The B-segment family sedan has been given an exterior redesign as well as an intelligent head unit identical to the one in the 2019 Iriz and based on the system used in the X70.
The Persona and Iriz are the first models in Proton’s current range to be updated following the collaboration with Geely and the official launch of both vehicles is currently planned to occur simultaneously this month.
Flash booking promotion of the Persona will start on March 12 and end on March 22. The Iriz flash booking from March 1-11 was extended to end on March 22 as well.
Interested buyers can place an online booking for only RM9.99.
“Proton aims to make its cars accessible to as many potential buyers as possible," said Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong.
"That is why the RM9.99 flash promotion is being offered. The low commitment fee is just one part of the deal. The convenience of being able to place a booking online from virtually anywhere there is a data line is the second part of the equation, making the act of booking a car simple and fast.”
The first joint customer preview of the Persona and Iriz will take place on March 16-17 at Proton Edar 3S centre in Plentong, Johor Baru. Previously, customer events had been held at Proton Edar 3S centres at Chan Sow Lin and Damansara but they only featured the Iriz.
Penned by a team led by the head of Proton Design, Azlan Othman, the new Persona benefits from expertise drawn from other design centres within the Geely group of companies. It also uses styling elements to create a visual link with other Proton models.
The design updates are subtle but make the Persona stand out from its predecessor.
At the front, it receives a new outer grille inspired by the “Ethereal Bow” that debuted on the X70 and also features on the Iriz. The radiator incorporates the “Infinite Weave” pattern sculpted into its design and sits on top of a redesigned front bumper.
Sleek new LED daytime running lamps (DRL) are housed over a honeycomb mesh backing while a new bumper lower garnish ties together the new design elements of the front bumper and frames the lower air intake more elegantly.
At the rear, the most noticeable changes are the Proton name spelled out on the trunk lid garnish and a new bumper lower garnish that is said to enhance the rear visual identity. A slimmer spoiler adds a sporting touch while a new bolder flowing typeface for the Persona name badge matches the overall exterior styling theme.
A new 15-inch aluminium wheel design and a shark fin antenna provide the final exterior styling touches.
Similar to the Iriz, the Persona features an intelligent head unit that is equipped with an embedded eSIM card and offers apps for music streaming, weather updates, navigation and voice recognition.
Access to the system is via a 7-inch full colour touchscreen with 16GB of internal memory. There is also Wi-Fi connectivity and full mirroring capabilities for Android smart phones via an app.
“The X70 introduced the concept of intelligence to our range of cars and the 2019 Persona and Iriz have now received similar features," said Dr Li.
"Their intelligent head unit offers voice command, weather forecast, navigation and music streaming functions and they can all be accessed using the Hi Proton! catchphrase. These are first in class features for cars in the B-segment so we hope to build on the advantage we now have over our rivals.”
