Proton has added two new variants to the Proton S70 MC1 family in the form of the S70 Lite and S70 Prime. Now open for booking, the new variants have an estimated starting price of under RM60,000 according to the national automaker.
As a comparison, the current Proton S70 MC1 lineup launched in February has a starting price of RM68,800. So, what makes the new S70 MC1 Lite and Prime so different to justify such a significant price gap?
Enter the NA i-GT engine and CVT
One of the main reasons is the fact that the S70 MC1 Lite and Prime are equipped with the naturally aspirated (NA) version of the 1.5L i-GT 4-cylinder engine. At the same time, this NA i-GT engine has been paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Previously, the S70 MC1 came with a turbocharged i-GT engine that was mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (7-DCT) with manual mode. However, the differences in terms of performance between these two powertrains are not yet officially known, as Proton did not include the official spec sheet for the Lite and Prime variants in its announcement today.
Other features of S70 MC1 Lite and Prime
That being said, Proton did provide a long list of features that customers can expect to see on the new S70 MC1 Lite and Prime. Among them is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which come as standard for both variants.
This particular feature was previously available only on the high-end S70 MC1 Flagship and Flagship X. However, the new Lite and Prime variants are fitted with a different Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) than their existing siblings.
The new IHU appears to have a smaller screen size and plenty of physical buttons. At the same time, teaser images reveal an analog instrument cluster on the right-hand side.
Other S70 NA features that Proton has revealed so far include leatherette seats, a soft-touch instrument panel, Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Auto Up/Down with Anti-Trap for all windows, 5 USB ports, and remote engine start.
When it comes to safety, the national automaker said that the S70 NA models are equipped with 6 airbags, a rear seat reminder, and a reverse camera. The sedan’s Side Radar System also enables features such as Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Door Opening Warning (DOW), and Rear Collision Warning (RCW).
As noted earlier, the Proton S70 Lite and Prime will have an estimated starting price of under RM60,000. The national automaker is also offering an early bird reward for customers who book and register the new variants by 31 December 2026, although specific details will only be revealed at launch.
Proton S70 MC1 Lite and Prime Official Image Gallery
