At Proton’s opening of their new engine assembly line in Tanjung Malim earlier this week, it’s made clear that only the direct-injected 1.5-litre three-cylinder mill (TGDi) is assembled here, while the multi-point injection (MPI) variant is imported from China.

Speaking at the press conference, Muhammad Hasbullah, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Powertrains, said that while “the plant is designed to produce a few more variants of the [1.5-litre three-cylinder engine], at the moment the focus is on producing the TGDi variant”. 

By more variants, we wonder if it is hinting to mild-hybrid (MHEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants? Perhaps even a cheaper, naturally-aspirated variant...

Also read: Proton opens new Tg Malim engine assembly line, first outside of China to make Geely's 3-cyl 1.5T engine

The TGDi engine is the more powerful one of the two three-pot mills in Proton’s stable currently – with 177 PS and 255 Nm, it’s fitted in three Proton X70 variants, and the range-topping Proton X50 Flagship.

Meanwhile, the MPI engine with 150 PS and 225 Nm, is what drives the X50 Standard, Executive, and Premium variants.

That said, Proton’s doubling down on the engine’s role. Roslan Abdullah, Proton’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, also mentioned at the same event that the “1.5 TGDi engine and its variants will play an increasingly important and prominent role in our model line up". 

It’s already earmarked to be fitted into the upcoming Proton X90 as well as two other models that are to make their debut in the next two calendar years.

Also read: Not just Proton X90, 3-cyl 1.5 TGDi engine to power more future Proton models

‘Greener’ derivatives of it are also in the works, with electrified and alternative fuel variants being studied at the moment.

Proton’s new engine assembly line covers 18,000 square metres of space, and is able to produce up to 180,000 engines per annum. It’s also the first plant outside of China to make Geely’s 1.5-litre TGDi engines.