Proton announced today that it has started production of its upcoming three-row SUV, commonly known as the X90. The X90, which will be launched later this year on the occasion of the Geely automaker’s 40th anniversary, is based on the Geely Haoyue, also known as the Geely Okavango in other markets such as the Philippines.
The news was made by Proton chairman Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar, who was speaking at a roll-out ceremony at the automaker’s Tanjung Malim factory. Also present at today’s event was Perak MB Dato’ Sri Sarani Mohamad as well as state dignitaries and other Proton executives.
The car was shown to attendees at the ceremony, but no photos were allowed, and the front-facing teaser image you see here is the car’s first official appearance. Given that it can only be viewed from a distance, we can’t tell you much other than that the Proton’s example has a differently styled grille – a chrome pin extending from the Proton logo, as highlighted in previous spy shots.
The X90 also gets a different headlight design, with L-shaped daytime running lights swept up and fog lamp surrounds finished in black instead of chrome. Otherwise, it looks very similar to Geely. Likewise, the interior, as spy shots of the cabin last week suggested.
Syed Faisal said the X90 will come with hybrid power (as confirmed by our previous report), but gave no further information. As we’ve detailed in a previous post, the X90 is likely to feature the Okavango’s mild-hybrid system rated at 190 PS at 5,500 rpm and 300 Nm at 1,500-4,000 rpm.
The setup consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with a belt-driven starter-generator (BSG), and a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels.
This would make the X90 the first Proton model to be offered with a mild hybrid. The national carmaker has not said when it will launch the new three-row SUV, but there are indications it will debut in the second half of 2023. Are you looking forward to X90?
Gallery: Proton X90 spy shots