That’s right folks Piston.my has arrived safely at the venue of the much-anticipated ‘official’ media drive of the new Proton X70 SUV in Langkawi. I know many of you may be asking why of all places, Langkawi? Well, for one thing traffic away from town is pretty sparse, and the B-roads here are quite awesome, based on previous media drives that have been conducted on this island. Plus I’m not complaining, not with views like this….
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’d just landed and instead of the usual express bus to ferry us to the hotel, Proton had arranged a fleet of X70’s replete with white-gloved chauffeurs to handle this task, which meant I got to shoot a very quick video from the back seat, and talk to the X70 for the first time! Here it is…
FINALLY! After the longest “long lead-in” teaser in the history of motoring in Malaysia, the Proton X70 was officially launched last night by the father of Proton, Tun Dr. Mahathir himself! 35-years ago he did the same with the Saga, and it was fitting that he launched the latest model, Proton’s first SUV, the X70. Here’s the launch gambit video:
Possibly the biggest surprise was the price announcement that everyone had been waiting for, and as we’d expected, of the 4 variants launched, the introductory variant is priced BELOW RM100,000!
The price announcement was made by Dr. Li Chunrong, the CEO of Proton, along with the ‘special packages’ that will come with the new X70, here’s the video:
Following the launch, and once the thousand-plus attendees had mostly dissipated, Piston.my managed to grab some alone-time with the new Proton X70, and here’s what we thought:
For more info on the Proton X70 launch, check out the press release below the photo gallery!
FULL PRESS RELEASE:
PROTON X70 LAUNCHED
– Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad officially launches PROTON’s first SUV
– Special ownership packages and national price scheme announced
Kuala Lumpur, 12 December 2018– PROTON officially launched the Proton X70 at a glittering ceremony officiated by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Full details of the flagship SUV were also revealed at the event including the selling price, service, financing and warranty packages.
The first premium SUV by a Malaysian automotive brand
The Proton X70 is the first vehicle to be jointly developed by PROTON and its partner Geely, and is the first premium SUV by a Malaysian automotive brand. It also introduces PROTON to a new market segment and is the key catalyst for the total rejuvenation of the brand. When developing the Proton X70, both PROTON and Geely collaborated on multiple levels. From the cross deployment of staff in China and Malaysia, to testing in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate to the collaboration between local and international vendors, the goal was to ensure a product that is perfectly suited to the needs of Malaysian and ASEAN car buyers.
To prepare for its introduction, PROTON embarked on a comprehensive marketing plan to build an unprecedented level of excitement amongst car buyers via on-ground events, the launch of an online booking portal and giving the SUV its public debut at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). These efforts began in September and were further strengthened by social media campaigns that included a naming contest and numerous teaser videos on Facebook and YouTube.
At the same time, significant investments to PROTON’s network were made for the arrival of the Proton X70. Training activities for sales and service staff and the launch of the inaugural PROTON After Sales Service Competition (PASSC) were part of efforts to ensure everyone had sufficient knowledge of the new vehicle. The Company also embarked on an ambitious network expansion plan by inviting new investors to start PROTON outlets and offering generous incentives for existing dealers to upgrade their facilities to 3S and 4S centres. To date 115 plans for such centres have been approved with 71 already launched thus far this year.
“The Proton X70 is the result of more than one year of hard work by PROTON and Geely engineers, designers and hundreds of other people working together to develop the first premium SUV by a Malaysian car manufacturer. PROTON is proud of our achievement and it is our belief Malaysian car buyers will be equally proud to own an SUV that will help to transform the Proton brand. With over 10,000 bookings, it already has a good start so we will work hard to deliver on our product and brand promise,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON.
“Deliveries of the Proton X70 will commence over the coming weeks as we want customers to get their cars as soon as possible. Some have had to wait for over six months, having given their name to dealers before bookings were even officially opened, so PROTON is thankful to them for their patience and incredible brand loyalty,” he added.
Special packages and one price for all Malaysians
To enhance the ownership experience of the Proton X70, special value added packages were announced at the launch event. Defined as Xtra packages, they affect four distinct areas. The Xtra Service Package offers free parts and labour for the first service as well as free labour for five scheduled service appointments within 100,000km or five years. Next, there is the Xtra Low Financing Package, offering low interest rates that start from 2.34% p.a. for qualified buyers.
PROTON will be the first national automotive brand to offer an unlimited mileage warranty as the Xtra Warranty Coverage Package will cover the Proton X70 for up to five years regardless of mileage. Finally, to ensure owners enjoy a premium connectivity experience the Xtra Data Package offers free internet data for five years (capped at 1GB per month).
“The Xtra packages offered will enhance the experience for owners by offering peace of mind, savings for servicing and financing as well as free data. PROTON will also create history by offering the Proton X70 at one price for one nation. This means East and West Malaysia car buyers will pay the same price for the same vehicle, making PROTON the first automotive brand to offer such a deal. It is our hope that by doing this, PROTON proves that a Malaysian product can be offered at the same price for all Malaysians regardless of where they live,” added Dr Li Chunrong.
One of the things that was playing at the back of our minds in regards to KLIMS 2018, was how it was going to be insofar as crowd attendance was concerned. And with that in mind, we headed back to MITEC, the new venue of the KL International Motorshow, on Sunday 25th, technically the first weekend of the show. This is what it looked like! Wait for the surprise at the end…
Another big surprise was the appearance of the Proton R3 Racing Team (below), who’d just won the S1K, or Sepang 1000km Race the day before, and we managed to catch their full interview and meet-the-fans session at the Proton pavilion…
Of course as expected the crowd at the abovementioned Proton pavilion was massive, packed with those who came to see the new X70 SUV, which will be officially launched on 12th December (probably at KL Convention Centre) during which Proton will FINALLY reveal its price…
The 2-wheel section of KLIMS was participated by Kawasaki Malaysia, Benelli and Honda, who showcased the awesome new GoldWing Tourer, remarkable…
It was also heartening to see that Peugeot was getting quite a lot of visitors, many were enthralled by the new Peugeot 308 GTi…
Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, there is no official Supercar representation at KLIMS 2018, however, thanks to the ‘peripheral’ pavilions, there was still some eye-candy to ogle… we’re referring to the cars of course…
We’ll be visiting the show again before it ends on 2nd December 2018, so stay tuned for our wrap-up coverage!
Following our previous report on KLIMS or the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow, we attended the Press Day on 22nd November 2018, and right-off the bat, it’s safe to say that the new venue for KLIMS at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) outside downtown KL is definitely a better location, not just in terms of accessibility, but also the floor space and allocated display area. But before we get into that, here’s the video of the official launch ceremony for KLIMS 2018!
Everything also seems a lot better organised this time around, especially in terms of handling the media and providing a proper set-up for us to work. There was free flow of food and drinks in the designated press room, although the room itself was a bit small, considering the number of media personnel who showed up to cover the launch and press day of KLIMS 2018. There was also no designated rest area; let’s not forget that all-in, it was at least a 10-hour day on our feet for many of us. Something to look into for the next one. Here’s our first walkabout video, which we took even before the official launch ceremony. Kudos to all the car brands who participated!
Unfortunately, while the venue itself was a lot better, manufacturer participation was definitely wanting, for apart from Peugeot, Citroen and DS Automobiles, there wasn’t a single other European carmaker in attendance. No Audi, BMW, Volvo or Mercedes-Benz. The latter was represented only thanks to Petronas who grafted what looked like an entire petrol station into KLIMS 2018, replete with a Kedai Mesra shop, while the only Supercars (apart from the Toyota FT-1 in the second video below of course) were what the peripheral pavilions brought in.
That being said, those who did participate put in a tremendous amount of effort to ensure their pavilions looked top notch! Seriously, many of them looked like they belonged in overseas motorshows like BIMS, GIIAS & TMS. Still, at least we were finally able to bring you this ‘live’ coverage of the new Proton X70 SUV, with no restrictions on photos this time. However, while fully expecting to finally learn the official price of the X70 at KLIMS, we were told that the price will be officially announced only on 12th December at the launch extravaganza…
Undoubtedly though, the star of KLIMS 2018 is the incredible Toyota FT-1, which is also known among fan-boys as the new Supra. It definitely deserved it’s own short video….
And in no particular order, here are more videos from KLIMS 2018! (KLIMS 2018 runs from today 23rd Nov to 2nd Dec 2018)
Video: Ford Malaysia put on a superb show for their new Mustang and much-anticipated Ranger Raptor, whose price was announced at RM199,888!
Video: The upstairs hall at KLIMS was dominated by a huge Petronas pavilion, with its own Kedai Mesra, as well as the Motorcycles section…
Video: Perodua unveils the X-Concept and teases a new SUV for 2019…
The Proton X70, the first SUV from PROTON, has successfully achieved a 5-star rating after being tested by the New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP). Details for the latest round of ASEAN NCAP tests have been released, showing the newest Proton model sits near the top of its segment for occupant safety. With a proven track record for manufacturing cars that obtain a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating to defend – the Proton Iriz, Proton Persona, Proton Preve and Proton Suprima S are all 5-star rated, PROTON’s engineers and designers paid close attention to every detail to ensure the Proton X70 would obtain a high score based on the latest 2017-2020 testing protocol. Under the new protocol, safety assist technology is now taken into consideration and counts for 25% of the overall score.
PROTON introduced Hot Press Forming (HPF) body structures, used to form the passenger cell of its cars, in 2012 and the same technology is one of the reasons why the Proton X70 is able to provide a high level of protection to its occupants. The HPF cell is supplemented with six airbags for all variants, ISOFIX child seat mounting points as well as seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters. By combining these elements, the Proton X70 received a perfect score for the side impact test as well as for head protection technology.
The SUV is also PROTON’s first model to be equipped with a number of safety assist features. Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)are all part of the advanced driver assistance system introduced with the Proton X70. Thus equipped, the SUV was able to obtain a high score for safety assist technology. For the FULL report from NCAP on the Proton X70, click to download this: Proton X70 ASEAN NCAP Report FULL
“Thanks to the diligent efforts of PROTON’s designers and engineers, the Company has managed to extend its reputation for building cars capable of protecting their occupants in the event of an accident. Aside from the advanced driver assistance system that is making its debut on a Proton model, the Proton X70 is also fitted with various convenience features such as voice command, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC) and a 360 camera for safe manoeuvring in tight spaces,” said Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON Edar.
Proton X70 to be shown at KLIMS
Following a series of closed-door previews for invited guests and media, the Proton X70 will be making its public debut at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). Five units of the car will be put on display and visitors are encouraged to get up close and personal with the first C-segment premium SUV from a Malaysian automotive brand. There will also be special display areas to highlight the technology, safety and performance aspects of the vehicle.
“PROTON is now ready for our SUV to meet the Malaysian public. Visitors to KLIMS will be given full access to our show cars and we encourage everyone to explore the various design, technology, safety and performance aspects of the Proton X70 by spending some time at our interactive areas to get to know it better. There are a lot of technological and specification firsts for PROTON with this model so we want to make sure all our customers are able to fully appreciate what we hope will be a game changer for the Company,” said Abdul Rashid Musa.
KLIMS will be held at the Malaysian International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from 23 November to 2 December 2018. The Proton X70 can be viewed at PROTON’s display located on Level 1, Hall 1 and at Booth 1007.
Tempahan SUV terkini iaitu Proton X70 2018 kini boleh dibuat secara ‘online’ atau atas talian! Mulai dari 10 pagi tadi pada tarikh 17 Oktober 2018, para pelanggan dan semua peminat Proton X70 boleh membuat tempan melalui laman web korporat Proton iaitu www.proton.com/ProtonX70/Online-Bookingdengan menggunakan dari mana-mana sahaja dengan adanya kemudahan alat peranti dan Internet. (more…)
In our last report on the new Proton X70 SUV here, we mentioned that online bookings would commence soon, and well folks today they have!
From Proton: Booking a brand new SUV from PROTON has become easier than ever with the launch of the Company’s online booking platform. Accessed via PROTON’s corporate website, the new platform went live at 10am today 17 October to allow customers to book the Proton X70 from anywhere using any device with Internet access.
Visiting a virtual showroom
Following the preview of its connectivity and technology features to the media on 11 October, the Proton X70 set another benchmark by being the first Proton model that can be booked online. With an embedded eSIM card, Wi-Fi connectivity, preloaded apps offering services like online radio, online music, navigation and weather forecasts as well as advanced voice recognition software, Proton’s first SUV is perfectly suited to launch the service.
Customers who want to book a unit are required to provide their personal details, preferred model and colour choice as well as the city and state where they wish to collect their car. Following payment of the booking fee, also done online, a system-generated receipt will be sent to the customer’s email. PROTON then assigns a sales advisor to handle the order who contacts the customer within seven days to process the booking. As with bookings made at any PROTON outlet, a full refund is given should a customer change their mind.
In conjunction with the launch of the online booking portal PROTON will also feature full details of the Proton X70 on its website, including full specifications for each model variant. The information helps customers to make a decision, especially with regards to variant and colour choice, and is akin to visiting a showroom and viewing a full sales presentation.
As this is a new sales tool for the Company, PROTON is holding a ‘flash sale’ from 17-19 October to promote the use of its new platform. During the three-day promotional period, customers who book the Proton X70 via the platform only need to pay a booking fee of RM99.
“After studying consumer preferences and market trends, PROTON believes the time is right to offer an online booking facility to our customers. The platform allows bookings to be made from anywhere a customer is as long as there is an Internet connection available. The Company has also decided to reward those who make a booking prior to the launch of the Proton X70. This will come in the form of special gifts for all early birds regardless of whether they booked their unit online or at our outlets,” said Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.
Customer previews continue to East Malaysia
The Proton X70 customer previews have now crossed the South China Sea to East Malaysia with sessions held in Kuching on 15-16 October. Following on from the second media preview, the events focussed on the connectivity and technology functions offered by the SUV while also explaining about the styling elements used for the exterior and interior. The previews will continue in Kuantan and Ipoh with the final session due to be held in Kota Kinabalu.
“The customer response to the Proton X70 has been overwhelming. Attendance at our preview sessions has been very high with the majority of attendees saying they are impressed by the quality and specification offered on the first model to be jointly developed by PROTON and Geely. It will be a game changer for PROTON and customers acknowledge this, judging by the strong pre-launch booking numbers. Therefore we are working hard to ensure the cars delivered meet the heightened expectations of our customers,” added Abdul Rashid.
Awal pagi tadi, pihak Proton telah melaksanakan sesi pratonton kedua kepada pihak media atas kenderaan SUV pertama keluaran mereka iaitu Proton X70. Pratonton kedua ini dijalankan untuk memperkenalkan sistem interaktif yang bernama GKUI atau Sistem Maklumat Kokpit Bersepadu. (more…)
As promised, slightly over a month after showing their new SUV to the Malaysian media at a static preview, PROTON have released more details about the Proton X70 through a second more in-depth media preview today! This second round of previews for the first co-developed vehicle by Geely and PROTON concentrated exclusively on the Integrated Cockpit Information System (GKUI), which will offer owners multiple user functions via apps as well as the option to stay connected to the car via their mobile device. Here’s our first impression following the first viewing of the static launch model today!
(NB: NO photography or any recording whatsoever was allowed during this media preview, so these are just my first-impression thoughts on the Proton X70 – Chris Wee, Editor Piston.my)
Additional Points: Proton X70 is equipped with a 1.8-litre engine producing 135kW (184bhp), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning Assist, Blind-Spot Warning, Lane-Departure Warning, 360-deg All-Round camera, Rear View Camera, High-Beam Assist (automatically dips the high-beam if an oncoming car is detected), Park Distance Assist w/Guide Lines & Audible Warning. Claimed Combined Fuel Consumption 8.0L /100km.
Hosting the media exclusive event was Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer PROTON, Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy Chief Executive Officer PROTON, and senior management members of PROTON who explained the features of the GKUI and answered queries relating to the highly anticipated SUV.
Voice Commands allow you to ‘talk’ to your X70 to perform basic functions like switching on the radio, A/C, lowering the windows, opening the sunroof, as well as finding restaurants, ATMs, petrol, etc.
A car that connects users to the world…
Featuring an embedded eSIM card, the GKUI in the Proton X70 is preloaded with five apps offering services such as online radio, online music, navigation, weather forecasts and voice recognition. Access to the apps and other car functions is via an 8-inch Android based touchscreen interface featuring a 1280 x 720 full colour display with 16GB of internal memory space. The system also has Wi-Fi connectivity so the X70 can be used as a mobile hotspot.
To fully exploit the connectivity capabilities, owners can pair their cars with their personal mobile device via Proton Link and use an individual ID that is assigned to every buyer. They can then create a profile of their driving thanks to the on board telematics that will record data such as distance travelled, fuel economy, journey times and even keep track of service intervals. There is also a ‘find my car’ function that will be particularly useful when parking in huge and unfamiliar parking complexes.
If you’re familiar with using a ‘Smartphone’ (who isn’t), the X70’s functions are incredibly easy to operate, and looks good too, with switchable wallpapers and moveable icons. Software updates are free and ‘over-the-air’
“The GKUI system in the Proton X70 allows owners to stay almost constantly connected to their car. It’s an active two-way system that allows for multiple options to fit the preferences of individual owners. In the future, the ability to download additional apps will also be offered and just like mobile devices, it means no two cars will be exactly alike,” said Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.
Display changes colour from Blue (normal), Green (eco) & Red (sport) according to chosen driving mode; fully digital, it shows different readings including the pressure in each tyre (TPM)
Because it runs on an Android operating system, the GKUI offers Android mobile device users full mirroring capabilities. That means apps owners have on their device can be accessed on the Proton X70’s touchscreen thus offering yet more connectivity possibilities. Apple OS user won’t be able to do the same though they will be able to connect to the X70 via Bluetooth to access telephone and contact list functions.
Definitely very Range Rover Evoque-ish from the back, especially with that tapered window-line, X70 size is comparable to a Honda CR-V…
Voice recognition allows true hands free operation…
True hands free operation of a number of functions on the Proton X70 is now possible thanks to advanced voice recognition software that allows the use of spoken commands. Access to the system is granted when an owner utters the phrase ‘Hi Proton’ which opens up a variety of choices that can be controlled simply by speaking a command. This includes operating the windows and air conditioning system and even accessing the navigation app to look for places to eat nearby.
9-speaker ICE system including a sub-woofer “as big as a spare tyre” in the back, plus 6 USB chargers can be found throughout the X70. Pictured Nappa Leather seats option only available in the premium variant…
“The Proton X70 is the first Proton model to use voice recognition technology, which is something we think our owners will appreciate. Hundreds of voice samples were recorded for each phrase to ensure the system would have a high degree of accuracy even when you take dialects into account. For ease of use, the GKUI will also type out each spoken phrase on the screen to confirm each command. Currently, the GKUI offers voice recognition for English phrases only as there are software limitations but we have ensured the phrases it recognises are easy to use even for owners who are not fluent speakers of the language,” added Abdul Rashid.
Why on earth is there a hidden USB port behind the rear-view mirror? Well, in case you want to install a dash-cam later of course. Why hasn’t anyone else thought of this?
Online bookings for X70 to begin soon…
In line with the high technology image of its first SUV, PROTON will be activating an online booking function on its website on 17 October 2018. Customers who are interested to place a booking for the Proton X70 will be able to book and pay a deposit for their order online, thus making it incredibly convenient for those who don’t have the time to physically visit a PROTON 3S and 4S outlet. “We want to make it as easy as possible for Malaysians to book a Proton X70 so we think this is a step in that direction. To promote our new channel, we will run a promotion for three days from the date the function goes live, where those who place a booking for the Proton X70 will also receive special gifts,” said Abdul Rashid.
Setelah sekian lama, Proton buat pertama kalinya telah membuat pratonton kepada semua ahli media Malaysia. Seperti yang tertera di atas, nama bagi model SUV pertama dari Proton adalah Proton X70. Majlis pratonton kepada para media telah diadakan di Pusar Reka Bentuk Proton di Subang Jaya, Selangor. (more…)
