Geely Emgrand-based new flagship Proton sedan coming this year

Having alluded to the unveiling of a new sedan as its official re-launch in South Africa last year, new details have emerged pertaining to the flagship that will sit above the Persona in Proton’s global line-up later this year.

Line-up placing

Effectively the three-box alternative to the X90 SUV that premiered last month, the still unnamed newcomer, speculatively called the S90, will take the Malaysian automaker’s sedan count to three after the mentioned Persona and the Saga that re-entered the South African market in March.

Excluding the X50 and X70 SUVs, as well as the X90, two other models feature within the company’s portfolio; the Iriz small hatch and the Exora three-row MPV.

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What is it?

While the latter pair and the Persona are of Proton’s own undertaking, the “S90” will leverage off of the marque’s ownership by Geely like the X50, X70 and X90, and use the Geely Emgrand as a base.

A model sold in reasonable numbers in South Africa over a decade ago, before being discontinued following Geely’s exit, the current third generation Emgrand debuted in China last year and rides on the same B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform as the X50.

Dimensionally, the Emgrand sedan measures 4 638 mm long, 1 460 mm high and 1 822 mm wide, with its wheelbase stretching 2 650 mm.

Up front, the Chinese market Emgrand offers a single powerunit; a normally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol that produces 84kW/147Nm. Drive is routed to the front wheels through either a five-speed manual gearbox or a CVT.

In the Philippines, where sales commenced last year, the same engine produces 77kW/142Nm fed to the ground via the CVT.

Change of heart expected

According to Malaysia’s paultan.org, however, the free-breathing 1.5 could potentially make way for the turbo assisted three-cylinder 1.5 T-GDI that pumps out 130kW/255Nm. If so, expect a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in place of the CVT.

Where does it fit in?

Despite its size, the publication claims the Emgrand will take aim at the likes of the Honda City, known as the Ballade in South Africa, and the Toyota Vios that resides below the Corolla in the automaker’s Malaysian line-up.

From a South African perspective, the Emgrand, in Proton guise, will level-up against the Volkswagen Polo Sedan, Ballade, possibly the Nissan Almera and also the locally-made Toyota Corolla Quest.

Due for unveiling in Malaysia before the end of this year, the “S90” has been confirmed for South Africa after Proton revealed at its mentioned re-launch that it will be introducing a second sedan derivative after the now launched Saga in 2023.