Face-lifted Proton X50 *MIGHT* Take Cues From Sporty New Geely Twin

Launched earlier this year in China is the heavily revamped Geely Binyue Cool. Also known as the Geely Coolray, its predecessor is also the base of the Proton X50.

Earlier this year, Chinese automaking giant Geely released its heavily updated and arguably very sharp and sporty looking Geely Binyue Cool in China. If the name sounds familiar, its predecessor is the base of what Malaysians have come to know as the Proton X50 compact crossover.

Back to the China-market Binyue Cool, the sharp new look is matched with a new 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo heart that develops slightly more pep – 181 PS and 291 NM – over the 1.5-litre 3-cyl turbo it replaces. The latter three-banger is what powers the X50, offering 177 PS and 255 NM in its peppiest state.

Compared to its predecessor, the Binyue Cool for 2023 boasts sharper and sportier styling, especially with both its revamped front- and rear-ends.

Perhaps the promise of added performance from said peppy new 4-cyl prompted Geely to restyle the Binyue Cool heavily. Even compared to the R3-treated X50 revealed locally earlier this year, we’ll admit that this Geely twin does boast a more dynamic and aggressive stance altogether.

Certainly, the refreshed Chinese model also gives up somewhat of a glimpse at how the upcoming X50 facelift model – likely for next year – might look like. Thanks to renowned local automotive digital render artiist @Theottle (Chin Swee Hoe), we have a pretty clear idea of how that MIGHT look like.

Could styling cues from the Binyue Cool be mirroed in the upcoming Proton X50 facelift? Chin certainly thinks so, and here's how it MIGHT look like...

Aptly, what Chin did here is basically grafting the Proton and X50 badges into the front- and rear-end of the Geely Binyue Cool. Little else has changed apart from that, which isn’t bad news entirely.

Amongst the key styling changes seen in the latest Geely Binyue Cool facelift include sharper – read: snazzier – full-LED head- and taillights, the latter now sporting a full-width lightbar running across the tailgate to connect the light clusters from both sides.

Apart from the Proton badge and upper grille, Chin opted to keep much of the Binyue Cool's original restyling in his render.

For reference, here's how the current (right) and R3-treated (left) Proton X50 looks like.

There’s also all-new front and rear bumpers matched with their respective new and more aggressive splitter and faux-diffuser element. The Geely Binyue Cool’s front-end also sports a bold and wide new lower grille a la what’s seen in current Lexus models, complete with new side intakes.

Before you dismiss this imaginative render simply as Chin’s wondrous musings, the changes do seem possible given that camouflaged prototypes of the X50 were recently sighted on local roads undergoing tests, some reportedly being left-hand-drive (LHD) units too.

Similarly, the rear-end sees Chin retaining much of the Binyue Cool's new bits, namely the new full-width lightbar running across the tailgate and connecting the taillights.

Said camouflage are concentrated on both the front and rear ends of said prototype X50, thus suggesting a heavy face-lift featuring cues from the latest version of its Chinese-made twin could be possible, regardless how far-fetched or how big of a long-shot this could be.

Whilst the radicalness of the X50’s restyling remains to be seen, what we’re certain of though is the fact that the model’s 3-cyl turbo and 7-speed DCT powertrain package may remain unchanged – Proton just set up the factory to produce it en masse for the X50, X90, as well as the latest S70 sedan.

Radical new styling and peppy new 4-cyl powertrain aside, the Binyue Cool in China also sees larger new digital dual-display screens in its cabin.

What is also uncertain is if the updated X50 will get the same revised new dual-digital displays seen in the Binrue Cool. The latter Chinese twin  replaces the outgoing version’s 7-inch digital meter panel for a larger new 10.25-inch unit, matched with an equally enlarged new 12.3-inch touchscreen head unit.

Regarding the latter, it also seem plausible for Proton to finally equip it with Apple CarPlay at least – like how the Geely-badged Coolray in Mexico has – via new firmware or software. However, the odds of this happening in the upcoming X50 facelift appears very slim at this point.

It's easy to see at a quick glance that little has changed with the rear-end, apart from Chin's addition of the Proton and X50 badges.

For reference, here's how the current (left) and R3-treated (right) X50 looks like at the rear.

Nevertheless, we’re certain many of you agree this is one exciting prospect to look forward to next year. Should the upcoming face-lifted Proton X50 pan out just as how Chin envisioned, would you be tempted into one?

As always, hit the comments below - and our social media pages - with your take on things...