Could Geely Galaxy Starshine 6 become Proton e.MAS’ first sedan instead of the next S70?

KUALA LUMPUR: It is tempting to look at the Geely Galaxy Starshine 6, also known in China as the Xing Yao 6, and immediately call it a future Proton S70.

After all, the current Proton S70 is based on the Geely Emgrand, and this new Galaxy sedan has clear links to Geely’s newer sedan family. On the surface, the connection is easy to make.

But after seeing it up close, and getting a brief drive during Geely’s product sampling day arranged for the Proton media entourage, there may be a more interesting question to ask.

Also Read: Geely Galaxy M9 as Proton e.MAS 9? Can this from RM150k six-seat PHEV SUV idea make any sense?

Could this become Proton e.MAS’ first sedan instead?

The current Proton S70 is still a regular petrol sedan. It is positioned as a value-focused C-segment sedan, with pricing, running costs and familiarity being a big part of its appeal.

The Galaxy Starshine 6 feels like a very different proposition. It is ever so slightly larger, more electrified, more tech-focused, and more aligned with where Proton seems to be taking the e.MAS brand.

In simple terms, the Starshine 6 does not feel like a straightforward S70 replacement. It feels more like the sort of sedan Proton could use if it wants to expand e.MAS beyond electric hatchback, SUV and SUV plug-in hybrid.

Why this feels more e.MAS than S70

The biggest reason is the powertrain.

The Galaxy Starshine 6 is a plug-in hybrid sedan. It uses Geely’s EM-i hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate battery pack.

Current China-market versions are listed with 8.5 kWh and 17 kWh LFP battery options, offering around 60 km and 125 km of CLTC-rated electric range respectively. The petrol engine produces 82 kW, while the front electric motor is rated at 120 kW, paired to an E-DHT transmission.

That already puts it closer in spirit to the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV than the current Proton S70.

It also fits e.MAS’ identity better. Proton already uses e.MAS as its electrified sub-brand, so a PHEV sedan under that banner would be easier to explain than trying to force it into the regular S70 family.

The current S70 still has a clear job, to be Proton’s mainstream sedan. A Galaxy Starshine 6-based model would probably sit higher than that, especially if Proton wants to use its electrified powertrain, larger body and newer cabin technology properly.

So instead of asking whether this is simply the next Proton S70, perhaps the cleaner question is whether it could become the first Proton e.MAS sedan.

Larger than the current S70

The Galaxy Starshine 6 is not small.

It measures 4,806 mm long, 1,886 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall, with a 2,756 mm wheelbase. That makes it slightly larger than the current Proton S70, which is already marketed as a C-segment sedan in Malaysia.

This is where the e.MAS argument becomes stronger. If Proton brought this in as a direct S70 replacement, the size, technology and electrified powertrain could push it away from the affordable sedan brief.

But as an e.MAS sedan, the larger footprint becomes an advantage.

It gives Proton something more spacious, more mature and more electrified, without disturbing the S70’s current positioning. In that sense, the Starshine 6 could sit as a more advanced sedan alternative for buyers who want lower fuel consumption, EV-like driving in town, and the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer trips.

What is the Geely Galaxy Starshine 6?

The Starshine 6 is part of Geely’s Galaxy family in China, which focuses heavily on electrified vehicles. It sits below the larger Starshine 8, and is positioned as a more attainable plug-in hybrid family sedan.

In China, prices reportedly start from 68,800 yuan, which is roughly RM45,000. That number should not be read as a possible Malaysian price, but it does show how aggressively Geely is positioning the car in its home market.

The car runs on Geely’s GEA global intelligent new energy architecture, with front-wheel drive and a fairly conventional suspension layout, MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear.

That torsion beam rear setup may not sound exciting on paper, especially in a sedan this size. But in our brief sampling, it did not immediately make the car feel cheap or unsettled. More on that later.

Interior, screens and cabin tech

Inside, the Starshine 6 feels very much like a modern Geely Galaxy product.

The dashboard is dominated by a 14.6-inch central infotainment screen, paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The car runs Geely’s Flyme Auto infotainment system, supported by Geely’s in-house 7 nm Longying-1 automotive-grade chip. Geely’s own China product page also mentions a 50W air-cooled wireless charging pad.

The layout is clean without going completely minimalist. There is still a practical family-sedan feel to it, rather than the full lounge-style cabin approach seen in some larger Chinese new energy vehicles.

Depending on variant, Chinese-market equipment also includes Geely’s Qianli Haohan H3 driver assistance system, with the official site mentioning 360-degree perception and 28 assisted-driving functions.

Brief drive impression, more EV than petrol sedan

We only had a short go in the car during Geely’s product sampling day, so this is not a full review. But the first impression was clear, the Galaxy Starshine 6 feels more like an EV most of the time than a conventional petrol sedan.

That is probably the most important takeaway.

The power delivery is smooth and immediate, without the lag or mechanical fuss you sometimes get from regular petrol systems. It is not blisteringly fast, but it has more than enough punch for daily driving. The response feels clean, especially at low to medium speeds, which is where this sort of PHEV sedan will spend most of its life.

What stood out most was how little the petrol engine made itself known. Even though this is a plug-in hybrid and not a pure EV, we barely heard the engine during the short drive. The car simply moved with that familiar electric smoothness, which makes it feel much closer to an e.MAS product than a traditional Proton sedan.

That is also why the e.MAS framing feels natural. This does not feel like a petrol car with some electrification added on. It feels like an electrified sedan first, with the engine working quietly in the background.

Torsion beam rear, but it handled well

On paper, the rear suspension is one of the areas that might raise eyebrows.

A sedan measuring over 4.8 metres long with a torsion beam rear axle does not sound especially premium. Many buyers and enthusiasts would naturally expect a multi-link setup, especially if this were to be positioned above the regular S70.

But during our short drive, the Starshine 6 did not feel clumsy. It handled itself well enough, with decent body control and a generally settled attitude through the sampling route.

Of course, a curated test track session is not the same as a full Malaysian road test. We would still want to see how it behaves over our patchier roads, expansion joints, mid-corner bumps and fast highway undulations.

But first impressions were more positive than the spec sheet might suggest.

The torsion beam rear did not immediately dominate the experience. The car still felt composed, easy to drive and properly sorted for a family sedan. For the kind of buyer this car is targeting, that may be enough.

The rear floor is the main compromise

The one thing we did not like was the raised rear floorpan.

This is likely linked to battery placement, and it affects how the rear passenger area feels. In a car this large, you expect the rear section to feel properly spacious and relaxed, but the higher floor does slightly interrupt that impression.

It is not a deal-breaker, but it is noticeable.

For Malaysia, where sedans are often bought as family cars, rear comfort still counts. If Proton ever considered this for e.MAS, rear passenger packaging would be something worth studying closely.

The good news is that boot space is generous. The Starshine 6 has a big boot, which helps preserve its role as a practical family sedan despite the electrified hardware underneath.

Could this work in Malaysia?

As a regular Proton S70 replacement, the Galaxy Starshine 6 might be a bit too much of a jump.

It is larger, electrified and more technically complex. That could make pricing more difficult, especially when the current S70’s appeal depends heavily on being attainable.

But as an e.MAS sedan, the logic becomes cleaner.

Proton could keep the S70 as the mainstream petrol sedan, while an e.MAS sedan could serve a different buyer, someone who wants a sedan but also wants the smoothness, fuel-saving potential and modern feel of an electrified powertrain.

That would also give Proton something quite unique. The Malaysian sedan market is quieter than it used to be, but it is not dead. A well-priced PHEV sedan under e.MAS could offer something that the usual SUV-heavy electrified market does not.

It could appeal to buyers who are not ready for a full EV, do not want an SUV, but still want something modern, efficient and different from the usual petrol sedan choices.

So, e.MAS sedan or next S70?

The Galaxy Starshine 6 can be discussed in the same breath as the Proton S70 because of the Geely sedan connection.

But the more convincing angle is e.MAS.

It feels too electrified, too large and too new-energy focused to be viewed only as a future S70. Instead, it feels like a possible preview of how Proton could expand the e.MAS family into sedans.

Nothing has been confirmed, of course. Proton has not announced an e.MAS sedan based on this model, and the Galaxy Starshine 6 remains a China-market Geely Galaxy product for now.

But after seeing it in person and getting a short drive, the thought is hard to ignore.

The Geely Galaxy Starshine 6 may not be the next Proton S70 in the traditional sense. It could be something more interesting than that, a possible look at what Proton e.MAS’ first sedan could be.

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