BY AFIQ AZIZ

Proton is expected to adopt the alphanumeric naming system for its future models. (Source: Proton)

Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton) today previewed to the media the much-talked about SUV named X70 in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Booking for the highly anticipated model by the local carmaker will start tomorrow with a deposit of RM1,000. The car is expected to be delivered before year-end.

The price of the SUV, co-developed by Proton and its partner, the Chinese Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd (Geely), would be revealed later during its official launch.

The X70 comes in four variants, starting with the base standard 2WD, executive 2WD, executive AWD and premium 2WD. All the variants will be powered by the 1.8litre turbocharged gasoline direct injection (TGDI) engine.

Proton Edar CEO Abdul Rashid Musa said this is the first time that the national carmaker is using the alphanumeric naming system in order to avoid language barrier when the model is sold in international market.s 

“The letter X is synonym with crossover or SUV. So using it makes it easy to identify the segment of this Proton model. The number 70 denotes the size/class of the SUV. It gives Proton a logical system to add bigger or smaller models in the future,” he told media. This is the first time Proton is using the alphanumeric naming for its car.

Proton is expected to adopt the alphanumeric naming system for its future models.

Abdul Rashid said the X70 public preview will start from September 19 to November 4, 2018. It is expected to be viewed by up to 6,000 customers in the seven major cities.