Proton e.MAS 5 Previewed Through Geely Xingyuan Twin

During our recent trip to Hunan, China, we visited Geely’s production plant where the Geely Xingyuan is assembled. This is the same model that will soon be introduced in Malaysia in RHD configuration as the Proton e.MAS 5.

We also had a chance to swing by a Geely dealership, to view the Xingyuan in its highest specification. The car looked proportionate in the metal, and inside, the use of soft-touch materials in key areas stood out giving the cabin a more refined feel.

For Proton, the e.MAS 5 will be its second electric vehicle after the e.MAS 7. The positioning will be different, however. This new model is aimed at being smaller, more practical and more affordable.

Proton has already said the focus is on space, range and accessibility, as it looks to bring EV ownership to a wider group of Malaysians.

The Xingyuan gives a strong indication of what Malaysians can expect. Although compact, its 2,650 mm wheelbase is longer than both the Proton Iriz and Perodua Myvi.

This translates to a surprisingly spacious cabin. The rear seats benefit from a flat floor, dedicated air vents, USB ports and comfortable seating position.

Luggage space is also generous, with 375 litres at the back expandable to 1,320 litres. A 70-litre frunk up front adds to its practicality.

In its extended-range variant, the Xingyuan uses a rear-mounted motor rated at 85 kW and 150 Nm. It accelerates from 0–50 km/h in 3.9 seconds, which is more than enough for city traffic.

A 40.16 kWh LFP battery delivers up to 325 km on the WLTP cycle. With 71 kW DC charging, a 30 to 80% top-up takes just 21 minutes.

One standout figure is its class-leading 4.95-metre turning radius. This makes the car especially easy to manoeuvre in tight city streets and parking spaces.

Inside, the car is dominated by a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital cluster. In China, the system runs on Geely’s Flyme OS.

For Malaysia, Proton will fit the e.MAS 5 with its own ATLAS 3.0 operating system, developed with AcoTech. This is the same system previewed in the latest X50.

It features the “Aisyah” voice assistant, now capable of responding in English and Malay with Mandarin and Cantonese in the pipeline for future possibility. Development involved 336,000 hours of testing with over 200 sampled voices to cover 4,000 commands.

The navigation system is tuned for local use, powered by HERE Maps with 3D visuals and shortcuts for rerouting or finding nearby charging stations.

Just like the e.MAS 7, the e.MAS 5 will feature an integrated charging map. This gives access to over 3,400 charging points through partnerships with 10 charge point operators.

Other highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, app-based vehicle controls, and a configurable Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS). Drivers can even choose different tones or switch it off entirely at low speeds.

Safety is comprehensive - six airbags and electronic stability control are standard.

A full ADAS suite is also fitted, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera. Together, these features give the car Level 2 semi-autonomous capability — not something you would usually expect in this size and price category.

In China, Geely offers up to five different trims of the Xingyuan, including a very basic version with halogen headlights. For Malaysia, Proton is expected to streamline the lineup to just two variants, standard and extended range mirroring its approach with the e.MAS 7.

That means buyers here are likely to see LED lighting as standard. While the e.MAS 5 prototype previewed earlier in Malaysia had a manual tailgate, the powered version on the high-spec Xingyuan in China suggests this feature could make it here too in the higher variant.

Seeing the Xingyuan in person offered a clear perspective of what the e.MAS 5 might deliver. It is compact but not cramped, practical without being barebones, and tech-heavy yet approachable.

With local assembly planned at Proton’s EV plant in Tanjung Malim, the e.MAS 5 looks set to be a realistic, everyday EV option for Malaysians, one that could bring electric mobility into the mainstream in a way the e.MAS 7 has already started.