2026 Proton X70 MC3: Upcoming with Geely 4-Cyl & Power Surge

[PCauto] Proton has officially announced that the 2026 X70 MC3 will be officially launched on January 8, 2026!

As the first SUV jointly developed by Proton and Geely, the X70 is about to receive its third mid-cycle facelift, arriving just a year and a half after the previous 2024 MC2 version.

Such a rapid upgrade cadence demonstrates Proton's responsiveness to market feedback and its agility in implementing adjustments.

According to information revealed on Proton's official social media platforms, the core upgrade in this facelift is the powertrain. The new car will be equipped with the 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged i-GT engine developed by Geely, with a maximum power of 181 horsepower and peak torque of 290 Nm.

Compared with the current 1.5-liter three-cylinder TGDi engine (177 horsepower, 255 Nm), power has increased by 4 horsepower, and torque has risen by an additional 35 Nm. This brings its power output close to the level of the earlier 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine used in the X70.

The upgrade to the powertrain is definitely the key highlight of this facelift. This new engine is shared with the facelifted Proton X50. It remains paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the drive system continues to be front-wheel drive.

It is worth mentioning that the return of the four-cylinder engine is very likely to alleviate many consumers' concerns about the three-cylinder engine. Coupled with the increased torque, this should translate to more ample power reserves for both daily urban commuting and highway cruising.

In fact, the frequent updates of the Proton X70 are closely tied to its sales performance.

According to a 2025 report by PCauto, this car failed to enter the top 20 in cumulative sales. Such market performance has prompted Proton to accelerate its product iteration process.

Since its launch in 2018, the X70's powertrain has undergone several shifts—from an initial four-cylinder engine to a three-cylinder unit, with the MC3 version now marking a return to a four-cylinder layout.

The exterior and interior were already comprehensively updated in the MC2 version, such as being equipped with a larger central control screen.

Therefore, the MC3 facelift focuses squarely on powertrain upgrades, aiming to recapture consumer attention by optimizing core performance.

It is worth noting that the new model will be produced at Proton's Tanjung Malim plant in Malaysia. In addition to the domestic market, it will also serve the Thai market, continuing Proton's product strategy targeting right-hand-drive ASEAN markets.

Looking at the facelift strategies of other Proton models during the same period, the adjustment direction of the X70 MC3 is noticeably more focused.

For example, the 2026 S70 MC1 not only features the same 1.5L i-GT four-cylinder engine but also introduces synchronized exterior design optimizations, including newly styled headlights and metallic-finish paint options.

Meanwhile, the Saga MC3, launched at the end of 2025, emphasizes a cost-effective positioning by adding a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine option, aiming to lower the entry barrier for car buyers.

In contrast, based on currently leaked information, the X70 MC3 appears to have undergone no major exterior or interior design changes. Instead, it focuses resources on enhancing the most directly perceptible aspect: the powertrain.

This approach of prioritizing core upgrades aligns more closely with contemporary consumer expectations for the essential performance characteristics of SUVs.

For consumers, the 2026 X70 MC3 is undoubtedly a more mature option. The stability offered by the four-cylinder engine, the significantly improved torque output, and the technical backing from the Proton-Geely collaboration constitute the core advantages of this vehicle.

However, it should be noted that the compact SUV market is highly competitive, and merely upgrading the power may not be enough to push the X70 back to the top of sales rankings.

This not only depends on whether the final pricing is reasonable but also on whether the new car has further optimizations in configuration details. Whether the 2026 X70 MC3 can ultimately become the key model to drive the brand's sales recovery remains to be tested in the actual marketplace.