Geely has just unveiled a new prototype EX5 that has independent four-wheel 90-degree steering.
While the Proton e.MAS 7 isn’t exactly the most hard-to-manoeuvre car around to begin with, it might soon become infinitely more manoeuvrable. Such is as Geely has recently unveiled a prototype version of its Geely EX5 — the twin of the aforementioned Proton — which comes with a rather neat party trick: the ability to crab walk!
Yes, parallel parking in a space that is only just longer than the car itself may soon be reduced from a bane of many driver’s existence into a smug one-motion slide. And who needs three-point turns anymore when your turning circle is effectively the same length as your car?
But even better than a crab-walking e.MAS 7 is the fact that it might eventually not even need you to be paying attention. This prototype was developed as part of Geely’s broader push towards fully autonomous driving, which also means future post-mamak food comas may no longer require a Grab ride home.
Now a little tech talk before we get carried away, the reason this Geely SUV can crab walk is because it features an electric drive unit on each of its four wheels. This setup also allows for independent 90-degree steering at all four corners, enabling the vehicle to more or less rotate on the spot.
And of course to quiet the pedants out there, it is worth highlighting that Geely is far from the first automaker to show off crab-walking tech. Everyone from Hyundai to Hummer has been teasing similar systems since the early part of this decade. In fact, the soon-to-launch Denza Z9 GT may well earn the honour of being the first car locally capable of politely sliding itself into a parallel parking bay, thanks to its dual rear motors that offer a crab-walk function at up to a 15-degree angle.
If we’re being brutally honest with ourselves too, a crab-walking Proton e.MAS 7 remains firmly in fantasy territory for now. That said, for those looking for a slightly different take on Proton’s all-electric SUV, rumour has it that a PHEV variant could be making its local debut in the coming weeks.
Powering this PHEV Proton is a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electrified dedicated hybrid transmission (E-DHT) featuring an 11-to-1 ratio, delivering a combined output of 218 PS and 262 Nm. Energy storage comes via an 18.4 kWh Aegis short-blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which together with its petrol tank is claimed to enable a total driving range of up to 1,065 km.
Visually, the e.MAS 7 PHEV remains largely similar to its fully electric sibling, though a few notable differences set the two apart. These include a PHEV-specific full-width light bar up front, and conventional pull-type door handles in place of the EV’s flush pop-out items.
As for the rear, the PHEV receives a subtle update to the lighting signature of its full-width rear light bar. The more notable change is the relocation of the number plate recess from the bumper to the tailgate, giving it a rear-end profile reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne or Leapmotor C10.
Whispers on the grapevine suggest this PHEV Proton could debut with a price tag of around RM 130,000, placing it slightly above the current top-spec e.MAS 7 at RM 119,800. Even so, it should still emerge as a compelling option within Proton’s mid-sized SUV line-up, particularly when the flagship X70 currently retails for RM 126,800.
