Proton have just released a set of studio shots of the upcoming three-row SUV that can only be described as muted and unflattering, especially when you consider that this is the first showing of the X90 and how proud Proton are of their styling chops. The only saving grace of this preview is that the event photo (where the X90 is flanked by Proton’s head honchos) does suggest a much more interesting-looking vehicle in the flesh.
Otherwise, there isn’t much ‘breaking news’ to share other than that the X90 is based on the Geely Haoyue/Okavango, will be powered by a 48V mild hybrid 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine (rated at 190hp/300Nm) mated to a 7-speed DCT, driving the front wheels. Like the X50 and X70, expect the X90 to come with the latest active safety tech and a price tag that would cast a shade over competing products. #Proton #X90 #Geely
It is a sign of how far a marque has come when it’s able to take on styling liberties few other brands would dare contemplate. In that sense, BMW has been on a roll, trolling everyone with designs so outrageous, some might even find them vulgar. Yet, business is booming and BMW continues to be the best-selling premium vehicle brand in the world.
Tipping the scales at over 2.7 tonnes (gasp), it’s a stretch to link the legendary M1 – the lightweight sports car which went racing in the 70s and 80s – to the XM; a behemoth of a plug-in hybrid SUV.
The XM’s combined system output of 653hp/800Nm derives from the familiar 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and an electric motor integrated in its 8-speed automatic transmission. The system drives all four wheels and propels the XM from idle to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds, with max velocity at 270km/h.
For a smidgen under RM1.4 million (inclusive of 5-year warranty and service), the XM will delight affluent buyers with the most luxurious, tech-laden cabin ever found in an M car, and while it is properly quick, the XM is hardly the fastest in the M stable, not even among M-badged SUVs. Instead, the XM’s party piece is seemingly to start conversations that lead to more questions than answers, like why does it even need to exist? #BMW #XM
I am starting to imagine perhaps two or three used X5 40e driven by new-to-brand trying to replicate these "liveries"...
