Report: Proton X70 1.8 TGDi Engine Set to Be Discontinued

Proton is reportedly set to discontinue the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder TGDi engine from the current X70 lineup.

It is no secret that Proton is poised to launch the facelifted version of its C-segment SUV fighter, the Proton X70, which is set to make its debut some time later this year. Ahead of its timely debut, it appears Proton executives have reportedly decided to drop the 1.8 TGDi engine option for good from the X70’s lineup.

With the 1.8 TGDi engine set to be dropped, all upcoming Proton X70 will feature the same 1.5-litre 3-cyl TGDi engine used on the Proton X50 Flagship.

As hinted by a Proton insider during our visit to the marque’s Tanjung Malim plant recently, the X70 will be exclusively available with the 1.5-litre 3-cyl TGDi engine instead. Rated at 175 HP and 255 NM, this three-pot unit is the same one used on the Proton X50 Flagship variant.

This move is also part of Proton’s strategy to streamline its powertrain lineup for all the current Geely-based models, with the automaker recently commencing production for the 1.5-litre 3-cyl mill at a dedicated production plant within its Tanjung Malim facility compound.

The 1.8-litre 4-cyl TGDi engine has always been a constant presence in the X70 lineup, with the mill exclusively powering the X70 since its introduction into our market back in 2018. Capable of producing up to 181 HP and 300 NM, this four-banger mill was initially mated to a six-speed automatic for the fully-imported (CBU) variant, with said unit eventually being replaced with the 7-speed DCT gearbox for the locally-assembled (CKD) models.

While the new 1.5 TGDi mill is being assembled at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant, the old 1.8 TGDi was exclusively shipped from Geely’s Zhejiang plant in China.

As it stands, the current Proton X70 lineup only has one variant that is powered by the 1.8 TGDi engine, which is the range-topping X70 1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD. Priced at RM128,800 on-the-road, this top-spec variant is set to be dropped for the upcoming facelift treatment, which will be replaced by the updated equivalent of the current 1.5 TGDi Premium X 2WD variant.

Besides the 1.8 TGDi engine drop, Proton previously confirmed that the new X70 facelift will gain a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability. This ADAS update already existed on current Geely-based Proton models like the X50, X90, and the new S70 sedan.