Buried in Proton’s vendor collaboration press launch yesterday have been mentions of future merchandise that shall be launched beginning this yr, together with the nationwide carmaker’s new AMA platform for entry-level automobiles.
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 [advanced driver assistance] programs for the AMA01.” In precise reality, the information is vastly important as a result of there may be one AMA-based mannequin that shall be launching this yr – the new Proton Saga.
This in itself shouldn’t be a large shock – in spite of everything, we’ve seen a number of camouflaged prototypes fitted with an ADAS digital camera on the high of the windscreen. However this tacit admission from the corporate itself remains to be large information and implies that potential prospects can look ahead to driver help programs lastly coming to the finances 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 costlier Protons. Given the automobile’s remit of offering probably the most bang to your buck, full Stage 2 semi-autonomous driving programs equivalent to adaptive cruise management and lane centring help are most likely a bridge too far, as they typically require higher-definition cameras and a entrance radar, each of which add price.
That’s no large loss – simply including autonomous emergency braking alone could be an enormous enchancment over the outgoing mannequin and put it on par with its greatest rival, the Perodua Bezza. We must always level out, nevertheless, that there are automobiles 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 seek out out whether or not Proton will provide some or all of those options as commonplace (unlikely, once more attributable to price) and if it has addressed the Saga’s different security problem – simply two airbags throughout the vary. Hopefully, the redesign has allowed the fitment of a minimum of six airbags, which might give the automobile an edge over the aforementioned Bezza.
The brand new security programs 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 automobile with projector headlights, a full-width grille with the Ethereal Bow chrome bar and a brand new bumper design.
Inside, the modifications 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 below the bonnet, the Saga might 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 positive when the automobile launches within the fourth quarter of the yr.
GALLERY: 2025 Proton Saga spyshots
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