The 2020 Proton X50 shares the same 7-speed DCT with the X70, but with a twist
Sanjay · Sep 15, 2020 05:00 PM
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It feels quite like the end of The Lord of The Rings, doesn’t? After a long Saga (pun intended) of spyshots and all sorts of fake leaks, the war is over, Sauron is slayed, and the locally-assembled (CKD) Proton X50 finally breaks cover.
The engine in the Proton X50.
One does not simply wait for a new Proton only to receive a copy-and-paste job. It's not. The Proton X50 is properly all-new - there’s two engine choices, one of them new to the X50 and is not available even in the Chinese market Geely Binyue. There's also rear air-conditioning vents which are also not available on the Binyue.
The first is a 1.5-litre multi-port injection (MPI), turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine (Edit: Not four-cylinder as previously reported) (150 PS and 226 Nm) while the second is also a three-pot,1.5-litre direct-injection (TGDI) turbocharged petrol engine making 177 PS and 255 Nm.
Still, some are raising eyebrows over its gearbox.
7-DCT with a twist
Why? It’s the fact that it’s sharing the same gearbox as its bigger sibling, the Proton X70.
As we know, both of the X50’s engine choices are paired to a 7-speed, wet-type dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Developed by Geely themselves, the company cites fuel efficiency and smooth driving experience as focal points of the gearbox’s development.
To date, the gearbox is shared by manufacturers under the Geely Auto Group umbrella, including Volvo and Lynk & Co.
The Proton X50's interior.
As is the case with the Geely Boyue and the eventual X70, the X50 doesn’t take Geely’s gearbox lock, stock and barrel. A few touches were done that makes it better suited for our roads.
Tuned for local situations
In our review, we note that the DCT in the X70 behaves more like a conventional torque converter than a DCT, thanks in part to the localisation work done to it.
Similarly, the X50 also had its transmission tuned for local use. As a result, it gets new calibration and shift pattern to suit.
It's not hiding its sporting ambitions though with four tailpipes.
This is because the X70 and X50 are different cars that weigh quite differently. Since both engines have different power outputs, power-to-weight ratios will also vary - hence a different shift mapping and calibration is necessary.
Interesting - what about the rest of the car?
We’ve got you covered as always. Here’s a quick video walkaround of the Proton X50, and a quick FAQ on the all-new Proton X50.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
