Fresh off its appearance at an ASEAN Summit event recently, the Proton Saga MC3 with the songket-inspired cover is now on display at the brand’s Center of Excellence. We’re not sure if the new sedan will be around for long, so here’s a gallery of it in case you miss it and have to wait until launch day. Alternatively, you can see the uncovered version in Ruby Red that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim unveiled earlier this morning.
The heavy facelift for the Saga includes a revised front fascia with redesigned LED projector headlights with integrated L-shaped daytime running lights and two inner indicator bars. The latter is visually linked to an Ethereal Bow on a full-width concave grille, which has black pins on the insert and is connected by a thicker upper chrome bar.
Also new is the hood, the folds of which are further apart than on the outgoing MC2. The lower apron now gets a rectangular intake, flanked by small intakes that appear to channel air to cool the brakes.
Further along the sides we find new side mirrors with integrated turn signals and 15-inch wheels in a four-double-spoke design with Atlas AS380 tires in a 185/55 profile. The overall profile, roofline, beltline and the crease running through the door handles all appear unchanged.
At the rear, a full-width light bar connects the taillights, with dash bars as a signature. The Proton lettering sits just below the trunk lid with a small ducktail, while the rear bumper has a diffuser-like element.
The ‘i-GT’ badge on the left side of the boot lid likely points to some engine technology, with the Saga expected to get a new 1.5-litre inline-four petrol engine (deep dive here). A leaked document previously indicates that this will be paired with a conventional automatic transmission on the Standard and Executive variants, with the top-spec Premium getting a CVT instead.
The COE show car was locked up during our time with it, so we had to get crafty to get these interior photos. From what we can tell, the changes include a brand new dashboard with a large housing for a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system.
There are also pill-shaped vents, with the central ones sitting just above the physical controls for the air conditioning and certain vehicle functions. Another feature is the textured finish on the passenger side, with the wavy design also being carried over to all door cards, which now offer greater functionality through larger storage compartments.
The center console also gets a new design and houses a revised gear selector behind a cup holder. To the right of the driver is a special panel for controlling the side mirrors and the engine start button. This is probably the premium Premium, given the partially perforated leatherette upholstery on the seats.
The Saga MC3 is built on the AMA platform, a platform used on models previously developed by the company but significantly upgraded to be relevant to newer safety standards and technologies.
The presence of a camera behind the rear-view mirror suggests some form of ADAS, which would be a first for the model. However, it doesn’t appear that Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features such as adaptive cruise control are on the cards, judging by the lack of steering wheel controls for such features.
Also visible inside are airbag labels on the front seats and interior pillars, indicating the presence of six airbags. This is a big leap from the two airbags currently on offer, and it also beats its closest rival, the Perodua Bezza. We expect this, along with ADAS, to only be offered on the premium Premium, as is the case with rivals in this price range.
With everything you know and have seen of the Saga so far, are you looking forward to the launch of the next chapter in the brand’s iconic nameplate? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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