Proton recently presented a Proton S70 as the grand prize to Miss Asia (Southeast Asia) 2024 winner Janice Chian Yan Tong, during a ceremony held at the Proton Centre of Excellence (COE) headquarters.
The 24-year-old, originally from Ipoh, was crowned the prestigious title over 16 other finalists.
“Proton is proud to present the winner of Miss Asia (Southeast Asia) 2024 with a unit of the Proton S70 as the grand prize and as a reward for her victory. This prestigious pageant embodies excellence, ambition, and confidence, which are values that align perfectly with our own corporate values,” stated Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Proton.
After experiencing her new car for the first time, Janice expressed her admiration for the handling, smart features, and sleek design of the sedan.
“The Proton S70 delivers everything I could possibly want, impressive power, sophisticated style, safety, and modern technology. It is a car that truly stands out in its class,” Janice shared.
Launched in November 2023, the S70 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo three-cylinder engine that produces 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
The selling prices start from RM73,800 for the Executive model, RM79,800 for the Premium, RM89,800 for the Flagship, and RM94,800 for the Flagship X.
In a statement, Proton said that it continues to be the top-selling brand for sedans in Malaysia, with 3.85 million units sold since its establishment more than 40 years ago.
According to the national car manufacturer, this success is attributed to national icons such as the Saga, Wira and Waja, which were once used as police cars in Humberside County, UK, two generations of the Persona, the Prevé, and its latest offering, the S70.
Launched last November, the S70 has quickly become the favourite in the C-sedan category, with year-to-date sales as of September totalling 14,877 units.
Overall sales have surpassed those of other competitors in the same category, with an average of 1,640 units sold per month since January of this year. The model leads sales in its segment, with top three states being Selangor, Johor and Penang.
However, the biggest contributor to the pool is clearly the evergreen Saga, which has clocked in over 2 million sales since its launch on 9 July 1985 till September this year. The model has undergone massive change through three generations, with improvements in safety, design updates, performance improvements, interior comfort and features, platform and chassis development and receiving a stronger body structure.
For Proton sedans, the responsive driving experienced, safety record and sheer fun behind the wheel played a major role in appealing to car buyers.
Evolving with the times, the models also introduced timely safety updates such as anti-lock braking system (ABS), airbags, seat belt pretensioners, hot-press forming body structures.
With the S70, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) level 2 features such as lane change assist, automatic emergency braking, intelligent cruise control, and traffic sign information keep Proton sedans at the leading edge of safety technology.
A recent survey by Insight Asia, involving 277 participants aged 22 to 59, revealed that buyers prioritise affordability, comfort, and safety, alongside a stylish and modern design.
Key reasons for choosing it include its attractive aesthetics, good power delivery, and overall value for money, starting from over RM70,000. Many owners upgraded from smaller segments and did not consider other models, viewing the model as unique in its class.
Overall, S70 owners express high satisfaction with cabin comfort, storage space, and security features. While most reported no significant issues, some experienced minor Noice, Vibration and Hardness (NVH) problems, which did not detract from their overall experience.
Suggestions for improvement include the introduction of features like auto wipers and ventilated seats, according to Insight Asia.
Here, ladies and gentlemen, presenting the racing machine Proton S70 R3 set to compete in the Sepang 1000km (S1k) event.
If you wish to get a closer look at this Proton S70 R3, you can visit the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from May 22 to 26 as it will be displayed to the public for the first time.
The S70 R3 is Proton R3’s first all-new racing car since the Saga R3 in 2019, marking the brand’s return to the S1k race. To date, Proton R3 has secured five victories, surpassing other teams, including three consecutive wins from 2017 to 2019.
Still under development, the showcased car displays the latest evolution of an aerodynamic package customized for this racing car. Two new car units will be competed by the team in this year’s S1k race.
“Proton has a long history in motorsports, starting with the original Proton Saga, and our involvement increased with the establishment of Proton R3 in 2003,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.
“Since then, we have competed and won in various competitions globally with models such as the Proton Satria, Waja, Suprima S, Iriz, and the latest Saga.
“Now with the Proton S70 R3, we are achieving another milestone in our legacy, not only marking the return of the Proton name to the S1K event but also introducing the first racing car based on a model co-developed by Proton and Geely,” he added.
Buyers and visitors can enhance their experience at Malaysia Autoshow 2024 with exclusive promotions and rewards from Proton during the event. Visitors making direct bookings for Proton models will receive exclusive gifts such as sunshades, toll readers, and wireless chargers for selected models.
Special promotions are also offered specifically for bookings made at Malaysia Autoshow with registration before June 30, 2024. This includes two years of free maintenance for X50, X70, and X90 models, as well as an RM500 cash voucher for S70, Saga, and Persona models.
There is also the Test Drive Lucky Spin where participants can spin the lucky wheel to win exclusive Proton merchandise after test-driving Proton models.
PROTON has announced its sales performance for April 2023, which saw the national car manufacturer recording sales of 11,025 units for the domestic and export markets.
The figure represents a 17.1% increase compared to the 9,415 units achieved in April last year.
Sales for the first four months of 2024 have also increased to 50,175 units, higher than the 49,702 units sold from January to April 2023.
Total industry volume (TIV) for the Malaysian automotive market meanwhile also grew for the same period to an estimated 59,100 units and a cumulative total of 261,345 units for the year.
Proton’s market share is estimated at 18.7% in April alone while year-to-date market share is forecast to be at 19.2%, maintaining its second position in the overall national automotive sales ranking.
According to national automaker, the X50 years, regained the top spot for B-segment SUVs despite growing competition from the market with 1,642 units sold in April.
Meanwhile, the S70 continues to lead the C-segment sedan sales with 1,635 units sold last month, resulting in cumulative sales of 7,463 units for 2024.
The Saga remains Proton’s best-selling model, recording sales of 5,031 units in April, with year-to-date sales up 8.8% to 23,278 units.
The X70 came in at 552 units, while the Persona and X90 recorded sales of 1,429 units and 312 units, respectively. Iriz added 424 units to its April sales volume, making the total sales to date1,958 units.
“The slowdown in automotive sales in April, where TIV shrank by 16.8% compared to March 2024, can be attributed to the long holiday period as OEMs, dealerships and other members of the local automotive ecosystem took time off to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” said Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.
Year to date, Proton export sales volume has surged 38.5% to 835 units as compared to 603 units registered in the same period last year.
Leading the export sales chart is the Saga with 427 units sold year-to-date, an increase of 16% from 368 units from the same period last year. The X50 came in second with 176 units sold while the S70 recorded 89 units in Brunei, its only export market.
A Proton S70 owner is facing stroke of bad luck as his newly purchased sedan was reported to have encountered a total of 73 issues despite being brand new.
In a post on the Proton S70 Malaysian Community (MYS70COM) group, Ku Azhar mentioned receiving a Space Grey S70 Flagship X on February 2, 2024. However, the car reportedly began facing issues the following day (February 3), after merely traveling 300 km.
Ku Azhar said he sent his car to the service center on February 5, where it remained for 15 days. He stated that the car was also sent to the Proton headquarters for a day and to the Proton factory in Tanjung Malim for 15 days.
It was revealed that 33 issues were pinpointed during the Tanjung Malim visit, and as of March 17, a total of 69 problems had been detected.
Ku Azhar highlighted that the latest count of issues reached 73, with 54 problems remaining unresolved at the time of the visit.
Here are some of the problems experienced by Ku Azhar’s S70 Flagship X:
Noisy steering rack/absorber
Excessive engine vibration (confirmed by Service Center, abnormal compared to other S70s, vibrating after being returned by Proton Tanjung Malim)
AEB suddenly brakes when taking corners
IHU lagging, unable to change mode/do anything on the screen
Loud brake pad noises: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced brake pads and discs due to overheating spots.
Loud bubbling noise from AC: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced o-ring, piping, condenser, and topped up coolant tank to maximum
Loud knocking sound every time compressor starts running
Low gear makes very loud noise compared to test-driven S70 – confirmed by Service Center, borrowed test drive unit for comparison.
Powertrain missing next service mileage while at Proton Tanjung Malim, odometer not working but next service mileage shows 776 km left – HQ instructed to have service at 10,000 km at 9,400 km, with owner covering costs to avoid warranty issues later.
Car difficult to start, remote start also not functioning. No response from HQ/SC in when stranded at R&R.
Auto-hold gear not engaging even after pressing brake and stopping, car still moves forward, green P symbol did not come on
Additionally, he mentioned his car also suffered from exterior and interior cosmetic issues due to improper installation after returning from Proton Tanjung Malim.
These included stone chip marks on bumpers and hood, and scratch marks on the dashboard. He even claimed there were shoe prints on the rear seats.
According Ku Azhar his last meeting with CRM on March 18 at the Proton Center of Excellence (COE) in Shah Alam. He explained that the rectification plan, initially scheduled for the following week, was postponed to April 15, 2024, due to the promised replacement car not being available yet.
He claimed that the date was further pushed to April 16 as the contact person was on leave on April 15, 2024. In the meantime, Proton suggested continuing to use the car until the rectification is done.
IT’S safe to say that many have been waiting for the arrival of the newest sedan from Proton, especially considering that the last time the national car maker brought a sedan to the market was the Persona back in 2016.
The wait ends today with the official launch of the Proton S70, which enters the Malaysian market as the fourth Proton model to be jointly developed with Geely after the X70, X50 dan X90.
As previously reported, the S70 will be available in four variants, namely Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X.
All four variants feature a combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that produces 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque.
Note that this is the same port-injected engine and transmission used in the X50 Standard, Executive, and Premium models. The 1.5-litre TGDi engine with 177 PS and 255 Nm, found in the X50 Flagship and the new X70, is not offered in the S70, at least for the time being.
Built on the B-Segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, the S70 measures 4,602 mm in length, 1,809 mm in width, 1,466 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,637 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Geely Emgrand it is based on.
In terms of equipment, the entry-level Executive variant comes with six airbags, Lane Change Assist, electronic parking brake, 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.
The Premium adds LED headlights, rear light bars, leatherette upholstery, automatic air conditioning, and reverse camera.
The Flagship offers more additional features, including ADAS, tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless charger, and a 360-degree camera with a 3D display.
The range-topping Flagship X only offers one additional feature over the Flagship, which is a sunroof.
Safety-wise, the Flagship and Flagship X variants come with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with 13 safety systems:
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Forward Collision Warning
Adaptive Cruise Control dengan Stop & Go
Intelligent Cruise Control
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Departure Prevention
Lane Centering Control
Traffic Sign Information
Intelligent High Beam Control
Lane Change Assist
Door Opening Warning
Rear Collision Warning
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
There are seven colour options available. Snow White and Space Grey are available for all four variants, while Armour Silver and Passion Red are only offered for the Premium and Flagship.
Marine Blue and Teal Bayou Green are exclusive to the Flagship and Flagship X, and Quartz Black is exclusive to the Flagship X.
Selling prices start from RM73,800 for the Executive, RM79,800 for the Premium, RM89,800 for the Flagship, and RM94,800 for the Flagship X.
The standard package for the S70 includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a 1GB per month data package for five years, free labor for six times, financing interest rates from 2.34 percent, and Proton Insurance Program.
Additionally, the first 3,000 owners who register their cars before February 29, 2024, will receive an aero body kit worth RM3,130 (Flagship X only), a RM500 service voucher (Premium and Flagship only), and an upgraded Proton insurance program.
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