2027 Proton S70 RS revealed – 2 variants, sportier styling, a redesigned cabin and Level 2 ADAS for both Premium and Sportline

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton is trimming the Malaysian S70 turbo range from three variants to two. The S70 RS Premium takes over from the turbo Premium, the S70 RS Sportline replaces the Flagship, and the Flagship X drops out. Both facelifted variants get a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 540-degree HD camera and Level 2 driver assistance. Proton has yet to announce prices for either version.

For the Premium variant, the biggest change is access to adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking. In the outgoing range, that meant spending an extra RM10,000 to go from the RM79,800 Premium to the RM89,800 Flagship. Both features will now come as standard on the entry turbo.

The turbo Executive had already left the range when the naturally aspirated Lite and Prime arrived in September. Once the new variants go on sale, Malaysian buyers will have four S70 variants to choose from.

Malaysian S70 variant	Engine and gearbox	Peninsular Malaysia list price
S70 i-GT Lite	1.5L naturally aspirated, 120 PS, 150 Nm, CVT	RM59,800
S70 i-GT Prime	1.5L naturally aspirated, 120 PS, 150 Nm, CVT	RM62,800
S70 RS Premium	1.5L turbo, 181 PS, 290 Nm, seven-speed DCT	To be announced
S70 RS Sportline	1.5L turbo, 181 PS, 290 Nm, seven-speed DCT	To be announced

Proton values the new variants’ upgrades at RM15,000. Some of the highlighted items includes Sportline-specific items such as the black roof and red brake calipers.

A wider grille and a red S to look for

The easiest way to spot the new variants head-on is the Pulse Matrix grille. Proton has removed the old chrome surround and widened the grille, with rows of short chrome dashes across its black face. At the 10 November reveal in Tanjong Malim, Proton chief designer Azlan Othman explained that this version of the brand’s Infinite Weave pattern takes inspiration from a heartbeat trace. Look towards one corner of the Sportline’s grille and you’ll also find a small red badge that Proton calls the Spark S.

The automatic LED headlights carry over beneath a sculpted bonnet. Lower down, the Sportline gets a broad central intake, a Quartz Black lower lip and red accents at the outer air curtains. Both RS variants get dark grey 17-inch alloys. The Geostar wheels shown on the Sportline draw on Islamic geometric patterns, with red brake calipers visible through the spokes. The preview car wore GitiComfort F22 tyres.

From the side, the Sportline has a Quartz Black roof, mirrors and door handles. A thin red stripe, dubbed the Velocity Line, runs along its S-badged side skirts. At the back, a black lip spoiler sits above the LED light bar, while the reshaped bumper houses a black diffuser with four dark grey exhaust finishers. One detail worth knowing if you own a Flagship X is that the sunroof drops out. The Sportline’s black roof is a paint finish.

The five exterior colours being offered are Quartz Black, Space Grey, Snow White, Marine Blue and Armour Silver.

What the RS Premium gains in safety

Proton lists 15 driver-assistance functions for the RS, up from the 13 it advertised on the outgoing upper turbo variants. The function it flags as new to the sedan is Front Departure Alert, already available on the X50 Premium and Flagship. If the car ahead pulls away while you’re still stationary, the S70 gives you a prompt.

For highway driving, the package includes adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, intelligent cruise control, lane centring, lane-departure warning and prevention, traffic-sign information and intelligent high beams. There’s also forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking. Blind-spot detection, lane-change assistance, door-opening warning, rear-collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert cover traffic alongside and behind the car.

Parking is another area where Premium buyers gain more than Flagship owners. The outgoing Premium had a reversing camera, while the Flagship already had a 360-degree HD system with a 3D display. Both RS variants now get what Proton calls a 540-degree HD camera. For comparison, the X50 Premium and Flagship already pair a 360-degree camera with a 180-degree transparent view. Rain-sensing wipers, walk-away locking, automatic unlocking and tyre-pressure monitoring are also part of the RS equipment list.

Six airbags carry over. The car also receives a five-star ASEAN NCAP badge just like the S70 Executive tested in October 2023.

X50-style screens and a new centre console

The outgoing turbo Premium has an 8-inch touchscreen and analogue dials with a 3.5-inch information display. Both RS variants get a 14.6-inch, 16:9 touchscreen and an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster, the same sizes already fitted to the X50 Executive. For anyone trading in an S70 Flagship, there’s a detail that’s easy to miss. The centre screen grows from 12.3 to 14.6 inches, but the outgoing Flagship’s 10.3-inch instrument cluster is actually larger than the new one.

Like the X50, the S70 RS now has a column-mounted gear selector, which Proton calls the Techshifter. Below the redesigned rectangular air vents, the floating console has two phone trays and 10 litres of storage underneath. Its Commander Dial adjusts volume by default and can also select drive modes, switch screen layouts or change the Sportline’s ambient lighting.

There are separate rollers for fan speed and temperature, plus physical switches for the air-con, auto mode, rear demister and hazard lights. You can turn down the fan without leaving the navigation screen. The RS Premium also gets the outgoing Flagship’s six-way powered driver’s seat, wireless phone charging and six-speaker audio. Both RS variants have five USB ports, automatic air-conditioning, rear air vents and an electronic parking brake with auto hold.

The Premium has an all-black cabin. Sportline buyers get the two-tone Redline Cockpit, with red trim across the dashboard, console and seats, red stitching and matching red seatbelts. Its 256-colour Pulse Light ambient lighting can stay on one colour, cycle through colours, fade in and out or follow the beat of music from the radio, USB, Bluetooth or streaming apps. The X50 Premium and Flagship already offer rhythmic lighting with 72 colours. The S70 RS Sportline also adds illumination for the under-console storage, S-branded door scuff plates, security and solar tint, and a front dashcam.

Malay voice commands, wireless CarPlay and an Android Auto date

“Hi Proton” now understands Bahasa Melayu as well as English in the S70 RS, a feature the X50 introduced in 2025. “Buka tingkap” opens a window, while “Arah ke KLCC” is one of the navigation commands Proton demonstrated. The new interface can show the map and radio side by side, and includes built-in navigation, weather, Spotify, JOOX, SYOK and TikTok.

Wireless Apple CarPlay is listed for both variants. Proton expects wireless Android Auto to be ready by January 2027. Proton Link 2.0 also supports compatible Huawei Watches. Owners can cool the cabin remotely or use the horn and lights to find the car. The briefing also lists controls for the locks, boot, windows and engine. Proton and ACO Tech previously demonstrated watch integration for both the S70 and X50.

Same 181 PS turbo, a fourth drive mode

Both RS variants retain the 181 PS, 290 Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and seven-speed wet dual-clutch gearbox. Proton quotes 0–100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and 5.7 litres per 100 km, matching the outgoing turbo. The engine already had a toothed timing chain. Proton’s claim that it runs 25% quieter refers specifically to the chain compared with a conventional one.

Adaptive joins Eco, Comfort and Sport as the fourth drive mode, another feature familiar from the X50. The three steering settings are Comfort, Normal and Sport.

That leaves the RS Premium’s price as the figure to watch at launch. If Proton can keep it close to the outgoing Premium’s RM79,800, buyers who previously stretched to a Flagship for adaptive cruise will have a reason to stop one rung earlier. The decision to go for the Sportline can then come down to how much they like that black roof and red cabin.

Also read: Proton’s upcoming Hybrid drivetrain to be called i-HEV