Proton has officially announced the S70 Lite and Prime variants, powered by a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and CVT gearbox. These two variants sit below the turbocharged variants and will be priced accordingly – estimated to start from below RM60,000, Proton says.
The carmaker says that these NA S70 variants are ‘designed for customers who value comfort, practicality and ease of everyday driving at an affordable price’ and that they ‘bring a smooth and relaxed experience’. Sounds like a more suitable Teksi Madani car than this.
The S70 Lite and Prime’s biggest change is the switch from a turbo-DCT powertrain combo to a NA-CVT pairing. In the latest Saga MC3, Proton’s entry sedan, the i-GT 1.5-litre engine puts out 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm of torque between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm (that’s a hefty 61 PS/140 Nm down on the S70 MC1 turbo).
For the Saga, the BHE15PFI four-cylinder engine is mated to a Punch VT3+ clutch-based CVT in the Premium variant (lesser variants use an Aisin 4AT).
Will this Saga Premium combination be carried over wholesale to the S70? That would be an easy presumption; however, we notice that the supplied image above shows a torque convertor in the transmission, so it’s likely to be not the Punch CVT and possibly the Wanliyang (WLY) CVT used in the Geely Emgrand. Elsewhere, the WLY CVT has an eight-speed simulation mode.
The previous-generation Emgrand, which the S70 is based on, is also available with a conventional six-speed automatic in certain markets, but it looks like Proton/Geely decided that CVT is a better fit for the Malaysian market. It also matches the transmission choice of rivals Toyota Vios and Honda City.
Powertrain aside, Proton claims 10 class-leading features for the new S70 variants, which are class-leading cabin space, rear passenger shoulder room, soft-touch instrument panel, all auto up/down windows with anti-trap, electric parking brake with auto brake hold, remote engine start, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, ‘Rear Side Radar System’, reverse camera and rear seat reminder.
Other features include leatherette seats, five USB ports, six airbags and front/rear parking sensors, with equipment varying by variant.
The Rear Side Radar System (RSRS) provides blind spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, door opening warning and rear collision warning. Basically, all the side and rear stuff – no AEB, as that’s reserved for the Flagship along with adaptive cruise control.
Based on the supplied images, we can see a full black grille, i-GT emblem on the boot and GitiComfort tyres with 17-inch alloys on what’s likely to be the Prime, the costlier of the two NA variants. No full-width rear light bar.
UPDATE: We’ve obtained the brochure and here are the differences between Lite and Prime, kit wise.
Six airbags and the RSRS pack are standard on the Lite, which also gets the EPB, cruise control, halogen headlamps, LED daytime running lamps. 16-inch alloys, fabric seats, an 8.0-inch infotainment head unit, wireless AACP, reverse camera, remote engine start and rear parking sensors.
The Prime adds on LED headlamps to match the DRLs, automatic headlamps, auto-fold door mirrors, the 17-inch alloys you see here, leatherette seats and steering wheel, auto air con and front parking sensors. There are five colours – Quartz Black, Space Grey, Snow White, Marine Blue and Armour Silver.
How does the kit list compare to the turbo range? Very well, actually. On the exterior, the Prime gets 17-inch wheels, which is only available from the Flagship onwards in the turbo. Now, even the Lite gets AACP and a reverse camera, things that the Executive turbo doesn’t have. As for AACP, it’s a Flagship-only feature in the turbo.
This points to a realignment for the turbo to make things less awkward, and we’re expecting the 1.5T range to get a more extensive facelift soon to set it apart from the Lite/Prime NA variants.
The revision should include a visual update, added kit and perhaps a new interior to match the current X50 facelift. The design could be handled by Proton as the S70’s Emgrand base has already been replaced by an all-new generation in China. Check out the mules with quad tailpipes.
Anyway, order books are now open for the S70 Lite and S70 Prime variants and prices are estimated to start from below RM60,000 for the Lite. Final pricing will be announced at the official launch, with no hint or target month/quarter given. Coincidentally, this announcement comes just as Honda is rolling out the City facelift.
By the way, the S70 turbo range with 181 PS/290 Nm is priced from RM69k for the Executive to RM90k for the Flagship X, so below RM60k for the NA sounds about right? Also, would it be a good deal if the price difference between the variants is RM10k? Check out the brochure scans below.
Finally, customers who book and register the S70 Lite and Prime variants by December 31, 2026 will be eligible for an ‘exclusive early bird reward’, which will be announced at the launch. Based on what we know so far, what do you think of the ‘S70 NA’ as a replacement for the Iriz-based Persona?
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments are mostly positive, praising the Proton S70 Lite and Prime for their affordability, competitive features, and potential to challenge models like the Honda City, Vios, and Myvi. Many see it as a strong value leader, with some suggestions for higher-spec variants and features. Concerns about fuel efficiency, pricing, and market competition are evident, but overall, there’s excitement about its impact on Malaysian car choices, potentially disrupting Perodua and other rivals while generating discussion on regional markets and future models.