The newly-updated Geely version of the Proton e.MAS 5 now comes with a larger battery that promises nearly 500 km of range.
While the Proton e.MAS 5 has been a runaway success in the Malaysian market, one criticism some may still have with it is its relatively modest range estimate. Such is as the current Prime and Premium variants are quoted with 310 km and 410 km of NEDC range respectively, which translates closer to around 225 km and 325 km on the WLTP cycle.
Happily then for those thinking of road-tripping in their e.MAS 5, there may soon be a version tailored just for you. This is because Geely has recently unveiled a lightly-updated version of the Xingyuan (on which the Proton is essentially based), with the big news being the introduction of a larger 47.14 kWh battery pack. This new unit is said to deliver up to 490 km of CLTC range, which should equate to roughly 390 km on the WLTP cycle.
What more too is that aside from the bump in battery capacity, this larger-battery variant also gains improved DC fast charging capability. Geely claims a 30-80% top-up time of just 19 minutes, versus 21 minutes for the smaller-battery variants, despite the added capacity. AC charging meanwhile remains capped at 6.6 kW, as does the output from the front-mounted motor, which continues to produce 116 PS and 150 Nm.
As for the rest of the updates, this lightly-titivated Geely EV now gains an active grille shutter to help eke out every last kilometre of range. New too up front are vertical LED daytime running lights integrated into the bumper corners, while this larger-battery variant additionally receives a fresh set of two-tone turbine-style 16-inch alloy wheels.
Moving along inside, a new 256-colour illuminated dash panel now complements the 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, which itself has been upgraded with a more powerful chip and generative AI support. Top-spec versions further gain a new Taro White interior colour option, alongside ventilated front seats trimmed in revised two-tone faux leather upholstery.
Incidentally, the larger-battery variants also adopt a steering-column-mounted gear selector in place of the centre console toggle. The range-topping Explore+ variant additionally gains Geely’s entry-level G-Pilot H3 system, enabling highly-automated highway driving and advanced remote parking assistance for this compact EV.
Prices for the updated Xingyuan currently start from 68,800 yuan (RM 40,000), rising to 94,800 yuan (RM 55,000) for the fully-loaded larger-battery Explore+ variant complete with all the aforementioned ADAS kit. It remains to be seen however when this larger battery specification will trickle down to the Proton-badged version, especially considering its larger e.MAS 7 sibling has yet to receive the bigger battery pack that debuted on its Geely counterpart late last year.
