In Cars, Local News, Proton / By Gerard Lye / 24 May 2017 5:01 pm / 103 comments

Following the announcement of the Geely-Proton agreement, we were treated to a short presentation of Proton’s future plans, which will involve the development of its first-ever SUV. The model will utilise the platform used on Geely’s best-selling model – the Boyue.

Measuring 4.5 metres long, the Boyue is designed by former Volvo designer Peter Horbury, who heads Geely’s design studios located in Gothenburg, Shanghai, Barcelona and Los Angeles.

In its domestic market, it is offered with a range of engines, including a 2.4 litre naturally-aspirated unit (162 hp/210 Nm) and a 1.8 litre turbo (163 hp/250 Nm for the manual, 180 hp/285 Nm for the auto). Transmission options include a six-speed manual or automatic, depending on engine choice.

The Geely Boyue also offers an impressive list of equipment like an eight-inch display screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and safety kit includes lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control (ACC), which allows the Boyue to match its highway cruise speed according to the car in front of it.

It wasn’t made clear how much of the Boyue design will be carried over into the Proton SUV, so we’ll have to wait and see how it shapes up. With the Boyue as a base, do you think Proton’s first-ever SUV could be one of the models that will revive the marque?

GALLERY: Geely Boyue