Proton Saga Knight concept – new interior pics, modern retro vibe with full-width digital dashboard

Proton Saga Knight concept – new interior pics, modern retro vibe with full-width digital dashboard

Last week, we got to have a look at modern digital rendition of the Proton Saga Aeroback Knight courtesy of former Proton designer and current head of industrial design at MIMOS, Saharudin Busri.

Only renditions of the car’s exterior were available at the time, though now Saharudin has revealed more of the modernised take on the Malaysian hatchback, this time with images of its interior ahead of the concept design’s full unveiling in a webinar scheduled for tomorrow organised by Persatuan Pereka Perindustrian Malaysia (Pereka).

Here, the Saga’s dashboard fascia has been brought up to date with current vehicle interior trends, namely with digital screens for driver instrumentation as well as for infotainment and air-conditioning controls. Saharudin has also stayed close to the original steering wheel design, retaining its arrangement of two spokes at the approximate eight o’clock and four o’clock positions.

Saharudin Design rendition (left), and the original Proton Saga interior. Click to enlarge

Saharudin has largely retained the original Saga’s slanted, straight-surfaced dashboard and used its full width to the advantage of space for the various digital displays. The driver’s instrumentation is now flush with the rest of the displays on the top tier, where a digitised wristwatch illustration in the centre separates vehicle information from navigation and entertainment screens on the passenger side.

The centre console stack on the original Saga has been redesigned here to be more upright and aligned with the rest of the dashboard, while the second tier also harks back to the 1990s original in adopting a rectangular, and still relatively slim stack which now controls various functions, instead of being strictly for air-conditioning on the original car’s layout.

In order to maximise the sense of space, the air-conditioning vents here are slim, vertically oriented items located on the second tier of the dashboard. Saharudin has also adopted the rotary dial and button control arrangement on the left-hand side of the steering column, following that which is depicted in the cabin of the original Saga’s design.

On the lower centre console tunnel, what might be controls for the car’s transmission is accessed here via a rotary dial, which is enclosed by buttons for other minor controls.

Saharudin has employed a red-and-black colour scheme for the interior, which extends to the seat upholstery. Here, he has apparently drawn from the modern era of Proton interior design with the use of central seat stripes somewhat reminiscent of those as seen on the previous, 2019 Iriz. Here, Saharudin has chosen front seats of an integral headrest design for this modernised Saga Knight concept.

What do you think, dear readers? Does Saharudin’s modern take on the design of the Proton Saga Aeroback Knight strike the right balance of moving with the times, and of retaining the visual character and identity of the original? Let us know in the comments section.

GALLERY: Proton Saga Aeroback Knight concept by Saharudin Busri

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Ah Chong on Aug 30, 2021 at 1:38 pm

    Please please make this an EV

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
    • SmartConsumer on Sep 03, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Agree with you. We Malaysian are no less than other people in other countries. We deserve an EV too

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Anonymous on Aug 30, 2021 at 1:41 pm

    Overall outdated retro-fit design.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
    • lithium on Aug 30, 2021 at 3:59 pm

      what retro? proton saga ain’t no mini or bettle or fiat 500, saga only well known in malaysia, other country gets mitsubishi lancer.

      for proton to success it needs to look beyond malaysia so this retro design is a waste of time. new saga design need something global.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 12
      • Celup King on Aug 30, 2021 at 11:06 pm

        The problem with people is they think this is by proton when it has nothing to do with them. People should learn to read before they write.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • People at MIMOS really got nothing to do other than burning allocated funds. Used to provide services to them, then they would shamelessly present the work in exhibition as theirs to lobby more funds from government. This is why Malaysia cannot move forward, too many of these “tak ada tujuan” companies around.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 39 Thumb down 5
  • anonymous_c on Aug 30, 2021 at 2:22 pm

    Why does the Frozen theme song “let it go” is playing in my head when reading this article?

    Anyone had the same experience?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • For what on Aug 30, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Trying hard to prove that Geely is wrong not to hire hil

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Bumper on Aug 30, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    Why design this? What for? Is it a hobby?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • DonkeyKong on Aug 30, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    There are many retro-futuristic concepts. This isn’t one of them.

    What a hot mess.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Mr Cent-sible on Aug 30, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    Sudah la. Buat kerja yang lebih berfaedah. No Syok Sendiri design please.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 5
    • Nitroweeb on Aug 30, 2021 at 7:03 pm

      If you don’t like it, just swipe away la. Your comment is neither a constructive criticism, nor is it helpful

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 16
      • PlainBS on Aug 30, 2021 at 8:21 pm

        Not at all, Mr Cent-sible’s comment is very helpful to let some people know the design isn’t favorable.

        In fact, I think the design is not practical and make sense at all.

        It’s a thrash.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 3
  • Should spend time on productive. Was gow tax money.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Mee kuning on Aug 30, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    Atok will surely like it very much. Konpem!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Come on PT . The original Saga interior dont look like that. The one in the picture is the limited UK edition Iswara that was rejected and returned to Malaysia which has fuel injection system instead of carb.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Zainal on Aug 31, 2021 at 7:28 am

    Reka bentuk luaran Proton Knight Dari MIMOS sangat buruk…standing Proton Savvy..Bakal mengulangi kegagalan Proton Savvy…Reka bentuk dalaman…bolehlah diterima…Tolong lakukan reka bentuk yg lebih baik….paling tidak yg boleh menyaingi Syarikat Geely Dari China…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • Shahrul Asri Bin Mohamed Nazri on Aug 31, 2021 at 9:26 pm

    So done designing, then what….Next!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Aminuddin baki Abdul Karim on Sep 01, 2021 at 12:28 am

    Ok la.. nak oder caner tu?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ibrahim Ahmad Ghazali on Sep 02, 2021 at 10:32 pm

    Ayo Proton… the design is so 1990.. kenapa la suka keluarkan idea camni ni.. esok at the end of the day confirm takde sapa nak beli and after that dok canang Proton Rugi.. buat duit dulu ler baru fikir nak keluar concept bagai

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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