2020 Geely Preface goes on sale in China, will it be the platform of a new Proton?

After many previews, a global debut at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, and an eyebrow-raising video, the 2020 Geely Preface is now officially on sale in China.

In China, the Preface will be known as the Geely Xing Rui, the sedan will come in 4 flavours for China customers to make their pick. Prices will start from RMB 113,700 (RM 70,600) and tops off at RMB 149,700 (RM 93,000).

The Preface is the second car built on Geely’s CMA platform after the Geely Xing Yue/ Tugella coupe SUV launched in 2019. Measuring at 4,785 x 1,869 x 1,469 mm in length, width, and height, the Preface’s measurements positions the car between popular C-segment and D-segment cars.

As of yet, Geely has only one engine option available on the Preface, a 2.0TD turbocharged direct fuel injection engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox that produces 190 PS and 300 Nm. More engines are expected to come in future. 

Inside, the Preface features a luxuriously equipped cabin with plush looking seats and two 12.3-inch screens. The driver will derive information from an Audi-esque instrument cluster while entertainment can be settled via the touchscreen infotainment display.

The infotainment system features Geely’s GKUI system so, like the Proton X70, the Preface will also benefit from over-the-air (OTA) updates in future.

If you’re still confused with the different names the Preface is sold as just refer to the Geely Bin Yue as an example. In Philippines, Belarus, and Russia, the Bin Yue is sold as the Geely Coolray, only in Malaysia the B-segment SUV is sold as the Proton X50.

Meanwhile, no word yet if whether Proton has started work on converting the Preface to a right-hand-drive car yet even though the Preface is highly tipped to be the next Proton Perdana.

Since Proton is rumoured to be developing models of their own rather than rebadging cars like previously, the next Perdana might only share the same platform as the Preface instead.