2025 Proton X50 facelift – major update brings updated styling, i-GT 1.5T 4-cylinder engine, all-new interior
At long last, Proton has previewed thefacelifted X50(although the company calls this an “all-new” model), some five years after theoriginal was introduced– and just a year after the mildRC update. Making up for its tardy timing, the B-segment SUV has been comprehensively redesigned inside and out and, remarkably, sports an all-new engine.UPDATE:Check out thelive photos of the 2025 Proton X50 facelift here.That engine is the i-GT 1.5 litre TD (turbo direct injection, not turbodiesel). Proton has not specifically said exactly what kind of mill it is, but it did reveal the outputs – 181 PS and 290 Nm of torque, increases of 4 PS and 35 Nm over the previous car. Crucially, those figures are exactly the same as the Geely Binyue L sold in China, meaning that the X50 has almost certainly inherited that car’s latestfour-cylinder powertrain.Many people would consider this an upgrade over the existing locally-produced three-cylinder, and the performance figures speak for themselves. Still paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive, the new mill propels the car from zero to 100 km/h three tenths of a second quicker at 7.6 seconds – and yet Proton also claims a 4.7% improvement in fuel efficiency.For the first time, all variants get the same engine, meaning that lesser variants get a big power and torque bump over the 150 PS/226 Nm port-injected PFI three-pot. Speaking of variants, there are three this time around, those being Executive, Premium and Flagship – the base Standard is no more.Not only is the engine from the Binyue L, but so is the entire exterior styling it seems, Proton gaining the newest design that was launched in China in November 2024 (the previousBinyue Cool, whichearlier test prototypes were based on, has apparently been discontinued).The entire front clip is new, sporting reflector LED headlights (no more projectors, unfortunately, but with triple daytime running light “eyebrows” à la theS70), a massive full-width slatted lower grille with silver L-shaped corners, and even new fenders to house S70-style chrome A-pillar extensions. The grille is also new and unique to Proton, reintroducing the red “Ethereal Bow” strip and adding alternating vertical “pins”. A reshaped bonnet has been added as well, now with fake vents.At the back you’ll find another wholesale redesign, with full-width taillights and a new tailgate that pushes the number plate recess lower down. The bumper gains more L-shaped corners but retains the old car’s large diffuser and quad tailpipes (finally, the X50 gets one pipe per cylinder).Elsewhere, the side skirts have been redesigned, again with a fake vent aft of the front wheels. The wheels themselves measure 17 inches in diameter on the Executive and 18 inches on the Premium and Flagship – the latter with a two-tone turbine design and a rather classy “knurled” finish on the five spokes.Finally, the Flagship model shown here receives the “Batmobile” rear wing aspreviously reported– an option hitherto exclusive to the Binyue that was recently reinstated on the Binyue L on a crass new Beyond Edition. It also maintains the black roof that is standard no matter the exterior colour.But the standout new feature is the all-new interior which, to our knowledge, is not shared with any other Geely model – despite what its China-centric design suggests. The cabin on the Flagship model continues to be two-tone (it’s all black on the others) but with the colour scheme inverted – a black upper dash and a red lower, instead of the other way around (presumably to reduce reflections on the windscreen).Everything appears to be designed in-house, including the “floating” centre console that houses twin phone holders (the driver’s side incorporates a Qi wireless charger, again a Flagship-exclusive feature), two cupholders arranged side-by-side and a row of four buttons for air-con on and off, auto climate control, the front demister and the hazard lights.The rest of the air-con controls have been moved into the much larger 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, now standard. The interface is ostensibly similar to the Flyme Auto system in theeMas 7but gains features yet to be offered on that car, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Bahasa Malaysia voice control. You still of course get access to the latest Proton Link 2.0 app with the usual remote vehicle functions.2025 Proton X50 facelift interior (left) versus Geely Binyue LElsewhere, the 8.88-inch digital instrument display is considerably larger than the outgoing model’s seven-inch unit, while the gear selector has been moved from the centre console to the steering column, freeing up more storage. The three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, however, remains the same.Other new features include a 72-colour ambient lighting system (with the X70’s “rhythmic” function) visible in the door pulls and a distinctive “looping” light band design ahead of the front passenger; this motif is mirrored in the also-new door cards. Curiously, there appears to be a large “Allen bolt head” below the driver’s side air vent, next to the repositioned engine start button.The rest of the cabin looks identical to before, including the seats that still come with power adjustment for the driver on the Premium variant onwards. Meanwhile, the Flagship version retains its panoramic glass sunroof and adds the Binyue L’s cool half-transparent sun visors that provide some additional forward visibility while still keeping glare to a minimum.Other bits of standard kit include remote engine start, auto lights and wipers, single-zone auto air-con, fabric upholstery and a reverse camera. The Premium adds faux leather upholstery, the aforementioned ambient lighting, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree camera system with a new transparency function, while the Flagship throws on the exclusive features listed earlier.Last but not least are the driver assistance systems. New rear side radar sensors are now fitted as standard, bringing features such as blind spot monitoring and the new rear collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and door opening warning to the entire lineup. Unfortunately, you’ll have to step up to at least the Premium (previously Flagship only) to get the rest of the ADAS suite – yes, even autonomous emergency braking.This is enabled through a new camera array at the top of the windscreen, which should offer improved functionality for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring assist. Other features included in the package are traffic sign recognition and auto high beam, with the Flagship throwing on an improved park assist system. Six airbags are now standard-fit.“By offering customers a comprehensive technology and performance upgrade together with luxurious features and combining it with exciting and sporty new exterior styling, we think Proton’s latest offering will resonate with customers from all walks of life, [resetting] the benchmark in the B-segment SUV class,” said Proton Edar deputy CEO Zhang Qiang.The facelifted Proton X50 comes in five colours – Snow White, Passion Red, Jet Grey, Armour Silver and the new Teal Bayou Green from the S70, the latter replacing Ocean Blue. What do you think of the new X50 and especially that new engine? Sound off in the comments after the jump.AD:Interested in the new X50?Register your interestand Proton PJ by Regal Motors will get in touch with you to answer all your questions.Loading 5 photos…2025 Proton X50 1.5TD ExecutiveGets as standard:Mechanicals1.5 litre DOHC i-GT TD engine1,499 cc turbocharged direct-injected four-cylinder petrol181 PS and 290 Nm of torque7-speed wet dual-clutch transmissionFront-wheel driveMacPherson strut suspension (front), torsion beam (rear)Ventilated disc brakes (front), solid disc (rear)0-100 km/h in 7.6 secondsExteriorLED auto headlightsLED daytime running lightsLED full-width taillights17-inch alloy wheelsInteriorKeyless entry with remote startPush-button startSingle-zone auto climate controlAuto wipersManual seatsFabric upholsteryMulti-function steering wheel8.88-inch digital instrument display14.6-inch infotainment touchscreenApple CarPlay and Android Auto“Hi Proton” voice control with Bahasa Malaysia optionElectronic parking brakeReverse cameraSafetySix airbags (front, side, curtain)ABS with EBD and brake assistStability controlBlind spot monitoringRear cross traffic alertRear collision warningDoor opening warning2025 Proton X50 1.5TD PremiumAdds on:Exterior18-inch two-tone alloy wheelsInteriorPower-adjustable driver’s seatFaux leather upholstery72-colour ambient lighting with “rhythmic” mode360-degree camera with transparencyPowered tailgateSafetyAutonomous emergency brakingAdaptive cruise control with stop and goLane centring assistLane keeping assistTraffic sign recognitionAuto high beamTyre pressure monitoring system2025 Proton X50 1.5TD FlagshipAdds on:ExteriorRear spoilerBlack roofInteriorBlack and red dashboard and seatsSemi-transparent sun visorsPanoramic glass sunroofQi wireless charger (driver’s side)Park assistLoading 10 photos…GALLERY: 2025 Proton X50 1.5TD Flagship live photosLoading 70 photos…Add paultan.org as a preferred source on Google SearchAddFollow paultan.org on Google NewsFollow
