2026 Proton X70 MC3 Set to Debut on Jan 8 – New 1.5T i-GT Engine Confirmed

The updated 2026 Proton X70 MC3 is set to debut on Jan 8, featuring the new 1.5-litre turbocharged i-GT engine.

Just over a year and a half since the facelifted model was launched, the Proton X70 is due for yet another upgrade, with the latest 2026 version now confirmed for debut later this week on Jan 8, 2026, as per the announcement made via Proton’s official social media channels.

For its third model change (MC3) treatment, it appears that Proton has deliberately confirmed that the 2026 X70 will get a new powertrain setup, in the form of the same 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbocharged i-GT engine used on the facelifted X50.

The new 2026 X70 MC3 will be powered by the same 1.5L turbocharged i-GT engine seen on the facelifted X50.

Codenamed BHE15-EFZ, this Geely-developed engine is capable of producing up to 181 PS and 290 Nm, making it 4 PS and 35 Nm more powerful than the 1.5-litre 3-cyl turbocharged TGDi engine used on the current X70, while edging closer to the original 1.8-litre 4-cyl lump used on the pre-facelift version.

While not explicitly mentioned in the teaser, we can assume that the i-GT engine on the updated X70 will also be mated to the same 7-speed DCT gearbox and a front-wheel drive (FWD) setup seen on the facelifted X50, as the all-wheel drive (AWD) variant was discontinued in the previous facelift version.

Beyond the new powertrain, not many details were shared regarding the new X70 MC3, but given that the model was recently facelifted, we doubt any major changes will take place in the rest of the car.

For reference, the current 2025 Proton X70 facelift is available in four variants, with prices starting at RM98,800 for the baseline Standard variant, RM110,800 for Executive, RM123,800 for Premium, and RM126,800 for the range-topping Premium X variant. Given that the upcoming MC3 model boasts an entirely new powertrain setup, it would be reasonable to anticipate some minor price changes.