2026 Geely Emgrand will get longer physique, sleeker styling – is that this all-new Fifth-gen the next-gen Proton S70?

Right here’s one thing somewhat attention-grabbing – the brand new Geely Emgrand is ready to get an entire lot extra upmarket. Simply 4 years after it revealed the budget-friendly fourth-generation mannequinGeely confirmed the primary photographs of the all-new fifth era, which guarantees to be larger and extra highly effective than the final one.

If the design seems acquainted to you, that’s as a result of the brand new Emgrand is all however similar to the Geely Galaxy Starshine 6replete with a waterfall grille that could be very paying homage to Mercedes-AMG fashions. The sweeping six-window glasshouse, discrete door handles and smooth rear have additionally been carried over.

However whereas the Starshine 6 is a plug-in hybrid, the Emgrand is, as earlier than, a pure petrol mannequin, being bought beneath the principle Geely model. That implies that whereas its sibling makes use of the up to date EM-i powertrain because the bigger Galaxy A7this automotive is reportedly motivated by a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, in keeping with Autohome.

This implies the brand new Emgrand makes use of the identical BHE15TD engine because the facelifted Proton X50seemingly producing an similar 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque and mated to a seven-speed moist dual-clutch transmission. It is a far cry from the outgoing Chinese language-market Emgrand, which utilises both the 120 PS/150 Nm naturally-aspirated BHE15D (mated to a CVT) or a 1.8 litre methanol-capable four-pot hybrid.

Past the powertrain, the brand new Emgrand is differentiated from the Galaxy Starshine 6 by means of an oblong grille, a Volvo-style X-shaped entrance bumper design, break up (as a substitute of full-width) taillights and twin (pretend, sadly) trapezoidal tailpipes. A submitting with China’s ministry of trade and data expertise (MIIT) reveals that the automotive measures 4,815 mm lengthy (9 millimetres longer than the Starshine 6), 1,885 mm vast and 1,480 mm tall, with a 2,755 mm wheelbase.

That makes it 177 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 20 mm taller than the earlier Emgrand, in addition to having a 105 mm longer wheelbase – bumping up the brand new automotive by a whole measurement class. This, together with an anticipated improve from torsion beam rear suspension to a multilink setup, ought to handle export-market considerations of the previous automotive not being a real C-segment Honda Civic rival.

Inside, the brand new Emgrand continues to share lots with the Starshine 6, together with a dashboard with pill-shaped air vents and a large centre console with the now rigor twin smartphone holders and a 50-watt Qi wi-fi charger. There’s additionally the identical digital instrument show and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen working on the newest Flyme Auto working system.

There are a couple of adjustments, nevertheless, together with a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel to interchange the Galaxy line’s two-spoke rectangular unit (the one shared with the Proton eMas 7) and a centre console-mounted crystalline gear selector. This has additionally necessitated the repositioning of the twin cupholders fore and aft, in addition to the ditching of the multifunction management knob for – pleasure of joys! – a row of bodily switches beneath the touchscreen that seem to regulate the air con.

The brand new Geely Emgrand is of curiosity to us as a result of the fourth-generation mannequin types the premise of the Proton S70. We’re anticipating an replace for the sedan that can obtain the BHE15TD engine, so there’s a likelihood we may see this full makeover in Malaysia as quickly as subsequent yr – though given the nationwide carmaker’s previous kind, we expect the four-pot to be added to the present S70 as a substitute.

Nonetheless, Proton did tease a sedan eMas mannequin final yr, which may probably be a twin of the Starshine 6. Spawning a petroleum model of that – and constructing each on the identical line in Tanjong Malim – might allow Proton to offset the price of changing the S70 early. Are you excited concerning the prospect of a correct C-segment S70 with 4 cylinders? Hold forth within the feedback after the leap.

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