During a recent interview session with Proton chief designer Azlan Othman and Geely Design Shanghai vice president Guy Burgoyne, we learnt that Proton will progress from merely rebadging Geely models, but will instead feature Proton-designed upper bodies.

This will mark a massive departure from the current Proton-badged Geely models, namely the Proton X50 and Proton X70, seeing that both models have minimal differences from their Chinese donor cars.

Recall that the Proton X50 and Proton X70 look largely identical to their donor cars, which are the China-market Geely Binyue and Geely Boyue, respectively. The only differences are the front grille and Proton emblems.

According to Azlan, “As we move from entertaining CBU projects, we go to CKD, and soon enough, full top hat change.”

Top hat refers to the body structures above the engine bulkhead - the A-/B-/C-pillars for example.

For example, the current-generation Perodua Myvi uses a Daihatsu platform but offers a unique Perodua-designed upper body and interior. There are not Japanese-market equivalents of the current-generation Perodua Myvi, unlike the first-generation model.

Azlan explained, “Obviously, if we’re looking at the donor product concept, then the limitations are more. But as we move to the other direction, a new top hat for example, then the sky is the limit.”

As such, it potentially means that future Proton models could be based on the BMA platform (or whichever platform Geely/Proton sees fit), with more design input from Proton, not limited to just a grille change. Instead of a simple rebadge job, future Proton models could get an exterior and interior that are unique to Proton.

But this won’t happen so soon, as Azlan explained that the full “Revolution” look is five to six years into the future.