Geely Emgrand-based Proton S50 is heavier than City and Vios, Malaysia could debut 1.5 Turbo

• Malaysia-bound Proton S50 could get turbocharged mill 
• 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated mill isn't suitable for Malaysian highways
• Can this sway you away from the City and Vios?

Long live the sedan, as a spyshot of a new Proton sedan has emerged on social media. Widely believed to be called the Proton S50 - sedan version of the X50 -, Proton is eyeing the lucrative B-segment sedan market with this new sedan.

The Proton S50, as what some folks are calling it, is said to be based on the all-new, fourth-generation Geely Emgrand.

In markets where the Emgrand is currently sold in, like China and Philippines, the sedan is powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre 4-pot engine. In China, the engine produces 114 PS and 147 Nm, but over in the Philippines, the engine does 102 PS and 142 Nm. Drive is routed to the front wheels via a CVT transmission.

Also Read: Proton S50: Persona / Preve replacement model to get same BMA platform as X50, 1.5L engine

Upon its arrival in Malaysia, we speculate that the Proton S50 may not be fitted with this naturally-aspirated mill, but with a turbocharged unit instead. The Proton X50’s turbocharged 3-pot (150 PS, 226 Nm) could be a viable option.

There are several possibilities to as why the Malaysian-spec Proton S50 could get the turbocharged mill and one of the key factors is the fact that the naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre unit doesn't have enough pulling power for the car's 1.2-tonne kerb weight.

Also Read: Proton to CKD Geely Emgrand. Your next Preve/Persona?

This puts the Proton S50's power-to-weight ratio at a disadvantage against rivals like the Toyota Vios and Honda City, never mind larger sedans. It tips the scale at 1,250 kg, and with the engine outputting 102 PS, that translate into a power-to-weight ratio of 82 PS/tonne.

For context, that far less than rivals like the City (106 PS/tonne) and Vios (93 PS/tonne). 82 PS/tonne also puts the Emgrand behind the model it’s supposed to replace, the Proton Persona  (90 PS/tonne).

Also Read: Proton's new engine assembly line only makes X50, X70's 1.5 TGDi for now; more variants to come

Dimensions wise, the Geely Emgrand is longer and wider than the Proton Persona, though its wheelbase is identical to the now-discontinued Proton Preve.

We should also add that one shouldn’t get too hung up on whether the new Proton S50 is a B- or C-segment car. Like the Perodua Ativa, the Proton S50 is a new generation value-added package model that straddles between traditional segments.

If the Proton S50 is priced right, could it sway potential buyers away from rivals like the Vios and City?