Buried in Proton’s vendor collaboration press launch yesterday had been mentions of future merchandise that might be launched beginning this yr, together with the nationwide carmaker’s new AMA platform for entry-level autos.
Most notable was the seemingly innocuous partnership struck between China’s Imotion Automotive Expertise and Proton’s long-term vendor Delloyd Expertise, which might allow the previous to assist “speed up the event and adoption of ADAS (superior driver help) techniques for the AMA01.” In precise truth, the information is massively important as a result of there may be one AMA-based mannequin that might be launching this yr – the new Proton Saga.
This in itself just isn’t an enormous shock – in spite of everything, we’ve seen a number of camouflaged prototypes fitted with an ADAS digital camera on the prime of the windscreen. However this tacit admission from the corporate itself continues to be massive information and signifies that potential clients can sit up for driver help techniques lastly coming to the price range sedan this yr.
It stays to be seen whether or not the Saga will get the total suite of options that we’ve come to anticipate from bigger and dearer Protons. Given the automotive’s remit of offering essentially the most bang in your buck, full Stage 2 semi-autonomous driving techniques equivalent to adaptive cruise management and lane centring help are in all probability a bridge too far, as they often require higher-definition cameras and a entrance radar, each of which add value.
That’s no massive loss – simply including autonomous emergency braking alone could be an enormous enchancment over the outgoing mannequin and put it on par with its largest rival, the Perodua Bezza. We should always level out, nonetheless, that there are vehicles on the market, such because the Honda Civic, that present Stage 2 semi-autonomy utilizing a purely camera-based system, so we will’t rule these options out simply but.
We’ll even have to attend to search out out whether or not Proton will supply some or all of those options as normal (unlikely, once more on account of value) and if it has addressed the Saga’s different security challenge – simply two airbags throughout the vary. Hopefully, the redesign has allowed the fitment of no less than six airbags, which might give the automotive an edge over the aforementioned Bezza.
The brand new security techniques will be a part of a closely revised exterior design, nonetheless primarily based on the outgoing Saga – itself tracing its lineage again to the 2008 “BLM” mannequin. Leaked inside photos purportedly present the brand new automotive with projector headlights, a full-width grille with the Ethereal Bow chrome bar and a brand new bumper design.
Inside, the adjustments are much more stark, with an all-new dashboard housing a widescreen show panel with instrument and infotainment screens, pill-shaped air vents and redesigned air-con switchgear. There’s additionally a brand new three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel lifted from the X50.
As for what’s beneath the bonnet, the Saga could possibly be the recipient of a brand new Geely-sourced engine, maybe associated to the brand new 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine rumoured for the facelifted X50. We’ll discover out for certain when the automotive launches within the fourth quarter of the yr.
GALLERY: 2025 Proton Saga spyshots
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