During the launch of the Proton Saga facelift in August 2019, the national carmaker revealed its product launch strategy, which would see one new model be introduced every year. Since then, we’ve already welcomed the X50 in 2020, so if the company keeps to its game plan, what should we look forward to this year?
Referring to the presentation slide shown at the time, 2021 should see the arrival of a new Proton sedan, although the company has yet to provide any preliminary details, including what segment such a model will occupy.
Based on the state of the current line-up, our guess is a C-segment sedan, an area where Proton currently has nothing to offer. The company has offered C-segment sedans before, with the Preve being the most recent model occupying the slot, and before that, we had the Inspira and Waja.
So, why a C-segment sedan? One reason is its broader appeal to buyers compared to something made for the ailing D-segment sedan market, as the sales results for the Honda Civic and Accord show. If that’s the case, why not a new B-segment sedan to replace the Persona? Well, seeing how the company is prepping to introduce a facelift for the Persona (and Iriz), that’s highly unlikely.
Unofficially, the new Proton sedan is being referred to as the S50, so what would a Preve successor look like? Thankfully, rendering wiz Theophilus Chin has conjured up some renders to answer that exact question. The rendering wiz previously imagined a successor for the original Proton Suprima S – the Preve’s hatchback sibling – which he called the H50.
As with those renders, the S50 he created is based on the Ford Focus Mk4, albeit the sedan version this time. From that base, plenty of elements from the X50 are integrated, with the most notable being the SUV’s front end.
Highlights include the angular headlamps and DRLs, an X-style lower apron to separate the side fog lamps sections and lower intake, and of course, the company’s signature Infinite Weave grille. As for the rear, the X50’s taillights are instantly recognisable, as is the trim piece linking them with the Proton script.
Looks striking, doesn’t it? Of course, it has been heavily rumoured that the S50 will be based on the Geely Binrui, which uses the same same B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) as the X50. As such, these renders, while attractive, will likely differ heavily from the finished product.
There’s some sense to Proton adapting the Binrui, as it would make tooling the Tanjung Malim plant, which already makes the BMA-based X50, easier and amortise the cost. If this turns out to be true, the S50 could receive a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine like the X50.
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S50 coming. Really exciting
The current Pesona is aging and meant for third world countries.The Preve is a museum art piece already.
PROTON should bring in the right handed version of Binrui,give a choice of 1.5 and 1.8 powerplant with a reliable gearbox from Aisin.
The saga has also reached the end of its product life cycle.Multiple facelifts have become super boring.
Come on Dr.Li..the sedan car sector is still vibrant..not everyone wants a suv or mpv.Perhaps,can even export to USA later left handed versions.
Can uollss see that Hoffmeister kink.. design merecik abes! take my money now P1!!
I agree your words, yes Aisin gearbox would be better to use in longer run. But I disagree with you that sometimes with multiple facelift is not even more boring at all, at least could able get more updated features that attracts more customers.
YES! Must have high quality gearbox in the long run to keep the NEW Proton logo as well as the brand name growing steadily.
Proton must hire Theo now!!
Don’t worry, probably proton designers here are following what Theo have rendered for this S50
D3signers design good looking car. Engineers makes them odd
Don’t be mistaken, Theo is not a designer but only a renderer (a very good one). He only work on the existing design. A long way to go to be a designer.
1 vote for S50
Me too
Pffft is that all proton can do? Rebadge after rebadge? Should just call it Geely and get rid of the Proton useless brand.
You have no clue what you’re talking.
Nice
Bring it on
Impressive
Handsome looker
Feel better and comfort
It’s going to be fun when driving this
So sporty
I love it! Stylish and superior
Proton X50 – Suprima 1.6L Replacement
Proton S50 – Preve 1.6L Replacement
Should bring 1.5 turbocharged engine, more power and better FC
S50 all the way
I wonder why PROTON has never roped Theophilus into their designing team.
Most of his renderings are superb in design and top notch.
His “designs” are basically morphed Photoshop melded images from various existing cars. So there is no originality in the spirit of design sense. Not to take away his talent but maybe he should come out with his own unique design and not Photoshop others can we see his real ability in designing.
With same useless and zero talented styling team in proton..malaysia will not get car as nice as this..no wonder geely only allowed proton styling team to only play around with the front grille for the x70..
They also played with the interior and by gosh they did such a good job that Geely adopted their design back.
there are different designers for exterior and interior
zero talented.. lol u have no clue what u talking..
Binrui is persona segment.
BinYue = Compact B-SUV X50
BinRui = Compact B-Sedan
BoYue = C-SUV X70
BoRui = C-Sedan, Civic Corolla, C200 BMW 3 rival
saga mk.III VVT and persona mk.II VVT were both launched in 2016. by 2021 both models will be by end of its life cycle.
saga and persona are bread and butter of proton and therefore it cannot afford to keep such cars for a long time. i say this and geely also says this.
the replacement for both this models will be using existing Geely models @ platform sharing but unique body from ground up. preve, suprima and inspira had shown that a C+ segment has low demand in malaysia. hope editors go back to what Dr.Li and previous Proton CEO’s statement during their first year collaboration.
Geely wont allow Proton to make or spend huge sum of money on new models and cars that sell in low volume.
in other words he is also saying – dont be stupid.
the idea of S50 is just stupid.
Very excited, let’s rock on
Nice car
Perfect car.
Wonderful specs
Proton should offer a car with traction battery at least, a plug-in will be better. Proton need to prepare for the future.
Prece is better looking
In your dream.
Potential Preve replacement, but be my guest to guess the price would be. Proton and Geely experimented their pricing of the X70 40k cheaper than the CRV, so many buyers, it was a success, people choose X70 instead of CRV. Then come the X50, no longer have that 40k difference price compared to the competitor (HRV). Only 20k or less. Sales has hone through yhe roof. They are getting confident and (probably regretting the pricing for the X70).
If this S50 ever will come to MY, it wont be priced 60-70k like the Preve. It will be just 10 to 20k cheaper than the Civic. 120k for top spec, 90k for based spec. We will no longer get a cheap C segment sedan like what we used to get in previous Persona, Waja or Preve. Mark my word.
Copied frm new City?
I love it…
Cute car
X50 1.5 turbo engine on S50 means:
X50 speeding float on the road,
S50 speeding fly on the road.
Very nice
IMO, it should be S70 that replaces preve.
S90 = Perdana class
S70 = Preve class
S50 = Persona class
S30 = Saga class
X50 = B-SUV, BinYue
S50 = Persona Replacement, B-Sedan, BinRui
V50 = Iriz Replacement
X70 = C-SUV RM 89k+ BoYue
S70 = C-Sedan RM 79k+ Preve Replacement, BoRui
V70 = Suprima Replacement
Theo designs ROCK! Amazingly sexy this one!
When S50 launched-2021-? June?
Front kinda looks like Honda civic…. But who cares if it looks good and reasonably priced
pls retain waja/preve name. no need follow volvo naming scheme la
Should upgrade waja long time ago
I like S50 outlook but at least shall be considering the spec, price, speed, safety, sight on viewing, drive control, fuel estimation, size & quality of tyres, parts mounted, strong on car body(hopefully its shield like crab)~
This should be the new Persona
Alamak. Tak jadilah beli Civic / Altis baru.
the old preve looks much better
waja broke several grounds when it was first launched but i remember 2 – it was the first proton that was designed locally and it was the first proton sedan with lotus ride & handling (maybe also the first local car with lampu dinding in the rear seats – nice huh?). these 2 foremost reasons made it special in my opinion. the next car to bear the nameplate should therefore live up to those attributes. if it’s gonna be another geely with a proton badge, just call it persona, preve, or whatever replacement but not waja!
Bring back Wira!
Make sure you have the engine and parts. Never repeat what happened to X50. Don’t just sell number…
I don’t think Proton will design like this. This is sure rendered by non-proton designer. For sure proton will design with imbalance front and rear design.
YES! Must have high quality gearbox in the long run to keep the NEW Proton logo as well as the brand name growing steadily.
cant wait this to smoke civic 1.5t
Paultan ni dri dulu nonsense tiada otak. Tak habis2 Theopilus chin punya rendering yg entah apa2, syok sendiri punya kerja. Dia boleh pulak siap describe “based on ford focus” , “elements of x50”. Aih buang masa betul lah p describe kereta yg belum official keluar lg. Kau buat news psl automotive tu dah cukup la. Nnti s50 keluar baru kw describe panjang2. Pelik la mcm dia plak yg CEO proton tw segala2nya.