currently, the Iriz comes with either a 94 hp/120 Nm 1.3 litre engine or a 107 hp/150 Nm 1.6 litre unit, paired to a CVT automatic. The smaller VVT engine can also be had with a five-speed manual gearbox.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • AI-generated Summary ✨

    Comments mostly focus on the Proton Iriz facelift, with many praising its design, handling, and potential improvements like better engines from Geely. Some express hope for turbo options and R3 editions, emphasizing the Iriz's chassis and driving experience. Several comment on past issues such as weak engines, poor build quality, and design flaws, suggesting Proton needs significant upgrades. Sales figures and market reception are discussed, highlighting that Iriz's sales are low compared to competitors like Myvi. There are opinions about the need for enhanced features, performance, and design tweaks to make the Iriz more competitive. Many commenters also express frustration over delays in new models and EV development, but overall, there's interest in a better, more modern Iriz facelift with improved specs.

  • Holofanboi on Oct 01, 2018 at 6:22 pm

    Where’s the 165hp, 7k rpm hot hatch version of Iriz at RM105k?

    Sorry had dreams. Unrealistic dreams.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 2
    • Donno on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:53 am

      The Iriz had a very big potential. Great chassis. Beautiful futuristic shape. Innovative interior. Let down by weak engine and poor gearbox. Put in better engines from Geely and the Iriz could be a real Myvi fighter.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • the poorest design ever!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 24
  • Hope will come w built-in RFID stiker.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Oct 01, 2018 at 6:52 pm

    Iriz is a big failure. I don’t know why Proton wants to spend money to keep the model going. Even when Tun M was Chairman of Proton, he told a press conference that Iriz sales were super bad and the model is a failure.

    Last year, Proton CEO admitted, 78% of Proton’s total sales are Persona and Saga. The remainder bulk is Government ordered Perdanas.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 19
    • Ah kok on Oct 02, 2018 at 10:26 am

      Bro.. Nowadays only failure ppl support failure’s ideas.. Never learn (fr previous mistakes).. N yet so proud n confident of their failure!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 8
    • notakata on Oct 02, 2018 at 10:55 am

      Real failure is auto detached axle, dieselgate, metal steel gate, cbrakegate, airbag gate, QC gate etc

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 0
    • DriveNewWays on Oct 02, 2018 at 12:25 pm

      Bro… all those govt ordered vehicles tak masuk dlm sales figure la… mana ada untung supply kereta govt…. yang untung Spanco je…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Then, more reason to spend money on this, to make it better.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • isengard12 on Oct 01, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    Proton should consider having a special edition of Iriz, one-off R3 (suspension tuning, CFE, manual) paying homage to its short success in rally. With its good handling, I am pretty sure it’s going to get a lot of interest domestically & overseas.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 27 Thumb down 0
    • Duduk proton tp main drag racing on Oct 02, 2018 at 9:45 am

      I think all proton model should at least have one R3 edition with engine n custom exterior.
      Then they can sell the tuning kit n body kit to consumers

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
      • Aikon on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:03 am

        You, but sadly, I don’t think they have the funds for ‘nice-to-have’ projects right now. Perhaps they might do that in future. R3 is too strong a brand to waste away. Many possibilities

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Oct 01, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    There are about 100,000 Perodua Myvi sold in the past 5 months.

    But Iriz sales, tak sampai 2000 also

    You compare youself….100,000 cars VS 2000 cars.

    That alone will tell you which is the better car and which car Malaysians prefer

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 20
    • Aikon on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:16 am

      Better, not necessarily. Preferred, yes, it is obvious

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • Because Malaysian’s car knowledge zero and the sales doesn’t represent the car good or bad

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
  • John Fake News Sdn Bhd on Oct 01, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    First thing Li Chunrong wants to do is get rid of all the trashy Proton models which have kaput sales.

    In 5 years time, all models will be fully Geely.

    You dare buy Iriz when PRoton themselves will be 100% selling ONLY Geely cars? Susa wor mau dapat spare part.

    Iriz is gonna be collectors item

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 10
    • jinggo on Oct 02, 2018 at 5:08 pm

      Apa lu sembang John? Did u know that Li Chunrong want to market the facelifted Iriz to the mainland China under Geely badge? That time iriz easily hit 1mil unit sold compared to the sampan-unstable-poor safety maibee. Kanena roti john la u.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • YB Albert on Oct 01, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    Proton,if u want to launch facelifts for irrelevant and failed products,Protong fanboys should be entitled to big discounts.IT is grossly unfair and an insult to their intelligence to keep buying a stale product at normal or even higher pricing.
    DR.Li is working 24/7 to bring in the 1.3,1.5 and 2 litre right hand drive sedans while the DRB boys still recycle crap.
    The Iriz,Suprima,Exoras,Preves have seen better days..Jurassic in history now.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
    • rightwinger on Oct 02, 2018 at 10:29 am

      “DR.Li is working 24/7 to bring in the 1.3,1.5 and 2 litre right hand drive sedans while the DRB boys still recycle crap”…
      you implying that there’s a team A and B or some sort of disconnect between parties involved shows your complete and utter unknowing of things in P1.

      if you dont know, then you dont know, so just STFU.

      speculation is not criticism.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • Sohai (not ori) on Oct 01, 2018 at 7:31 pm

    Pls la bro stop mentioning the “4 engine mounting to 3 engine mounting” like it was a major discovery or first in the world etcetc..its embaraasing..is this the “best” Prodon can do after so many years (designing bumpers and headlights mostly)..just sack the lousy designer so simple wat he still big fat salary but design louay ugly cars..so wat can full tank petrol round the world, design sells

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 7
  • This is the real game changer!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 6
    • John is otak batu on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:52 am

      Yes, first model had 4 mounting. Then changed to 3 mountings. This one maybe reduced to 2 engine mountings.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Assembly with Geely 1.0 turbo engine with 136hp, 205Nm and FC 4.9L/100km?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  • Orang Bodoh on Oct 01, 2018 at 8:18 pm

    Facelift? Does Proton still exists?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
  • Honda Salesman Crying on Oct 01, 2018 at 9:15 pm

    Aiyoo yoo. Habis la Honda now and their arrogant Honda salesmen. Nobody is touching Honda now. Honda Salesmen all crying. Honda Malaysia is known as Honda – The Power of Sucks. Bad luck to buy their cars. Lets talk about bad Service Quality in Honda Malaysia, Bad Assembly Quality in Honda Malaysia and Terrible Design for Upcoming Honda Models including Current Honda Civic

    Firstly, after Honda Assemblypeople in Malaysia finish assembling install the Honda parts for Honda models, they didn’t even bother to check whether it has been secured or not. Or either, Honda Assemblypeople in Malaysia always use the fake parts to install for Honda models as many people complain that got many problems for Honda models after they bought for several months.

    Secondly, after people service their Honda models, they felt that it is wasting times and money of servicing their Honda models as Honda service people in Malaysia either Honda service people in Malaysia didn’t service their Honda models properly or Honda service people in Malaysia didn’t even bother to service their Honda models.

    Thirdly, upcoming Honda models front bumper design all copying from Current Honda Civic design, upcoming Honda models have no proportional at all. Also, Honda models rear bumper looks damn terrible. Aiyoo, I don’t know what kind current Honda designer are making.

    Malaysians rather buy Hyundai, Toyota, Proton, Kia, BMW Mercedes, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mazda, Renault, Mitsubishi, Nissan and even other carmakers. Malaysians also already know that Honda Malaysia regard Malaysian lives as dirt and don’t care whether you die or not. This Honda – The Power of Dreams should be named as Honda – The Power of Sucks because Honda Service Quality in Malaysia and Honda Assembly Quality in Malaysia is so teruk.

    Malaysians have now dignity. they know Honda Malaysia are big cheats. Charge so much for the car, yet compromise on our lives and safety of the family.

    How Honda Malaysia? Still giving bad service and bad quality for Honda Malaysia Car Assembly?

    Our lives not important Honda Malaysia?

    The Honda Malaysia is a hugest failure. No need to write good comments a lot about Honda for upcoming Honda articles in paultan.org website. We as smart people said that Proton, Kia, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Mazda, Hyundai, Nissan, Peugoet, Renault and even other carmakers for service quality and assembly quality are much better than Honda Malaysia, even the apek jual ikan also said that too. So Honda Malaysia is dead.

    Ben Yap and other Honda salesmen are also now hiding like chickens. They will come in here and Firstly, Ben Yap say that He got Civic who compares other carmakers and he also wanted Honda Malaysia to be top no.2 and top no.1. Besides that, Other Honda Salesmen also said that Honda Service Malaysia have good quality. Honda Salesmen are talking all the fake comments, especially for Ben Yap. Nobody is going to buy rubbish Honda in Malaysia. Even now, their Honda Malaysia Sales is always cheated and very biased as Honda Service Quality in Malaysia and Honda Assembly Quality in Malaysia is very terrible.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 54 Thumb down 12
    • I could be mistaken, but it sounds like you don’t like Honda cars. Well that’s your point of view. MAA numbers still shows Honda is number 2 best selling car in Malaysia, so it seems you are alone in your judgement. Anyhow, this comment section is about the facelift Proton Iriz, why don’t you comment that nobody buys this fabulous car and Jazz outsells this model ? All models in Malaysia have QC problems. Try and be a bit objective, and do continue to have great a positive day ahead.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 7
  • P1, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, VolvoTrucks, Lotus > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Sack designer on Oct 01, 2018 at 9:17 pm

    There’s one simple trick to save Iriz: Relocate the plate number above the bonnet like Myvi.

    Yup that’s it and it’s a perfect design which will alter Iriz as totally normal looking hatchback car.

    Wonder why Proton took so long to realise this rear design flaw? Change, kick out the designer from repeating same design mistake that cost Proton lots of sales?

    Tepuk dada tanya selera. Don’t get us wrong, we want to improve Proton listen to us but they stubborn hence the failure becoming technically bankrrupt and rescued by some China sugardaddy.

    Once again Proton and Geely bosses, please change the chief designer now before he ruin destroy the next Proton rebadge car design!! At least let us vote the prototype new bumper designs too!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
    • Not everyone thinks that way…I for one prefer the number plate on the bottom….number plate is never part of the design of any car…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • But, but, Myvi number plate also at the bottom…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ikutlahskripbro on Oct 01, 2018 at 9:22 pm

    There were fundamental design flaws in the first place. What else they can do to turn things around? No matter how they want to rearrange the lines, I am afraid it’s simply just another ugly duckling.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • halloha560-john SDN BHD on Oct 01, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    Proton, Toyota, Mazda, Kia, Hyundai, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo, Geely, Lotus > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • sarawak sarawak on Oct 01, 2018 at 9:27 pm

    When we add work to a product. is so that we can sell for higher price. Proton add work, after that sell lower price. Where is the logic? Did that with the perdana as well. And about to do it to X70. Know that cannot sell higher price but want to add work :S

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • david on Oct 01, 2018 at 11:42 pm

    thought got turbo upgrade?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Another failure model.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 7
  • If this is another minor face-lift (as in cosmetics-wise) then please, sila meninggal.

    I am still hoping that they would bring back the 1.6 manual. Maybe this time with the CFE Turbo??? Oh God makes my hakuna matatas jingle

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
  • No turbo cfe campro? No buy! Myvi better for N/A engine..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Where is Proton Iriz EV on Oct 02, 2018 at 8:01 am

    Don’t talk about facelift….where is Proton Iriz? Proton showcased the car 5 years ago. then they asked Government extra billions to do further research on EV technology (don’t know why).

    Now 5 years we are waiting. 5 tahun tunggu. Still no Iriz EV. The whole world is moving towards EV and hybrid. Even Proton Hybrid also, Proton promised us 10 years ago. 10 years also I have been waiting for Proton Hybrid.

    Lama saya tunggu ni. Saya orang patriotic. Saya nak beli barang buatan Malaysia dan kereta tempatan

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
    • Not Toyota Fan on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:47 am

      Slow slow tunggu lah, Abang. Duit tu dah songlap kau kau. Entah pi mana dah.

      Baik beli SX11 (X40/50/60) tahun depan. Bila CKD tu dah consider buatan M’sia & kereta tempatan. Design, reliability, safety, up to date … semua lagi canggih dari apa Proton (dulu) boleh buat.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • notakata on Oct 02, 2018 at 8:39 am

    Proton sold only 2398 Iriz until 30 Sept 2018.

    9 months can only sell 2398 cars. Something must be very wrong

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
    • Not Toyota Fan on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:35 am

      Nothing wrong at all.

      Just consumers are smart to choose Myvvi or Jazz. This Iriz is the epitome of what is wrong with previous Proton.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • azrai on Oct 02, 2018 at 8:39 am

    New Geely engine inside? For chinese market as per agreement?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Dont be jealous Honda Salesman on Oct 02, 2018 at 8:57 am

    Habis lah Honda Jazz

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Proton fans on Oct 02, 2018 at 9:20 am

    This is the real game changer!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • guanegamok on Oct 02, 2018 at 9:45 am

    I hope they put turbo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • They shud put a 2.0T with 0-100 in 6 seconds and NVH on par with a Lexus ES on this cockroach and sell below RM50k. Otherwise people will buy the more superior Toyota Axis and Toyota Myvi.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • jinggo on Oct 02, 2018 at 10:46 am

    Iriz ride & handling superb while myvi’s like sampan, very unstable. Iriz better for safety somemore. Myvi sila meninggal.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
    • Aikon on Oct 02, 2018 at 11:20 am

      Yes, this is very true. I have driven both and I guess why people like the Myvi is the light controls, and get-in-and-go style. The Iriz is a better car when it comes to serious driving, for example taking corners or high speed stability. The Iriz’s undoing is that it caters more to enthusiasts than those who simply treat their cars as appliances to get from A to B in least fuss. And Malaysian’s at that income level, generally don’t care about safety…which is sad.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Where’s your fuel efficient Iriz? Engine still torquey? Any improvement in handling? Not enough if only facelift. Salesman very shy to show improvement over myvi, much worse, jazzy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Not exactly bad in design, Iriz has a unique Alpine look except the badly designed engine mounting that sent the car vibrating n sounded noisy. Improve version will probably does better then the earlier version. Other then that the overall assembling must improve too.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Padel on Oct 04, 2018 at 12:37 am

    Guna lagi design katak ni adeh proton bgi jelah bru

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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