Proton Saga MC3 and e.MAS 5 Take Centre Stage: Cementing Malaysia-China Partnership as ASEAN Automotive Hub
The 47th ASEAN Summit recently became the platform for a pivotal moment in Malaysia’s automotive future. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, alongside Premier Li Qiang, inspected the newest models from Malaysia’s national car brand—the latest Proton Saga.
Photos of the new Saga wrapped in ‘songket’ style camo circulated the internet over the weekend ahead of its premier and we got our first full reveal from a photo posted by the Prime Minister on X. Additional photos were shared on Proton’s official website. The Saga was also shown alongside a fully revealed Proton e.MAS 5.
The new Proton Saga MC3 as it’s known internally is built on an evolution of the AMA platform used on its homegrown models now known as the Proton Advanced Modular Architecture (PAMA) and is the first model to be developed on it. PAMA was fully designed and engineered by Malaysian talent but there was some technical collaboration done with Geely. The improvements made to PAMA allow the new Saga to benefit from Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), which has been missing on all natively-engineered Proton cars prior.
It is widely assumed that the Saga will be fitted with a new 1.5 litre inline four petrol engine, the same unit that’s found on the Proton X50, but stripped down and likely without the turbocharger. It’s also rumoured that two different automatic transmission options will be offered – a conventional automatic for the entry level models and a more fuel-efficient CVT for the flagship model. These rumours have yet to be substantiated, but we won’t have to wait long before knowing for sure what the final spec of the new Saga will be.
The Saga MC3 features a new front end with L-shaped Daytime Running Lights and LED projector headlamps for the first time. The Ethereal Bow grille is featured on the grille and the overall ‘face’ of the vehicle looks a lot more upright. There’s a full-width light bar around back and the Proton script is emblazoned across the bootlid. A small ducktail sits at the top of the boot.
We’ve also seen images of the interior that indicate dual screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment unit. A standard gear selector is still present, indicating that Proton is not moving all its cabin designs in the same direction as the e.MAS 7 and X50.
As highlighted by PM Anwar, these vehicles symbolise a shared commitment to technological innovation and strategic cooperation. The viewing underscores the significant role that China’s automotive technology, primarily through the successful Proton-Geely collaboration, plays in revitalising the national brand and accelerating Malaysia’s transition to smart mobility.
