{"id":37410,"date":"2025-11-02T11:01:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T11:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/automotive\/2026-proton-saga-mc3-launching-in-november-drb-hicom-md-says-next-episode-coming-next-month\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T11:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T11:01:19","slug":"2026-proton-saga-mc3-launching-in-november-drb-hicom-md-says-next-episode-coming-next-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/automotive\/2026-proton-saga-mc3-launching-in-november-drb-hicom-md-says-next-episode-coming-next-month\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Proton Saga MC3 launching in November? DRB-Hicom MD says \u201cnext episode\u201d coming next month"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Proton eMas 5 was only launched yesterday evening, but the national carmaker is already looking towards what\u2019s next. And that \u201cwhat\u2019s next\u201d may be just around the corner, according to DRB-Hicom group managing director Syed Faisal Albar at the event.<\/p>\n

In his speech, the Malaysian conglomerate boss spoke highly of its strategic partner Geely, saying that the Chinese giant\u2019s technology transfer has trained Proton\u2019s engineers to \u201cembrace the best technologies from our partner,\u201d culminating in the establishment of an R&D facility in Hangzhou Bay last year.<\/p>\n

As such, he added, we can expect more models where the development is driven by Proton\u2019s own team, but with Geely backing, \u201cwhere the intellectual property will fully belong to Proton.\u201d And apparently, we won\u2019t have very long at all for the first fruits of this effort.<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIf today\u2019s launch is a drama series episode five, please wait for the next episode, which is coming very, very soon,\u201d Syed Albar said. \u201cI think it should be coming next month.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t actually mention what car Proton will be launching next, but its identity is fairly obvious \u2013 it\u2019s the new Saga, known internally as the MC3. The company has already revealed the entry-level sedan (alongside the eMas 5) earlier this week as part of the ASEAN Summit, so we\u2019re only awaiting the full details and, of course, the pricing.<\/p>\n

The car uses the same platform and basic structure as before, redeveloped into a next-generation architecture that Proton calls AMA. A wholesale front and rear fascia redesign has added LED projector headlights linked by an Ethereal Bow chrome bar and a distinctive full-width grille, as well as a taillight bar bearing the Proton script.<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Inside, the comprehensive revamp continues with a new dashboard featuring a widescreen display panel. This houses two almost square screens for instrumentation and infotainment, modernising the Saga\u2019s cabin significantly. There are also new flat-bottomed steering wheel from the X50, pill-shaped air vents, a wave texture on the door cards and a slim centre console with a new gearlever from the Iriz and Persona.<\/p>\n

Peeking into the camouflaged car at Proton\u2019s Centre of Excellence dealership reveals that the car will come with six airbags \u2013 a massive jump from just two before. A camera at the top of the windscreen indicates the presence of driver assists such as autonomous emergency braking, although buttons for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist are missing from the car. We expect these features to be reserved for the top-spec Premium.<\/p>\n

\"2026<\/a><\/p>\n

No technical details have been announced just yet, but the i-GT badge on the boot lid hints at a new engine \u2013 essentially the X50\u2019s BHE15 1.5 litre four-cylinder but with the turbo and direct injection removed. Leaked documents show that the car will be offered with an automatic for the Standard and Executive models and a CVT for the Premium.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s likely that the stepless transmission is once again sourced from Punch Powertrain. The Belgium company has opened a new plant in Tanjong Malim as part of a long-term partnership with Proton.<\/p>\n

Not long to go now before the launch of the Saga. Are you excited?<\/p>\n

GALLERY: Proton Saga MC3 at COE<\/strong> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> \"2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The post 2026 Proton Saga MC3 launching in November? DRB-Hicom MD says \u201cnext episode\u201d coming next month appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Proton eMas 5 was only launched yesterday evening, but the national carmaker is already looking towards what\u2019s next. And that \u201cwhat\u2019s next\u201d may be just around the corner, according to DRB-Hicom group managing director Syed Faisal Albar at the event. In his speech, the Malaysian conglomerate boss spoke highly of its strategic partner Geely, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-37410","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-automotive"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37410"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37410\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/agooka.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}