SPYSHOTS: Proton Iriz facelift caught in downtown KL

Last week, we brought you the first spyshots of the facelifted Proton Iriz, set to go under the knife for the first time since it was introduced in 2014. Now we’ve gotten an closer look at the refreshed B-segment hatchback – the mule cruising right along the busy Jalan Tun Razak in downtown Kuala Lumpur – thanks to a video shot by reader Shocky, including our first proper look at the new front end.

Here, new really means new, with the bonnet and reflector headlights having been taken from the Persona sedan, replacing the old projector lamps. The chrome strip on the top edge of those lights now run into a redesigned grille, flowing out of the shield-shaped Proton badge. Meanwhile, the front bumpers have been made more aggressive, with LED daytime running lights fully integrated in the corner air intakes.

We also get a better shot at the rear of the car, showing a prominent bulge on the rear bumper and a reshaped number plate recess. There also appears to be a new tailgate appliqué hiding under the camouflage, but while the tail lights also wear disguise they appear to be the same LED units as before. A new 10-spoke wheel design can be found too, again covered in camouflage.

The Iriz already received mechanical updates last year, including a reduction in the number of engine mounts (from four to three), a new exhaust system and higher-quality sound insulation as part of measures to reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Proton also retuned the ECU and the CVT’s transmission control unit (TCU) for quicker, more linear response.

Expect engine options to soldier on, with a 94 hp/120 Nm 1.3 litre VVT four-cylinder petrol engine and a larger 107 hp/150 Nm 1.6 litre unit, paired to either a five-speed manual gearbox on the base 1.3 Standard variant or a CVT on the 1.3 Standard, 1.3 Executive and 1.6 Premium.

GALLERY: 2017 Proton Iriz 1.6 Premium

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Boring. Nothing interesting about this irust.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 54 Thumb down 60
    • P1 shud plonk in Geely 1.5Turbo enjin & manual tranny for Iriz R3.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 4
      • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:43 am

        Don’t know why Proton syiok sensdiri and wasting their time reviving Proton line. Everybody already knows in 3 yrs time, Proton cars wont exist. It will be 100% Geely cars

        Proton will just be the principal authorised dealer for Geely cars only

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 11
        • rally_fan (Member) on Oct 10, 2018 at 4:50 pm

          sad to see comments like these.. proton is proton and geely is geely.. the quicker you can get your head around it, the quicker you will understand what geely is doing. proton will continue down their own path as dictated by geely’s directions to make them a profitable company while geely will setup their own business interests here in Malaysia, notably, their RHD R&D and production for export.

          If you look at VW and all the other brands it owns, their goal is not to compete with one another. Seat, Skoda, etc. all essentially use all technology, powertrain and platforms from VW.. but they are their own brands, have their own identity and with their own markets.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 3
      • John Minum Teh 8X on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:52 am

        2018 Proton Iriz RM50k
        2020 want to sell your Proton Iriz RM28k

        2018 Perodua Myvi RM50k
        2020 want to sell your Myvi RM40k

        You will cry like baby when bank ask you to top up your loan. You will ask, “what have i been paying the past 2 years lah??”

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 37 Thumb down 14
        • Liar, can get cheap used myvi oso. No RV.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
        • jinggo on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:32 am

          why myvi owner want to sell their car after 2 years? barang sudah rosak ke? normaly iriz owner will enjoy their car for 5 to 8 years. ride & handling seriously syok maa.. myvi like sampan that why after 2 year kasi jual.. LOL

          Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 90 Thumb down 4
        • Lolwhut? on Oct 10, 2018 at 2:25 pm

          If Myvi was so good like you claimed, then why sell it within 2 years?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
        • Tipulah

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
        • 2018 Proton Iriz
          2020 U still exist

          2018 Perodua Myvi
          2020 U not exist

          Your family members will cry like baby when U involved in accident. Your family members will ask, “why U so stupid bought the crap past 2 years??”

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 1
      • notakata on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:21 am

        better use Geely engine…campro always give problems

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 10
        • Current Campro VVT no more problem, only headache is FC not as good as Myvi

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • notakata on Oct 10, 2018 at 3:49 pm

          Go get your own name , paid keyboard warrior

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
        • Walauwei! No shame dude! U 1st hijek my name, then bro yawnz, then now bro notakata. What u gonna name urself next? Noballs? Noshame?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • suomynona on Oct 09, 2018 at 7:30 pm

      At least not boring drive like Mevee

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 7
    • nosushi on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:19 am

      Wayyyy better than your jepunis junk

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 9
    • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:40 am

      Proton has no direction at all. Waste money and resources to revive this line. It is such a big failure. Proton CEO already admitted 78.3% of their total sales come from Persona and Saga. The remaining bulk come from Government ordered Perdanas.

      Iriz is such low sales. Cost more to keep the line, plant and workers then to sell the Iriz model.

      Anyway Perodua sold 80,000 Myvis in 5 months vs Proton selling 2000 Iriz in 5 months

      80,000 VS 2000 – Malaysians have spoken.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 13
      • 4G63T DSM on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:10 am

        If wanted to facelift this facelift that, at least do something worthwhile.

        Put in the CFE Turbo, tune it up a bit to 160hp and make a halo car very much like what the Satria GTI did.

        The Iriz already has a good chassis. Make this a budget Mini.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
      • notakata on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:20 am

        Proton directors always make bad business decisions….then bangkerap ask for billions in bailout

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
        • rally_fan (Member) on Oct 10, 2018 at 4:54 pm

          yes,, but proton directors dont run the show anymore. and you dont just throw away a platform you have that cost millions to develop. proton still needs to push its old products and get sales while the new models are coming in which will take some time.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • yawnz on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:37 am

        Pipu buy P2 coz it is cheap not because it is good

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
    • Sack designer on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:42 am

      Proton should relocate number plate above the bonnet like previous Myvi and looks million times better, but nope they prefer to put black plastic connecting the rear light clusters. What a joke, meaningless half-bake idea!

      Very boringg and lazy effort by the chief designer! Proton must sack him! Hire new European chief designer now before Iriz losing even more sales!!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • Mark Loo on Oct 09, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    I’d take the Iriz over myvi or jazz any day.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 111 Thumb down 36
    • Mark peiyanloot on Oct 09, 2018 at 7:51 pm

      Better you take the Loo …

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
    • Takut VW on Oct 09, 2018 at 8:46 pm

      I’d take the iriz over Golf GTi someday.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
    • Bluffy on Oct 10, 2018 at 7:04 am

      Sure sure just take it. After 5 years ur iriz rv would be 18-20k (if can find buyers). Myvi 30-32k (any day buyers will buy).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 13
      • Chandra on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:42 am

        Within 5 years, likely the Myvi will end up inside a gaung, or a longkang, or at a kedai potong, while the Iriz still potters about.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 6
        • Lololol on Oct 10, 2018 at 12:14 pm

          No need 5 yrs. After 2 yrs oredy got iriz terbengkalai dlm woksop liao. Park atas rumput owner dun wanna repair. Repair wanna sell oso nobody want.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 10
          • Chandra on Oct 10, 2018 at 2:27 pm

            Ha ha! Yeah right. I still see Iriz with 3 letter old Wilayah plates while 2nd gen Myvis are getting less and less.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
          • kakaka on Oct 10, 2018 at 3:50 pm

            Butthurt SA, showroom empty kah?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • kzm (Member) on Oct 10, 2018 at 12:27 pm

        Logically I buy the cheaper one.. why buy pricey 2nd hand car?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • Sukakereta on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:12 am

      .. and this is the reason iriz sales beat myvi or jazz any day.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 5
      • Sarrcc on Oct 10, 2018 at 12:21 pm

        New myvis only already beat proton whole year all models sales. 1 model beats all proton model, how iriz only can beat myvi? Lols

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • Iris is bs.. My nephew Iriz not even 1 week old got problem already..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 20
    • Pilihanraya Kalah Teruk on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:44 am

      pity, majority rakyat say Myvi better buy. 80,000 sales of myvi vs 2000 iriz sold in 5 months

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
      • Tun F on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:20 am

        And then complain about the rattling dashboard, detached USB charger, rear absorber sound…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
        • The rear absorber sound is becuz the rear axle is about to fly. Do stay clear from the rear of a Perodua car.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Datuk Gila Johnny on Oct 09, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    Aiyo! What for facelift la? Better discontinue it already

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
  • MakeProtonGreatAgain on Oct 09, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    Projector to reflector headlamps? This is a joke right?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 4
    • HRV facelift went from projectors to reflectors what.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • You have a point there. Also JDM City Vspec originally came with projector LEDs but the facelift here downgraded to reflector LEDs. If Honda can so such things, why the bias against Proton?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ah beng Level 2 on Oct 09, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    Having two engine options for such an ugly car is a waste of resources, pla sack the designer and entire marketing team..even ah beng level 1 oso dunt want tis car

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 8
  • John Nobody on Oct 09, 2018 at 8:10 pm

    Why the improvement in ECU and TCU? What were they thinking about when they developed the car in the first place? Engineers or engine-near?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • they need to make the seats thinner to improve interior space

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Damon Lee on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:49 am

      But sacrifices passenger comfort. Why? I rather sit inside a comfy, cosy car than a cavernous but uncomfortable one.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Last year remove auto headlight. this year from projector become reflector. next year? no head light?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  • Ruslan Bahari on Oct 09, 2018 at 9:40 pm

    Actually, the final face-lift will include a 1.0 turbo engine that Volvo and Geely co-developed. Now that will be yummy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • mr magoo on Oct 09, 2018 at 9:48 pm

    save some cost if they can reuse persona light..brilliant

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Haidi on Oct 09, 2018 at 10:14 pm

    Nothing to expect from this model. But I still wanna comment.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Tun F on Oct 09, 2018 at 10:19 pm

    Why going backwards from projector headlights to reflector headlamp but retained the ugly tail lamp?? Unless the price can be reduced then that will make sense otherwise another failure… No matter who at the helm of management still the old style keep playing by those morons head honcho. Listen proton(I bet u won’t).. Price it lower than Myvi with on par features then surely you can give Perodua a run for their money… Malaysian people only cares about price…… Then only looks and……. Fuel consumption

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • YB Albert on Oct 09, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    Game changer? Lame loser.Just not rakyat cup of tea.Dr .Li ,better tell yr DRB partners to stop the crap.Yr in yr out ,keep churning out Jurassic cars.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
    • Tell that to yr Toyota. Yr showroom is practically a Jurassic World where all yr cars are dinosaurs.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
      • YB Albert on Oct 10, 2018 at 4:19 pm

        Uncle Jack,eh u got it wrong..my carporch only got Rolls Royce n Honda…u didn’t read I hentam umw over its forever premium super duper pricing meh?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
        • No. I only seen you praising Japanese & Korean makes to high heavens even when they treat us like sh-t. Now go back to tending yr dino pens and leave us alone.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Its alwiz refreshing to see a facelift from P1 becoz its truly new. This unlike some that just changes paint colour and calls it “facelift”.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
  • What a fantastic car to drive, handling-wise. Bad move by proton to use CVT. Poor sudden acceleration performance. Common issue in any CVT cars. First model user here.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Pailtin Auto on Oct 09, 2018 at 11:17 pm

    This time not bad.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • Guan yin ma on Oct 10, 2018 at 12:16 am

    How many times they want to update the IRIZ ?? What a joke from a joker company.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 9
  • Ahmad on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:13 am

    Hope give 1.3 turbo as a top varian.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Ah Gua Lau on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:25 am

    Lets see now….The latest Proton Persona is basically an Iriz copycat with a slapped on booty, the soon to come facelift Iriz copied some styling cues from the Persona?
    Proton, why? Did u hire a bunch of highschoolers in ur design team? But then again, something has to give. can’t have beauty and function altogether with P1 and P2.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
  • Pls. New GDI or TGDI engine and Jatco CVT.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Why they drop the projector headlight..?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • newme on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:10 am

      What else is new with Proton? From the Wira era, launched with 4 disc brakes then slowly changed rear to drum brake. Then send a non-production model for Ncap test when the first model fails. Also quietly remove tether hook from the car in production model.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • autodriver (Member) on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:51 am

    The cost of obselete this Iriz is very huge, Proton has no choice but to continue to sell by launching a so called facelift with minimum changes. It is a good car to drive but unfortunately the lower brand name and lack of quality of after sales service have turn many potential customers down. I believe Proton clearly know it won’t sell well but they have no choice.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Mr Hakim on Oct 10, 2018 at 9:20 am

    Damn it, just give us the 1.3 Turbo already!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
  • phase out this car already. the interior space is small than mybi

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Please catch this driver for using phone while driving

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • johnissohai on Oct 10, 2018 at 10:52 am

    just close down proton laaaaaaa….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
    • dtctr on Oct 10, 2018 at 5:02 pm

      Too many dupes here trying, haiz

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • heyheyman123 on Oct 11, 2018 at 12:18 am

        Absolutely these Proton basher is not even from Toyota Fans and other carmaker fans. Actually it is already proven that these Proton basher came from Honda Salesman and Honda fans who came here and talk all the bad mouth about Proton, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and even other carmakers. Honda Salesmen are always very greedy who doesn’t even care to give way to other carmakers. Honda Salesmen are absolutely greedy. Moreover, Honda Salesmen and Honda Fans are always keeping in secret and never show up that Honda Assembly Quality and Honda Service Quality is suck. The username known as dtctr is actually from Honda Salesmen, which stands from d.t.civic type r

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • The real game changer! Habislah Myvi!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
  • anonymous on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:09 am

    i only see one iriz 2017 mc otr in my town

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Suararakyat on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:14 am

    New feature is can fly when traffic jam, world no.1 with helicopter feature.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • #wapalewheels on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:16 am

    Interesting. Love the grill of X70, might be this Iriz facelift use the same front grill.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • Ahmad on Oct 10, 2018 at 11:19 am

    No tebo no buy!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Oct 10, 2018 at 1:15 pm

    power output cannot rival honda civic 1.5 turbo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • Gibbon on Oct 10, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    Facelift? Facelift will only make your face looks bad or funny.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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