At the media preview of the Proton X90, the national carmaker revealed that it will offer as many as eight models by the end of 2023. Currently, Proton has seven different models – including the upcoming X90 – so we reckon the “Proton S50” sedan will be the eighth model, which has actually been spotted testing on our local roads already.

Based on the Geely Emgrand, the new sedan – which is believed to be called the S50 – is widely speculated to be a replacement of the Proton Preve. In terms of dimensions, the Emgrand measures 4,638mm long, 1,820mm wide, and 1,460mm tall.

That makes it 95mm longer and 34mm wider than the Preve, assuming Proton retains the same dimensions for the localised model.

Under the hood, the Emgrand is powered by a 1.5L NA engine (114PS/147 Nm) in China, though it’s possible the sedan will feature a 1.5L TGDi engine instead for the Malaysian market. After all, Proton foreshadowed that two of its new models will feature the 1.5L turbocharged engine that offers up to 177PS and 255Nm of torque.

Given that the 1.5L TGDi engine is already confirmed for the X90 – though it’s also paired to a mild hybrid system for higher output – the S50 is a good candidate for the turbo mill. It’s worth noting that the sedan shares the same B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) as Proton X50 too, so it could use the engine without issue.

Once the Proton S50 is launched in Malaysia, it will be the first Geely-based model from the national carmaker that is not an SUV. This is certainly an exciting proposition, in our opinion, as we haven’t seen a properly premium sedan from Proton for quite some time now.