A month after it was first proven on the Proton Tech Showcase on the Centre of Excellence (COE), the Proton eMas 7 PHEV has gone on present once more, this time at a devoted media preview held for it final week. Because it was in December, the automaker’s first-ever plug-in hybrid stays hidden underneath camouflage, however with a unique wrap, one which presents technical highlights of the SUV in factors throughout the scheme.
Some reconfirm issues already recognized, however there are new bits, and it will have offered a neat trace of what to anticipate, had the corporate not additionally determined to permit the discharge of the entire specification sheet for the automobile and make all technical particulars obtainable, which makes what’s on the wrap moot for probably the most.
As such, we’ll current all that we all know concerning the P145, which the corporate is badging as “Malaysia’s first dual-powered EV.” Hafriz has made his level about this, so I received’t delve additional on what is basically a liberal advertising time period coined for it.
Identical as, however completely different
Earlier than we get to the main points, let’s recap the eMas 7 PHEV. Like how the fully-electric eMas 7 is the Geely Galaxy E5/EX5 with a Proton badge, the PHEV is basically the Geely Starray EM-i (or Geely Galaxy Starship 7 in China), badged as a Proton.
That accomplished, on to the specs. It measures in at 4,740 mm lengthy, 1,940 mm large and 1,685 mm tall, with a 2,755 mm-long wheelbase, which makes it 125 mm longer, 39 mm wider and 15 mm taller than the eMas 7 EV (4,615 mm lengthy, 1,901 mm large and 1,670 mm tall), and its wheelbase can be 5 mm longer than the electrical.
On the presentation, the automaker highlighted that the GMA platform employed for the PHEV options 5 devoted structure pathways to supply unbiased isolation of gas, electrical and exhaust programs in addition to six transverse/4 longitudinal gas/electrical protecting beams and 6 full 360-degree safety zones to ship most exterior safety for the gas tank and battery pack. Moreover, a three-layer stepped design for the underbody reduces the danger of scraping injury to the battery, which doesn’t jut out beneath the automobile à la the e:N1.
Appears-wise, its exterior is basically just like the electrical eMas 7, however a variety of styling parts assist current it with a extra typical – and arguably, extra good-looking – look, which you’ll get to see in full very quickly. The entrance finish, with break up headlights and a full-width LED mild bar working between them in addition to a extra outlined bumper, provides the hybrid a bit extra visible presence and dimensionality. Point out was made that the PHEV’s headlamps have been lowered to scale back glare.
Different variations embrace typical door handles as a substitute of the recessed, pop-out gadgets on the electrical and a reworked rear finish, which sees the quantity plate placement being moved up from the bumper to the tailgate, lending it sturdy Porsche Cayenne overtures when seen from the rear quarters. All this, with out vital detriment to its resistance on the transfer, its 0.288 Cd not far-off from the eMas 7 EV’s 0.275 Cd.
Whereas it additionally rides on 18-inch (Prime) and 19-inch alloys (Premium and Premium Plus) just like the EV, the PHEV contains a new multi-spoke wheel design. Tyre profiles are an identical to the EV throughout each wheel sizes – 225/55 profile items on 18s, and 235/50 on the 19s.
Just like the eMas 7 EV, the suspension consists of entrance MacPherson struts and rear multi-links, and the set-up for it’s the similar as international fashions. Requested if there was any Malaysian contact to journey and dealing with for it, the reply from Professional-Web was no, but it surely was indicated that there was some involvement early on within the venture.
As for exterior colors, 5 can be found for the eMas 7 PHEV, and these are Obsidian Black, Lithium White, Mercury Silver, Galena Gray and Azure Blue.
Variants, powertrains and batteries
The PHEV follows the variant naming conference of the EV, however provides on yet one more to make it three – the Prime, Premium and a Premium Plus. All will function Geely’s EM-i (for E-Motive Intelligence) Tremendous Hybrid powertrain, which consists of:
- A 99 PS (98 hp, or 73 kW) and 125 Nm 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated engine
- A 218 PS (215 hp, or 160 kW) and 262 Nm entrance motor
- Whole energy output is rated at 262 PS (258 hp, or 193 kW) and 262 Nm, all despatched to the entrance wheels
The petrol mill, BHE15-DFN, is an Atkinson-cycle model of the 1.5 litre BHE15-CFN, which made its debut within the new Saga MC3. For its software right here, the naturally-aspirated unit has been made easier and lighter for larger effectivity – single as a substitute of dual-VVT and environment friendly EGR (exhaust fuel recirculation) on the again. Anoraks will be aware that the output is down from the Chinese language market’s 111 PS and 136 Nm engine.
It was earlier talked about that the engine has a thermal effectivity of 47.26%, which is claimed by Geely to be the perfect on this planet for a mass produced inner combustion engine. It has been revised to 46.5%, as famous on the data level positioned on the hood – the rationale why it’s barely decrease than China is as a result of the latter will get the up to date model, which is barely extra environment friendly, the corporate says.
As highlighted within the first preview, the engine doesn’t use an auxiliary belt, with minimal parasitic loss because of this. Elsewhere, the AC compressor is electrical and the automobile’s 12V battery is charged through a DC-DC converter as a substitute of an alternator, and the water pump has a better capability in comparison with the model within the Saga. The gas tank can be pressurised on the PHEV.
Mated to the mill is an 11-to-1 electrified devoted hybrid transmission (E-DHT) that mixes a P1 built-in starter-generator and P3 traction motor. The system principally lets the motor energy the wheels by itself, but it surely has the flexibility to interact a clutch and feed within the ICE’s energy at larger speeds the place the engine is extra environment friendly, just like Honda’s e:HEV (non plug-in) hybrid system.
Efficiency figures embrace a 0-100 km/h dash time of 8.0 seconds for the Prime/Premium and eight.2 seconds for a similar on the Premium Plus, with all three variants having the identical 170 km/h high whack. In addition to this, the variants differ in battery capacities, vary and DC charging charges. Just like the EV, the PHEV options two batteries of various capacities and efficiency, and they’re:
- Premium Plus – 29.8 kWh Aegis quick blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, 146 km EV vary, 996 km mixed (each WLTP), 60 kW DC charging (30-80% SoC in underneath 16 minutes), 6.6 kW AC
- Premium and Prime – 18.4 kWh CATL LFP battery, 83 km EV vary, 943 km mixed (each WLTP), 30 kW DC charging (30 to 80% SoC in underneath 20 minutes), 6.6 kW AC
You’ll be aware from the specification sheet – and the purpose spotlight on the camo automobile – that the PHEV gives 1,065 km of mixed vary on the Premium Plus (and 1,000 km for the Prime and Premium), however that’s primarily based on the extra lenient NEDC cycle.
Now, with the ability to tout 1,000 km or extra of vary is clearly neat from a advertising viewpoint (and a drive livestream occasion), but it surely’s merely following on the trail that some competing choices have gone, and in any case it will be a stretch to have drivers obtain this every time over a lifetime of blended cycle use, the place actually nothing ever follows what’s listed on the tin.
Extra importantly, it additionally strikes away from the automaker’s constructive use of extra life like vary permutations for its EV choices, and so, it’s with WLTP that we current the PHEV’s theoretical vary. In any case, the WLTP numbers aren’t something to scoff at, on condition that the vary topper is only a shade off the 1k mark.
The eagle-eyed reader may have famous that the range-topping PHEV variant’s DC charging of as much as 60 kW is decrease than the eMas 7 EV’s 80 kW and 100 kW price, however that is hardly a factor, given its smaller battery capability and PHEV leanings.
In the meantime, gas consumption is listed as 4.3 litres per 100 km on the Prime/Premium and 4.4 litres/100 km on the Premium Plus, however that’s on NEDC, so you may anticipate it to be larger within the remaining depend. As for the PHEV’s service interval, it’s 12 months or 20,000 km, and in the course of the preview, the automaker confused that the service value for it sits in between ICE and EV, with issues hedging nearer to EV.
Inside and equipment
We will’t provide a view of the inside as but, however that can come very quickly. Nevertheless, you may anticipate a cabin presentation an identical to the eMas 7 EV (which within the picture under gives a visible indication of what’s coming), with right-hand-drive vehicles retaining the eMas 7’s dashboard as a substitute of the one seen within the home market LHD Starship 7. The rationale for that is for cheaper localisation, with extra frequent components being shared. By the way, the eMas 7 PHEV launches as a CBU first earlier than native meeting will get underway.
When it comes to gear, the PHEV’s equipment checklist reads just like the one for the all-electric eMas 7, and so that you’ll discover a Flyme OS (with English and Malay language help) powered by a 7nm automotive grade chip, reside charging map integration, 10.2-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 2.5K 15.4-inch infotainment central touchscreen and leatherette seats as normal fare. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is offered on the PHEV from the get-go.
Variant particular gear additionally typically mirrors that of the EV, from the six-speaker audio system on the Prime and 16-speaker Flyme Sound Wanos system on the Premium (and right here, the Premium Plus) to the 13.8-inch windshield head-up show on larger variants. The Prime PHEV omits the powered driver’s seat discovered on the Prime EV, however the adjustment scope on powered seats up the mannequin vary is an identical to the EV.
There are some variations. The eMas 7 PHEV has bodily sunroof controls (on-screen on the EV) and a built-in tonneau cowl, and it has a better airbag depend than the EV, seven to the six on the latter with the inclusion of a central airbag between the driving force/entrance passenger, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if these enhancements will filter all the way down to the EV for the subsequent replace.
Naturally, boot area can be up from the EV. The PHEV gives 528 litres of rear quantity capability, expandable to 2,065 litres with the rear seats folded, giving it 67 litres and 188 litres greater than the EV (461 litres, 1,877 litres). Its 100 litres hidden underfloor storage can be 49 litres greater than the 51 litres obtainable for the EV.
Another spatial numbers had been talked about in the course of the presentation, such because the 932 mm hip to hip distance between entrance and rear seats, 125 mm of rear-seat knee room and 73.5 mm of rear headroom, the final of which the automaker says is class-leading. In keeping with Proton, inside area is about the identical because the EV.
We’ll have extra on the Proton eMas 7 PHEV very quickly, together with what it seems like uncovered, so keep tuned.
GALLERY: 2026 Proton eMas 7 PHEV at Proton Tech Showcase
GALLERY: RHD Geely Starray EM-i at GIIAS 2025
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