Proton S50 spied – new sedan as Preve replacement?

Proton S50 spied – new sedan as Preve replacement?

It looks like Proton is working on a new sedan model, at least according to these photos of a camouflaged sedan recently spotted by paultan.org reader Darren Lee. The vehicle in question is wearing a rather familiar trade plate, as “B 4155 A” was also used by the national carmaker for the Ertiga as well as the X70 in the past.

The idea of a Proton coming up with a new sedan isn’t new. Popularly referred to as the S50, the model is widely tipped to be based on the fourth-generation Geely Emgrand that has already been launched in China and made its way to the Philippines in February this year.

Frequently reported as a successor to the now departed Preve, the S50 would occupy the C-segment sedan section of Proton’s line-up, giving customers an option for something larger than the B-segment Persona that isn’t an SUV.

The camouflaged vehicle does appear to resemble the Emgrand, with notable cues being the high C-pillars and gently raked rear window. The Binrui was previously claimed to be the base for the S50, although that sedan has a more swoopy roofline that isn’t evident in the photos. It remains to be seen if Proton will make significant design changes for its take on the Emgrand.

In terms of dimensions, the Emgrand measures 4,638 mm long, 1,820 mm wide and 1,460 mm tall. Compared to the Preve, the Geely sedan is longer (+95 mm) and wider (+34 mm), but it shares the same wheelbase of 2,650 mm. As an additional comparison, the current Persona is 4,366 mm long, 1,722 mm wide, 1,564 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,555 mm.

In China, the Emgrand is equipped with a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that serves up 114 PS (113 hp) and 147 Nm of torque, with a five-speed manual or CVT sending drive to the front wheels. The Philippines model uses the same powertrain, but its engine is detuned to make 102 PS (101 hp) and 142 Nm.

As the Emgrand is built on the same BMA (B-segment Modular Architecture) platform as the X50, the resulting S50, if Proton does make it, could also receive a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine. The carmaker already makes the 1.5L TGDi here and said it can make other variants of the mill, including the port-injected (PFI) variant for future models.

For now, we’ll have to wait for Proton to reveal more information. The company has quite a lot on its plate currently, as it not only has a massive order bank to fulfill but also work on a seven-seat SUV that the public is referring to as the X90.

GALLERY: 2022 Geely Emgrand (Philippines market)

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • Dong Gor on Jul 06, 2022 at 10:18 am

    Make all the senses to put a 1.5 turbocharged engine given this is quite a big car… We don’t want any more under powered car in the 21st century like the hrv 1.5na

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 2
    • New Honda Accord also 1.5 turbo? I think no issue at all.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 21
      • Sigh... on Jul 06, 2022 at 7:26 pm

        Maksud dia pkai turbo walaupun 1.5 bukannya NA. Ada fhm ke x Shaf?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 5
  • donno on Jul 06, 2022 at 10:20 am

    The current C-segment sedan to beat is the Honda Civic

    The Civic is currently the status symbol car for B40 Malays to be seen as having done it (while the Corolla Cross does the same thing for the Chinese B40s)

    How can Proton tweak the “uncle” emgrand design into a chic, sporty sedan for malaysians? If it cannot be seen by malaysians as a legit alternative to the civic, then it will not be successful in the home market.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 45 Thumb down 19
    • Csegment is pretty much dead. Even new Civic does not get the same fanfare as 10th gen despite its ketam back. If priced closely to Persona it could be a sleeper Csegment sized Bsegment market killer.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 13
    • The Geely Emgrand has a silhouette that is very similar to the Audi A3 sedan.

      To make it look sporty, proton take some serious inspiration from the Audi RS3 Sedan, and also the Audi RS3 LMS race car

      paultan.org/2021/07/19/2022-audi-rs3-sportback-and-rs3-sedan-debut-400-ps-500-nm-2-5-litre-tfsi-torque-splitter-rear-axle/

      paultan.org/2021/02/08/2021-audi-rs3-lms-tcr-racer-previews-new-road-car/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5
  • awg1301 on Jul 06, 2022 at 10:37 am

    Bezza challenger is finally here. Sell here below rm50k,

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 26
  • James on Jul 06, 2022 at 10:59 am

    PT writers, can find out for us more info about this car’s 1.5l four cylinder? Engine code seems to be JLC-4G15B, which according to Filipino reports and Wiki, is a variant (copy?) of Mitsubishi 4G15 from the first ever Proton Saga! Geely going to give us something that Malaysians already have since 1987?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 8
    • DonkeyKong on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      “..if Proton does make it, could also receive a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine.”

      Please get your dyslexia checked.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 12
    • Brian on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:54 pm

      Nope. Will get Volvo codeveloped 1.5 TGDI
      https://paultan.org/2022/07/06/two-brand-new-proton-models-to-get-the-1-5l-tgdi-engine-soon/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Ground europe passenger on Jul 06, 2022 at 11:17 am

    Until when need to wait for proton finally got a sedan that no need to replace timing belt every 80k?? maybe 2030?? That time maybe Ev cars more than petrol car on the road dy.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 14
    • Anonymous on Jul 06, 2022 at 8:04 pm

      This obsession to have timing chains on new engines is ridiculous. Timing chains bring nothing significant to the table. When belts were introduced in the 1960’s (surprised that belts are actually the more modern tech?) they were actually an improvement. Engines got cheaper, more efficient, and quieter. BMW, Honda, and Toyota struggled with chains to make them just as good, and their supposed longer life is very dependant on the discipline of the owners with the regular service. NEWSFLASH: car makers use timing chains because they can use the exact same components in a range of engines from economy 3-cylinders to performance V6s, unlike timing belts. The long life is a bonus, and conveniently good for marketing.

      And as we are nearing the EV era why do we need new engines to have one? Think about it, you are free from replacing just 1 item. One item that in 20 years of owning a car you’d only have to replace 2-3 times, if you even own the car for that long.

      Honda, Volvo, Ford, VW still use belts for some of their new engines. They are not only cheaper, but lighter, quieter, and low friction even without lubrication.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 2
  • Kancil Hybrid on Jul 06, 2022 at 11:43 am

    3 silinder means bunyi mcm Kancil la?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
  • pls improve after sales first! we buy car to enjoy, not to suffer! Said Preve is our global. Preve really a joke!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 5
    • DonkeyKong on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:14 pm

      Li Chunrong’s focus is only on sales figures, not customer satisfaction. China “disposable product” mentality..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 17
    • DonkeyKong on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:15 pm

      Yes, Preve, “to prove”, really proved to the world how inept Proton is. Choosing the lousy Punch CVT over a Hyundai 5-speed auto gearbox for that generation of cars truly sounded the death knell for Proton before Geely rescued them.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 10
    • FrankC on Jul 08, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Preve chasis without a doubt is good. Let down by poor transmission choice, under developed campro engine and poor interior design. The product strategy vehind Preve is proven not right. Preve should be placed in upper c segment pricing so that it will move away from persona. With higher budget allocated to preve, it could have better choice of its weakness especially interior quality. Proton strategy should keep saga at baseline b segment. Persona as economy version in c segment. And Preve at top end of C segment pricing at 100k range on par with corolla.. Too bad proton’s ability to design rigid and good chasis is wasted… Preve and earlier Persona still ply the road today

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
  • Kea Was on Jul 06, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    Guess we are really easy to be conned first people says X90 will be based on the Geely Jiaji – well that didn’t happen then people says S50 will be based on Binrui guess what it won’t happen as well just be happy for less curve for both.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  • Ploton on Jul 06, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    This car was sold outside as an affordable and oversized B-segment to take on City, Vios and Almera market share. No turbo no ADAS at all. Bring it here and proton wanna make this as a Prève replacement C-segment car.

    If Proton really wants to do that, i hope this car will be given full suite ADAS and turbo engine. It shares the same platform as X50 tho. It is doable.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
    • Uncle on Jul 06, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      X50 compact SUV,
      Made as Compact Sedan.

      Not sure if low spec 1.5TPfi or 1.5TGdi

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  • CamproRules on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:17 pm

    Harap proton memberi nafas baharu kepada enjin campro dan semua jentera proton diharuskan pakai enjin buatan Malaysia. Enjin campro, enjin berprestasi dunia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 13
  • Old School Juggernaut on Jul 06, 2022 at 2:23 pm

    I am sure eager to see how this car would look like when it appears here in the future.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Have you driven new honda accord with engine capacity 1.5T?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 9
  • RajaCelup on Jul 06, 2022 at 4:33 pm

    Yg merah pasti hit top sales di Malaysia. OngMali OngMali

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
  • James on Jul 06, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    Say no to Proton. My Proton always masuk workshop one.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 14
  • Nubies on Jul 06, 2022 at 6:09 pm

    I hope this one live up the name of Preve. I think we all recognised Preve as a sedan with a powerful kick on the performance. This should rival the Honda Civic or Corolla Altis. So I don’t mind Proton giving it the same 1.5 turbocharged engine. With sedan body and the engine from it’s SUV siblings, definitely something I’ll consider in future

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • No, no CamLow on Jul 06, 2022 at 9:14 pm

    Yes, CamLow

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Carlzen18 on Jul 07, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    please say no to lousy valve carbon deposit prone direct injection engine.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Sportback on Jul 10, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    Proton needs a low cost version of Lancer 8 Sportback

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • johnnas on Jul 18, 2022 at 3:23 pm

    Mitsubishi
    Citroen
    Suzuki
    Honda
    now Geely

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
 

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