It’s now official, Professional-net’s upcoming mannequin is just named the Proton eMas 7 PHEV, and it will likely be launched very quickly. Proton eMas has simply printed the teaser you see right here on its social media pages, exhibiting the upcoming plug-in hybrid in a brand new blue and crimson wrap design alongside its declare of being “Malaysia’s 1st Twin-powered EV.”
The publish additionally pronounces the “final dwell – drive” the place the eMas 7 PHEV will likely be livestreamed doing a 1,000-km drive from Penang to JB, after which again to the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam over January 12 and 13 (Monday and Tuesday within the coming week). The convoy will likely be stopping by native points of interest and Proton eMas dealerships, so you might catch an early glimpse of it alongside the best way (stops and timing proven beneath).
Clearly, the drive is to display the brand new mannequin’s “distinctive vary of over 1,000 km,” although it must be stated that different equally sized China plug-in hybrid fashions just like the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and Jaecoo J7 PHEV will simply do the identical journey too, with each having over 1,200 km NEDC vary claims.
Talking of that, Proton’s over 1,000 km declare for the eMas 7 PHEV is a peculiar one, because the Australian-market Geely Starray EM-i (also called the Galaxy Starship 7 in China, the donor mannequin that is rebadged from) solely claims a most mixed WLTP vary of 943 km. Whether or not the eMas 7 PHEV will likely be provided with a bigger battery pack (accessible in China) or if Proton will revert to the extra lenient NEDC take a look at cycle declare to extra carefully match its Chinese language rivals, or maybe each, stays to be seen.
If Proton is certainly shifting in direction of the use NEDC vary claims for this mannequin, that would actually be a backwards step. The Proton eMas model has to this point been one of many strongest stalwarts of utilizing the extra life like WLTP take a look at cycle in Malaysia, going in opposition to most Chinese language EV-makers that favor the usage of overly optimistic NEDC claims (one even makes use of wildly inaccurate CLTC numbers) that might look higher on paper. Why change now?
With reference to questionable selections, let’s get again to the tagline of “Malaysia’s 1st Twin-powered EV.” I’m sorry Professional-net, however that’s simply incorrect on so many ranges. It is a PHEV, not an EV – its highway tax will likely be primarily based on its engine dimension like a daily ICE automotive and never its motor output like correct EVs, and it’ll put on the usual black quantity plates, not the EV-specific white ones. Advertising and marketing it as an EV is just deceptive.
As for it being Malaysia’s first, properly, that’s simply not proper both. PHEVs have existed right here since way back to 2015, although admittedly solely in premium segments till the 2 Chinese language fashions talked about above arrived final yr. If the tagline is supposed to suggest it being the primary “Malaysian” PHEV, properly, that might be a contentious declare too given its rebadged nature.
On a extra constructive word, look carefully on the livery and also you’ll nearly make out the point out of seven airbags, so it seems the eMas 7 PHEV will achieve again the entrance centre airbag that was dropped from the EV model. That may be a correct Proton-first, and a welcome addition certainly.
We can have extra particulars on the Proton eMas 7 PHEV very quickly, so keep tuned!
GALLERY: 2026 Proton eMas 7 PHEV at Proton Tech Showcase
GALLERY: RHD Geely Starray EM-i at GIIAS 2025
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