This ‘Proton Hyluq’ Rendering Previews Marque's Future Pick-Up Truck

Local render artist Chin Swee Hoe @ Theophilus Chin – also known as Theottle – is back at it again, as he published yet another rendering, this time based on yet another local brand. Christened as the ‘Proton Hyluq’, Theottle’s newest creation is essentially a ladder-frame pick-up truck model that Proton might or would have created, featuring familiar styling cues and design.

Not to be confused with the Toyota Hilux, the Hyluq’s nomenclature is derived from the word ‘hailak’ – a local slang for any pick-up truck models. Ironically, the Hyluq is not based on Toyota’s pick-up model, as Theottle uses the Mazda BT50 as the base for his rendering instead, with the Proton design elements taken from the marque’s latest SUV model, the Proton X90.

The front part of the Proton Hyluq looks similar to the X90 (Photo credit: Theottle)

As a result, the Proton Hyluq truly doesn’t look out of place when compared to other Proton ‘X’ series models, featuring the same diamond pattern grille as the X90, plus a sporty front bumper design at the front. Aside from the front, the rest of the car is being kept rather similar to the BT50, where it sports flared-out wheel arches with some underbody cladding

Photo credit: Theottle

At the rear, the Hyluq comes with Proton lettering embossed onto the tailgate, flanked by a pair of taillights that has been tweaked slightly from the original BT50 ones, featuring more squared shape with simpler lighting segments.

This Proton Arena is currently on sale at Caricarz.com!

It has been a while since we’ve seen our national automaker, be it Proton or Perodua, producing a pick-up truck model, with the former previously churned out a couple of flatbed-equipped models like the Proton Arena ute, as well as one concept pick-up truck that never hit the production line.

As for Proton’s strategic partner Geely, the Chinese marque currently doesn’t offer any ICE-powered pick-up truck models in its lineup, with the X90’s base model – the Geely Haoyue SUV – being one of the marque’s biggest ICE models to date. However, the Chinese marque does have one EV pick-up truck model in its lineup, which we hoped Proton someday will rebranded as their new pick-up model.

Could this Geely Radar RD6 all-electric pick-up truck be the basis for new Proton pick-up?

Known as the Geely Radar RD6, this all-electric pick-up truck underpins Geely’s proprietary SEA platform, allowing it to be fitted with a battery pack with a capacity of up to 100-kWh. Offered with either a single, rear-wheel driven (RWD) electric motor setup, or a peppier dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration, the Radar RD6 boasts over 600 KM of maximum EV range, as well as a total system output of up to 268 HP.

Regardless of whether Proton decides to use Theottle’s Hyluq rendering as the basis for their new pick-up truck model, or instead rebranding the Radar RD6, we’d reckon that Malaysians will surely look forward of seeing a new local fighter in the burgeoning local pick-up truck market space, which has been saturated with foreign brands for aeons.

So folks, what do you think of Theottle’s latest rendering here? Would you be keen to see Proton producing a similar-looking pick-up truck model as this, or do you prefer the Geely Radar RD6 more? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…