The Geely Preface has won the 2021 China Car of the Year award, presented on the eve of the Guangzhou Auto Show’s opening last week. Known as the Xing Rui in its domestic market, the production flagship Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) based sedan was only revealed in September at the Beijing Auto Show.
The annual awards is said to be China’s “fairest and most authoritative annual car award”, judged by an independent panel of 41 automotive journalists and experts. Besides the overall COTY award, the panel voted on six different awards including SUV of the Year, Green Car of the Year, Performance Car of the Year, Design of the Year and Corporate CSR.
The Preface Concept made its debut at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show and the production sedan is rather faithful to the showcar’s design. The Xing Rui is the second CMA-based model in the Geely range after the Xing Yue coupe SUV, and will be made at the CMA Super Factory in Luqiao that also produces the Lynk & Co 01, Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 for the Chinese market.
It measures 4,785 mm long and 1,869 mm wide, with a 2,800 mm wheelbase. For perspective, that’s 100 mm shorter than the current Toyota Camry, but 29 mm wider. The Camry’s wheelbase is 25 mm longer. Geely says that its new sedan is one of the biggest, most spacious vehicles in its segment, with emphasis on rear passenger comfort and leg room.
Under the hood is a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox used throughout the Geely range.
At the Guangzhou show, the Xing Rui’s first Firmware Over the Air (FOTA) update was showcased to the public. Claimed to be an industry first for an ICE-powered vehicle, FOTA allows the sedan to be constantly improved remotely with incremental updates to its in-car software, vehicle power, driving dynamics, assisted driving features, and other integrated systems.
Geely says that through FOTA updates, customers can enjoy the benefit of having the “new car experience every time they step through the door”. China sales of the Xing Rui started in October, and there are plans of marketing the handsome sedan globally. Would you like to see the Preface here as Proton’s flagship model?
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Geely Volvo Lotus Mercedes > all
Next year can fully rebadge it as new Perdana. Jgn malu2 ya. :P
Aik… udah rebadge 35taun. Lagik rebadge ka.. bila mau maju bhai. Aiseymann
Tahniah!
Geely, P1, Mesidis, Volvo, Lotus > all
Proton Preve MK2 incoming
Accord – 4901mm
Preve MK2 – 4,785mm
Volkswagen Passat – 4775mm Length, 1835mm Width, Wheelbase 2786mm, 188hp, 320Nm. Start from RM183k.
Thats why Passat not a game changer
This car is so beautiful and high technology
This car segment is already crowded.,with low volume.However,if Geely were to bring the right hand drive version,DRB will have to fork out quite a tidy sum as “new model development fees” since they only make some cosmetic changes to suit local preferences.
It will be interesting if GEELY bring the 1-1.5 litre cars to give P2 a real fight.The Saga and Pesona are museum art pieces by now.
For Saga, I agree that it is long overdue for a new platform.
But for Persona, it was introduced in 2016 and there is no true competitor against it. P2 does not have B segment sedan. I don’t think T/H/N can match against it in terms of car handling. Perhaps only M is the only one that stands against it in terms of handling.
In terms of safety suite, sure it lags behind competitors (T/H/N) in active safety, but passive safety, it’s still on top of its game with its HPF.
The only main Achilles heels of the Persona, is truly, its transmission, and its recent QC problem. While a new platform will be enjoyed by consumer, but i think it’s too soon for a new upgrade for Persona.
Saga’s platform is over 10 yrs old. Suprima and Preve has been discontinued.
Perdana is also aging. (8th gen Accord rebadge). I think a new Saga is much more feasible. Followed on by Preve /Suprima. Perdana can wait as that segment is not really in demand. Even Accord/Camry sales aren’t doing that well and Teana already left the local market.
Saga platform is older than that. It is the same platform from Tengku Mahalel’s Savvy in 2005. So it’s already at Form 3 this year.
Tctham,the product life cycle of cars now is getting shorter.The persona facelift is 5 years n with CVT …Issues n still power window problems,Geely is changing to 4 speed Hyundai gear box next year as temporary measure.But the old 4speed from Hyundai is problematic.Long term Dr.Li will bring the entire range from tongsan.By 2022,Proton cars are actually right hand versions of Geeky,just with hungry tiger logo.
Proton to conquer the whole Asia tenggara market… not only msia..A-segment Suv maybe.
Exactly like Malaysia Cup competition.. the chances of football clubs from germany, japan & england to win the prestigious cup is ZERO….
2020 winner: Geely Preface
2019 winner: Mazda3
2018 winner: Volvo S90
2017 winner: MB E-Class
2016 winner: Geely GC9
2015 winner: Honda Odyssey
2014 winner: MB S-Clas
Chances is ZERO? You say leh?
The side profile, does it looks like an Audi to you? It is handsome in overall. Wonder what does “Preface” means? Like it has a pre-face, then a faced, and then a facelifted later??? Haha!
Chinese. Culture…Face is very important.Preface,got face,no face,black face.Whatever people say about Geely doesn’t matter..look at their worldwide sales volume.In 5 years time,they can challenge even Toyota for the No.1 spot.Truly,Proton has found a good whiteknght.
Sure win cos being paid.
Volvo DNA is promininet in this car. Looks lika VOLVO S60
This car looks solid, utilitarian, and authoritative. A very handsome car. Fine. Fine indeed.
How is utilirian looks fine?
Alamak
I guess meaning it doesn’t look offensive like current Accord, Camry & Sonata design.
Proton Perdana MK2 4,999mm long.
Proton Preve MK2 Geely V70 4750mm long. Ok, passed.
Kalau ganti saga kompem meletup sale p1, tpi mcm range untuk persona je
Hahaha no way, this is more to C segment Preve
Lower suspension by an inch or two and perfect.
If this is a Preve 2021
Its game changing.
If this is Perdana, not impressive to market standard.
Possible new Proton Perdana?
What was planned for Geely.and accepted by Proton in 2016 was first to have an SUV which is the X70.
Second, as SUV was a huge growing market, a compact SUV for Proton. That is X50.
3rd will be Exora which is already more than 10 years old.
4th and 5th will be Saga and Persona replacement – the bread and butter for Proton.
As the plan involves 1 new model per year, for this car to appear as Mk.II Preve will be somewhere in 2024-25.
next Preve
Proton Savvy also got “Car of the year” award in 2006-2007, remember?
When can buy lynk & co here??
Terrible OTL design..
Don’t you think current Perdana design is much better than this?
Nothing wrong with rebadge, make sure Proton learn the latest technology.
Bring this car in Proton!! Please take my money!!
Still waiting Geely Sedan car launch in Malaysia. Proton X70 and X50 SUV on sales in Malaysia. Possible year end 2020 Geely Sedan car able to replace current Proton Saga and Persona model that had outdated 20 years old technology on Engine, performance and old design cockpit but still on sales as badly impact Proton Sales that not able to compare with Toyota Vios and Honda City.