2026 Proton S70 MC1 spied – new 1.5L i-GT 4-cylinder engine; Ruby Red colour; updated wheels, headlamps
Thanks to a photo posted in the ‘Proton S70 malaysia’ Facebook page, we now have more details of the upcoming Proton S70 facelift (referred to as ‘MC’ or ‘minor change’). This comes a few months after a prototype was sighted here and several days after the company confirmed the refreshed sedan is on its way.
The first update for the S70 will come over two years after it was launched in November 2023 and looks to adopt the design changes seen on the fourth-generation Emgrand, which got facelifted in July 2024. We should point out that the Emgrand did enter its fifth generation in November this year but that’s not coming our way, at least in the foreseeable future.
In terms of visual changes, the S70’s headlamps have been redesigned with new integrated turn signals, while the multi-spoke wheels appear identical to those fitted to the Emgrand. The sedan will also get a new Ruby Red metallic exterior to replace the current Passion Red solid paint finish.
Proton has already said the S70 MC1 will be powered by a new 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged inline-four petrol engine from the heavily updated X50, with the BHE15TD also set to enter the X70 and X90. In the X50, the turbo-direct injection mill makes 181 PS (178 hp or 133 kW) and 290 Nm of torque, which is more than the S70’s current 1.5 litre turbo inline-three with 150 PS (148 hp or 110 kW) and 226 Nm.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels has been the default for the S70 since its launch and this will most likely continue for the facelift as well. It has been rumoured that Proton will add a naturally-aspirated engine option to lower the S70’s entry price and create what is effectively a replacement for the Persona that will be discontinued.
In China, the fourth-generation Emgrand facelift is offered with just such an engine, a 1.5 litre unit making 126 PS (125 hp or 93 kW) and 152 Nm paired with a CVT. These figures are an improvement over the Persona’s CVT-mated 1.6 litre NA inline-four making 109 PS (107 hp or 80 kW) and 150 Nm.
The word on social media suggests the S70 MC1 will be launched next month, although the company isn’t teasing the refreshed sedan just yet. Hopefully we’ll get more official details in the coming weeks.
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