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2019 PROTON SAGA SPECS CONFIRMED – 3 Variants, 4AT & 5MT, Prices TBC

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With just hours to go before the wraps are pulled off, it seems that netizens are beside themselves with excitement as PROTON prepares to launch its updated entry-level Saga.

The spec sheet, leaked to us from an avid #MalaysianMotorist

Preliminary specsheets have been sent to us via one of our readers who sought to remain anonymous, and it’s helped to confirm a few things. First, we can now confirm that the 2019 PROTON Saga will replace its problematic CVT automatic gearbox with a 4-speed automatic slushbox from Hyundai, while the 5-speed manual will soldier on. We can also confirm that the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment headunit, LED daytime running lights, and 15-inch wheels will remain exclusive to the Premium model; Standard variants will make do with a “Standard” infotainment unit, two speakers, and 14-inch wheels, but all cars now get a remote trunk release and a flip-type key fob.

We can also confirm that there will be 5 colours available for the new Saga, namely Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Rosewood Maroon, and Ruby Red.

UPDATE: The 2019 PROTON Saga has been launched in full, with prices starting at RM32,800 for the Standard M/T and rising up to RM39,800 for the Premium A/T. Details on our latest post.

SPIED: ’19 PROTON Saga In Showrooms Ahead Of Launch

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It seems that PROTON’s all ready to reveal its newest baby, a heavily-updated version of the current-generation Saga that’ll go a long way in righting a few wrongs. The PROTON Saga is a favourite among the MalaysianMotoring team (both videographers own one, albeit different generations) and with the newest model, PROTON aims to address bugbears that have bothered current-gen Saga owners for a while.

These spyshots, courtesy of our friends at Funtasticko reveal much about the new model. For starters, the exterior has been given a light going-over in the same vein as the updated PROTON Iriz & Persona, with a new colour palette (this one is called Rosewood Maroon and we like it), updated bumpers front and rear (with the fronts now gaining LED daytime running lights for the Premium variant), and new alloys (14″ for entry-level variants and 15″ for the Premium).

Inside the changes are pretty major though, with a floating central touchscreen infotainment system, with the full ‘Hi PROTON!’ GKUI system in the Premium, and the usual non-touchscreen system for the lower tiers. There’s also an updated instrument cluster ahead of the driver that now features a more modern speedometer & tachometer, as well as a dot-matrix driver’s information display nestled between the dials. Looks rather snazzy, doesn’t it?

While there’s been no official confirmation from PROTON, we’re made to understand that under the skin, the ’19 PROTON Saga will continue to use the same 1.3-litre VVT engine as the outgoing car with no major changes to the engine, but the Punch-sourced CVT-automatic gearbox has been swapped out with a 4-speed auto unit from Hyundai. This should improve NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) levels in the car dramatically, as well as address the Saga’s current issues of lacklustre transmission response, particularly in town and when driving spiritedly.

It may also hamper fuel consumption over long-distance drives, but that remains to be seen.

PROTON has yet to release official pricing for the ’19 PROTON Saga, but with the launch slated for later today, the wait shouldn’t be all too long now.

PROTON X50 Coming August 2020? – Report

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While PROTON runs on a high with a whopping 61% increase in sales in the first half of this year, Malaysians are keeping their eye on the horizon. The ‘X50’ is set to be the next SUV model from the marque, offering all of the appeal of the larger X70 with a more approachable pricetag. The X50 will be based on the Geely Bin Yue, a car that has been spotted testing on local roads several times already by eagle-eyed spotters.

An article on The Malaysian Reserve, citing an insider source, says that the company is indeed in the process of getting the X50 out to market, but it’ll take a little bit more time than for the X70. For the larger car, the first phase (which is still ongoing) saw the full importation of the car from China, where it’s built in right-hand drive alongside its left-hook brethren. This made the most sense at the time of the investiture agreement between Zhejiang Geely and PROTON Holdings as one of the clauses was that PROTON had to produce a Geely-based model, on sale, within one calendar year.

Also considering the sheer volume the base Geely Boyue enjoys in its home market, it wouldn’t have come at considerable cost to them to tool it for RHD. Furthermore, the Malaysian government had agreed to give PROTON a special tax allowance for the CBU X70, as to permit a faster turnaround time and competitive pricing.

However, the X50 will employ a different route. With the upgrading works at PROTON’s Tanjung Malim plant on schedule, the X50 will be a fully-CKD model, assembled here in Malaysia. That move will purportedly save PROTON & Geely some RM200-million in required changes to the plant in China to produce the X50 in RHD, and by tooling Tanjung Malim to produce the car in such a configuration, would also allow PROTON to engage in export activities to the right-hand drive markets that they compete in.

It is speculated that the X50 will carry a pricetag between RM70k-RM85k, which would make it a very attractive proposition indeed, particularly considering that the (larger & more utilitarian) Perodua Aruz tops out at RM78k.

It’s clear that the gentlemen’s agreement between Malaysia’s two local automakers, who now sit as the 1st and 2nd best-selling marques on local shores, is turning out well. There will always be a Perodua for those looking for no-nonsense zero-hassle motoring, and a PROTON for those keen on more sophistication, dynamics, and luxury.

2019 GEELY BIN YUE SPORT – GALLERY