Proton X50 ‘adapted to Malaysian roads’: 1.9 million km, 75,000 hours of testing; validation still in progress

09/23/2020 Malaysia

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More information on the Proton X50 from the recent City Preview event is coming, in addition to what we shared with you at the media preview in Tanjung Malim last week. We’ve looked at the declared fuel economy figures for the X50, and now here’s another claim, one regarding the tests that were done on the new model.

It’s no secret that the Proton X50 is essentially a Geely Binyue aka Right Hand Drive Coolray in some markets. But the Proton X50 is the first RHD version of the B-segment SUV, and as we’ve seen with the Geely Boyue to X70 conversion, there’s a lot more to do than just turning the wheel. The X50 has 406 parts that are different from the Binyue, for example. Local content is 40% at launch.

It has now been revealed that the Proton spent 75,000 man-hours testing the X50, and has completed 1.9 million kilometers of local road testing of the SUV, which is said to be “adapted to Malaysian roads.” We have been told that it is not the full “Proton Ride and Handling” package, but minor adjustments on the Binyue, like what they did with the CKD X70.

Why do we keep seeing camouflaged mules running even though the X50 launch is just around the corner? We posed the question to X50 vehicle program executive Mohd Haizam Bin Ghazali (basically, he’s the man in charge of everything X50, like a program manager) and he confirmed that the test cars are still racking up miles.

Mohd Haizam explained that while production of the X50 started in mid-August at Tg Malim, Proton has not completed development of the car and there is still work to be done. The X50 test mules that are still on the road are the continuation of reconfirmation activities, and there is some validation work to complete as well. The quality audit cars are still running as well. Learn more about the work behind the Geely to Proton, LHD to RHD conversions here.

It was also mentioned at the City Preview customer event that the Adaptive Cruise Control feature, which allows the car to autonomously follow, stop and turn, keeping it in the lane with steering assistance, operates at speeds up to 150 km / h, as in the X70 Premium.

The top 1.5 TGDi Flagship version of the X50 comes with the full ADAS package including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane center assist, lane keep assist, automatic light control high and blind spot with a door opening warning. There is also a parking assist system that allows parallel and perpendicular autonomous parking movements, something that even the X70 Premium does not have.

We’ve already covered the X50 extensively from the media preview that happened last week, and you can see it here. Below are the spec-by-spec differences that we know of so far. Keep in mind, however, that all the images you see here are from the higher-ranking flagship – Proton has yet to reveal the other variants in metal.

2020 Proton X50 1.5T standard
Get as standard:

1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder MPI engine
Around 150 hp and 226 Nm of torque
Seven-speed dual-clutch (wet) automatic transmission with manual mode (no paddle shifters)
Four airbags (front and side)
LED headlights and DRL
17-inch alloy wheels
Quad exhaust pipes
Carbon fiber print bodykit
Seats of fabric
Rear air vents
Digital instrument cluster
Eight-inch touchscreen infotainment unit
Reversing camera
Electronic parking brake with automatic brake hold