According to local media reports, Proton's CEO recently revealed during a recent event that the all-new 2023 Proton S50 will be unveiled in September with an expected local price of RM99,000. The car will feature a 1.5T Turbo engine, possibly delivering up to 190PS of horsepower.
The Proton S50, which is believed to be a rebranded Geely Dihao, is built on Geely Group's BMA platform. In terms of the engine, it is rumored to share the same 1.5T turbo engine found in the Proton X90, paired with a 7-speed DCT dual-clutch transmission and 48V Hybrid technology. The power output is expected to be 190PS and 300Nm of torque, which is quite impressive for a B+ segment sedan. However, there are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that the S50 may come with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine with 112Hp.
In terms of exterior design, while the Proton S50 is based on the Geely Dihao, it incorporates many design elements from Proton. It features sleek LED headlights, high-visibility LED taillights, a grille reminiscent of Mercedes-AMG's waterfall design, and sporty bumper styling. With such aesthetics, it is expected to compete favorably with other B-segment models in the country.
Inside, being based on the Geely Dihao, the Proton S50 boasts a fancy and luxurious interior. It offers a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch GKUI entertainment system, leather electric seats, a newly designed multifunction steering wheel, a sleek center console, and ample storage space. The interior provides a good balance of quality and technological features.
In terms of safety features, drawing inspiration from the fourth-generation Geely Dihao, the Proton S50 is expected to come equipped with advanced active safety assistance systems. These may include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and assistance, blind-spot detection, automatic high beam control, and adaptive cruise control, among others.
US 17515 
GB 11824 
CA 10211 
AU 7212 
IE 1629 
NZ 1473 
IN 1397 
SG 879 
