The Proton Tech Showcase has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine that now serves in the X50 facelift as well as the 2026 Saga MC3 will be headed for the forthcoming, updated X70, X90 and S70, and the carmaker has revealed further details on the new engine family.
Proton has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine, in its naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, will feature local content proportions of 54% and 45%, respectively, and the Malaysian automaker has also detailed how the new engines are improved compared to their predecessors.
Beginning with the headline figures, in turbocharged form the 1.5 i-GT engine in the facelifted X50 outputs 133 kW (181 PS) and 290 Nm, gains of 2.3% and 13.7% over those of previous generations, according to Proton. Its claimed fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 km represents a 16.1% reduction, and Proton claims an industry-leading torque-to-weight ratio of 2.64 Nm per kg.
For the 1.5 i-GT engine in naturally aspirated form as found in the Saga MC3, its outputs of 88 kW (120 PS) and 150 Nm represent gains of 25.7% and 25% for power and torque respectively, while its 11.6-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 21.6% quicker than that of its predecessor, the Saga MC2 which did the benchmark run in 14.8 seconds.
Compared against Proton’s older turbocharged engine, the 1.6 litre, port-fuel-injected turbocharged CFE engine, the 1.5 litre i-GT turbo mill offers 41% more useful torque, according to Proton, and the new engine demonstrates greater torque outputs across the entire engine rev range, from 1,000 to 6,000 rpm.
Like the older 1.6T engine, the turbocharged i-GT arrives at peak torque at 2,000 rpm, though it appears to taper down from peak torque for longer compared to the older engine.
In terms of power, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT also offers higher outputs across the rev range, a claimed 17% more, and the new engine brings a steeper ramp up towards its 5,500 rpm output peak, compared to the 1.6T CFE engine’s plateau, which also peaks at 5,500 rpm before the 6,000 rpm limit.
When compared to the 1.5 litre CEP3 three-cylinder engine previously in the X50, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT engine offers a claimed 14% more useful torque (290 Nm, up from 255 Nm in the X50 Flagship), and 2% more power (up from 177 PS of the X50 Flagship).
Power and torque are increased across most of the rev range, though power and torque bands of the i-GT appear to dip below those of the GEP3 Turbo engine from 4,500 rpm to 5,250 rpm. Test bench fuel consumption figures for the 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged engine shows a 6% improvement over the 1.5L GEP3 three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 20% improvement over the 1.6L CFE turbocharged engine.
Compared between naturally aspirated engines, the NA version of the 1.5 i-GT engine offers claimed gains of 25% more torque and 26% more power, relative to the smaller displacement, also-naturally aspirated 1.3 litre VVT engine. According to official specifications listed for the 2026 Saga MC3, this BHE15-CFN port-injected engine outputs 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm from 4,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm.
As mentioned, the 1.5 litre i-GT engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms will be featured in upcoming updated iterations of the Proton X70, X90 and S70.
GALLERY: Proton i-GT engine presentation slides
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Do we have to compare Nokia 3310 with iPhone 16?
your analogy isnt accurate. proton saga mightty 120bhp engine donated by glorious cpc regime , can smoke the toyota vios which costs 2x the price and mazda3 1.5 which is 3x the price of saga.
Yeah because all the while Proton cronies was formed to feed on cronies and expect everyone to buy low quality and low value/tech product at inflated price for decades.
Petrol Engine Technology does not progress that Fast But just that Campro Engine was the worst performance engine compare to other Japanese engine of that era. Ludicrous to see the actual dynotest of campro with a valley Dip.at critical midband RPM that we usually drive On…
Never buy Proton cars because they always say have improvement, meaning you got the ‘unfinished’ car. And stuck with it for the next 5 years, perhaps 9. After 2 months proton suddenly say we have an improved version. New this, new that. Updated and over the air.
What if its not capable to be updated?
Constant improvement or Kaizen is what your favorite Japanese brands have been doing for years. Save your energy to defend the QVE, P2 salesman.
From this article, it points out that engine development doesn’t end with mass production. continuous improvement keeps going. as a result over 15 years, engine performance have greatly advanced. So for proton, campro engine is a big milestone and achievement. they had introduced in stages IAFM, later VVT version and charged induction versions. But the current generation of Geely engines, proves that further progress, have outclassed Campro capabilities. Proton either adopts Geely power train or continue to R&D and develope enhancement. with volume barely 250,000 units a year, it will be difficult for proton to come up with yearly upgrades like what current chinese automakers are doing with BEV. it is just not financially possible. Automotive industry is about volume!!!! so time changes, everybody improves, engine performance surely improves.. it shows in the statistics shared in this article.
So just a random observation here
Why does the new engine 1.5NA torque graph didn’t show it’s max torque as 150NM?
From the graph, it reads more or less 145ish NM
Another one in the new Saga engine
Why does it have campro like torque dip around 3k to 4k rpm?
Questions begging for answers
The torque dip is from the Atkinson cycle which prioritises efficiency over performance, and port injection the engine is using. My guess is Geely designed the engine with direct injection in mind before later adopting port injection for lower cost applications.
i guess the campro engine was just so good that even bigboss geely copied the campro midrange torque dip
I hope Proton will come out S70.with.NA engine with CVT gearbox like Geely Emgrand in Philippines to ruval City & Vios. The Saga Cabin is cery tight and the S70.will fit average M40 family Man.
M40 can’t afford 74K S70 Executive?
Starting from standstill the car should speed up very fast togather gear change into overdrive (lower gearing ratio hence low fuel) rsooner than other less powerful cars
6.1 litres per 100 km == 1 litre = 16KM? YEAH for Proton ?
HOLD my HOTdog
Proton Saga MC2 so slow meh? almost 15 seconds to reach century mark? i saw those ricers put big GT wing and wheels but actually their car so slow.
saga needs 11.6s to reach 0-100 kmh
S70 requires a lot more Proton sedan chassis refinement.
Proton previous investment for Perdana/Accord project wasn’t a profitable outcome, finger cross Proton got new i4 S70 to a usable consumer sedan in the long run.