KUALA LUMPUR: Proton unit, Pro-Net, has rolled out the e.MAS 7 PHEV - the company's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that uses the Geely EX5 as its base.
Comprising three variants, the PHEV version of the all-electric e.MAS 7 starts with the Prime, which has been priced on-the-road without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia at RM109,800, followed by the mid-range Premium at RM123,800 and the range-topping Premium Plus at RM129,800.
To further promote the model, a RM4,000 rebate will also be provided for the first 5,000 bookings.
This will bring this PHEV's price down to RM105,800 (Prime), RM119,800 (Premium) and RM125,800 (Premium Plus), making the lineup among the most affordable PHEVs in the country.
Warranty is six years with unlimited mileage, while its high-voltage battery and components get an eight-year or 160,000km coverage.
Complementing the prices and warranty is Proton's five Power Packs, which are said to be worth up to RM7,500.
This consists of Power Protection – a complementary add-on with the purchase of an e.MAS Car Insurance Package, worth RM1,000.
There's also Power Home, where a complementary 7kW home charger is included – worth RM1,500 and Power Online, which entails a five-year complementary monthly internet data of 2GB – worth RM1,000.
For those looking to trade in their vehicles, Power Trade-In via Carsome will provide a RM1,000 rebate.
Meanwhile, the final Power Exchange provides an RM4,000 rebate upon a successful de-registration of a non-roadworthy vehicle.
Colour options include Obsidian Black, Lithium White, Mercury Silver, Galena Grey, and Aquamarine Blue, while the interior is available in Alabaster White or Onyx Black.
As standard, the e.MAS 7 PHEV uses a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine producing 99PS and 125Nm of torque.
All that gets further supplemented by an electric motor pushing out 218PS and 262Nm to bring its total systems output to 262PS and 262Nm.
With all that twist being sent to the front wheels, this PHEV is able to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 8.0 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 170kph.
To manage power, it uses an 11-in-1 dedicated hybrid transmission, while a 18.4kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery by CATL provides the electrical supply.
Additionally, three driving modes are being provided, such as Pure mode, which activates the electric vehicle (EV) mode for an emissions-free drive in the city and for those who prefer a quiet experience during daily commutes.
There's also Hybrid Mode that automatically blends the use of electric and combustion power, depending on one's needs - be it cruising along highways or taking on challenging gradients.
Finally, Power Mode will simply allow this PHEV to unleash its full potential with a higher level of sensitivity to throttle inputs - allowing drivers to enjoy a more dynamic experience.
While in EV mode, range has been estimated to reach up to 183km, and when combined with the internal combustion engine, this PHEV is able to provide up to 996km on the combined cycle.
The battery is able to accept up to a 6.6kw AC charger that will take almost five hours to fully charge a depleted battery.
Using a faster 30kW DC charger cuts that time down considerably and can bring the battery's State-of-Charge from 30% to 80% in less than 20 minutes.
Externally, this e.MAS 7 PHEV gets the PHEV badging for differentiation against its battery electric stablemate while rolling on 18-inch alloy wheels.
Meanwhile, LEDs are used for the daytime runners, automatic headlights with follow me home function and rear light clusters.
It also comes with roof rails, automatic wipers and a more sophisticated rear multi-link suspension for added control that gets paired to the front Macpherson struts.
Inside, a large 15.4-inch 2.5k display takes centre stage with minimal use of buttons that include a dedicated dial for the infotainment unit, rear window heater function, external air ventilation and a dedicated on/off button as well as automatic function for the climate control.
While the infotainment unit gets wired and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, there's also keyless entry start function, walk-away locking system, leatherette upholstered seats, anti-bacterial leatherette wrapped multi-function steering wheel, N95 cabin air filter, and a dual-level adjustable boot floor.
For safety, there are six airbags, a reverse camera, tyre-pressure monitoring system, intelligent and adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, emergency brake assist, lane departure warning and prevention, lead vehicle departure alert, and traffic sign recognition.
Moving up the Premium variants sees the tyres getting upsized to 19-inch alloys before adding on a front full-width LED light bar and a powered tailgate.
Drivers now get a heads-up display, upgraded sound system with 16-speakers (with headrest speakers) powered front seats for the driver(six-way with memory) and passenger (four-way), 256-colour ambient lighting system, auto-dimming frameless rear-view mirror, retractable tonneau cover and wireless smartphone charger.
Safety is also enhanced with an additional airbag (now seven), along with a 360-degree camera with 3D display system, front parking sensors, occupant detection alert and seven more advanced driver aid systems.
As for the range-topping Premium Plus, it now features a panoramic sunroof with a powered sunshade and a larger 29.8kWh battery that supports up to 60kW of fast DC charging (30-80% in under 16 minutes).
With the larger battery, it can now travel up to 146km in EV mode and up to 996km on the combined cycle.
Unfortunately, due to the larger battery's weight, its century-sprint time drops to 8.2 seconds.
“The all-new Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV brings electric-first driving to Malaysians in a practical, approachable way, without compromising freedom for longer trips,” said PRO-NET chief executive officer Zhang Qiang.
“This dual-powered EV is designed to make daily electric driving simple, while hybrid support ensures confidence for
any journey, supporting our vision for accessible and sustainable mobility,” concluded Qiang.
