SUBANG JAYA: National car maker Proton's facelifted X70 MC sports utility vehicle (SUV) line-up gets an option of a more fuel-efficient and lower emission 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged direct injection (TGDi) engine.
The new engine, which is assembled at Proton facilities in Tanjung Malim, delivers 177hp and 255Nm of torque and is similar to the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged direct injection block used in the smaller X50 Flagship variant.
The engine and the seven-speed dual clutch transmission have also been tweaked to cater to the X70's heavier weight.
The company is also retaining the more powerful 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged direct injection block that delivers 184hp and 300Nm of torque in the new X70 line-up for customers who wanted more performance.
Proton's new X70 line-up are the 1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD priced at RM121,800, 1.5 TGDi Premium 2WD (RM117,900), 1.5 TGDi Executive AWD (RM111,300), 1.5 TGDi Executive 2WD (RM105,500) and 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD (RM93,900). Prices are on-the-road without insurance and sales tax in Peninsular Malaysia.
According to Proton deputy COO for powertrain Muhamad Hasbullah Ismail, the new 1.5-litre TGDi promises a 7% lower fuel consumption in urban driving and is 43kg lighter at 113kg in comparison with the 1.8-litre block.
He said the X70 fitted with the 1.5-litre TDGi engine has one of the most competitive performance in the 1.4- to 1.6-litre turbocharged engine category as well as clear advantages over rivals using 2.0-litre non-turbocharged engines.
The X70 fitted with the new engine can complete the 0-100kph dash in 9.8 seconds or just 0.3 second slower than an X70 using the more powerful 1.8-litre turbocharged engine.
Hasbullah said the 1.5-litre TGDi comes with dual variable valve timing (VVT) for optimal performance and reduced emissions across all rev range, a 200bar central direct injection system for more combustion efficiency and a low inertia turbocharger for reduced spool-up lag to achieve a peak torque from 1,5000rpm for improved drivability.
In addition, the engine also features light weight module integrated water pump, coated pistons with low tension rings, a balancer shaft with roller bearings and dual mass flywheel with centrifugal pendulum absorber to improve efficiency and smoothness.
In a brief test drive from Proton's Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya to Kundang and back, covering some 105km, the 1.5-litre TGDi seemed to be a suitable match for the X70.
The preppy engine in our X70 Executive AWD variant was able to build-up speed quickly from standstill with hardly noticeable power delivery lag.
Under hard acceleration, the engine does not feel coarse nor too loud and continued to deliver satisfying performance to 5,000rpm and beyond.
Proton has even developed a new foam-type engine cover that reduces the engine's level of noise, vibration and harshness.
The interior of the X70 was also pleasantly quiet with minimal wind and road noises intruding into the cabin as we cruised around 130kph.
The 1.5-litre TGDi engine's development started in 2012 with the Volvo and Geely Engine Joint Development Programme at Volvo R&D centre and China Euro Vehicle Technology Gothenberg.
The first firing of the 1.5-litre TDGi concept was done in 2013 with its China Industrialisation and Localisation Programme taking off two years later.
The 1.5-litre TGDi engine was offered in Volvo's XC40 in 2017, Geely's Binyue in 2018 and Proton's X50 in 2020.
The engine was also made by Volvo Zhangjiakou and Geely Baoji Engine Plant since 2017 and Geely Yiwu Engine Plant since 2019.
More than 750,000 vehicles from Geely, Lynk and Co, Volvo and Proton have used the 1.5-litre TGDi engine.
The engine has also received the China Automotive Industry Science and Technology Award.
