KUCHING: To prove that the X70 SUV is not all bark and no bite, national carmaker Proton invited members of the media to an exclusive “Borneo Inspiration Drive” event.
This took place from July 16 to 18 and eight units were used.
Fourteen members of the press fraternity from East Malaysia went on a ride that showcased the styling, advanced technology of Proton’s first SUV jointly developed with Chinese automotive group Geely.
The highlight of the drive was testing out the X70’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in which it continuously monitored dangers on the road.
The ADAS consists of active and cognitive safety systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Door Opening Warning System (DOW) and Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC).
Among other activities during the three-day event were social media contest and first-hand driving experience from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang in the shadow of Mount Kinabalu.
Proton head of group communication, Vijayaratnam Tharumartnam, said the event was held for the media to experience what it was like to drive the X70 in as many different circumstances as possible — from driving on a straight highway to winding roads to testing all the different technology within the machine.
“The media ultimately is going to be the ones going out there and talk about their first-hand experience and whether it is good or bad or whatever. In short, engaging with the media means that we will get the word out to reach a wider audience,” he enthused.
When asked why Proton held the test drive in various locations such as Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia instead of gathering everyone at only one location, Vijay explained that it was important for the individuals to drive the SUV in familiar environments.
On plans in the near future, Vijay hinted that customers could expect more from Proton within the next two quarters of this year.
“Proton always welcome any party to reach out to us if they have any questions and thoughts. A company is only as good as how well it listens,” he said.
As of July 16, there were 34,617 bookings — and still counting. The X70 was first made available for booking Oct 17 last year although it was launched in December.
The X70 is available in four variants — Standard 2WD priced at RM99,800, Executive 2WD (RM109,800), Executive AWD (RM115,800) and Premium 2WD (RM123,800).
All prices are identical in East and West Malaysia, are on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of a new unlimited-mileage warranty (still at five years).
It is available in five colours — Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Cinnamon Brown and Flame Red.
All four variants are powered by a 1.8-litre Turbocharged, Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engine producing 184 PS at 5,500rpm and 285 Nm of torque from 1,700 -4,400rpm to provide smooth yet efficient performance, proven by the energy efficient vehicle (EEV) status awarded by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
On standard safety equipment, all variants consist of six SRS airbags, rear seat ISOFIX with top tether anchorage, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Auto Brake Hold, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).
