The Proton Tech Showcase has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine that now serves in the X50 facelift as well as the 2026 Saga MC3 will be headed for the forthcoming, updated X70, X90 and S70, and the carmaker has revealed further details on the new engine family.
Proton has revealed that the i-GT 1.5 litre engine, in its naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms, will feature local content proportions of 54% and 45%, respectively, and the Malaysian automaker has also detailed how the new engines are improved compared to their predecessors.
Beginning with the headline figures, in turbocharged form the 1.5 i-GT engine in the facelifted X50 outputs 133 kW (181 PS) and 290 Nm, gains of 2.3% and 13.7% over those of previous generations, according to Proton. Its claimed fuel consumption of 6.1 litres per 100 km represents a 16.1% reduction, and Proton claims an industry-leading torque-to-weight ratio of 2.64 Nm per kg.
For the 1.5 i-GT engine in naturally aspirated form as found in the Saga MC3, its outputs of 88 kW (120 PS) and 150 Nm represent gains of 25.7% and 25% for power and torque respectively, while its 11.6-second 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 21.6% quicker than that of its predecessor, the Saga MC2 which did the benchmark run in 14.8 seconds.
Compared against Proton’s older turbocharged engine, the 1.6 litre, port-fuel-injected turbocharged CFE engine, the 1.5 litre i-GT turbo mill offers 41% more useful torque, according to Proton, and the new engine demonstrates greater torque outputs across the entire engine rev range, from 1,000 to 6,000 rpm.
Like the older 1.6T engine, the turbocharged i-GT arrives at peak torque at 2,000 rpm, though it appears to taper down from peak torque for longer compared to the older engine.
In terms of power, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT also offers higher outputs across the rev range, a claimed 17% more, and the new engine brings a steeper ramp up towards its 5,500 rpm output peak, compared to the 1.6T CFE engine’s plateau, which also peaks at 5,500 rpm before the 6,000 rpm limit.
When compared to the 1.5 litre CEP3 three-cylinder engine previously in the X50, the 1.5 litre turbocharged i-GT engine offers a claimed 14% more useful torque (290 Nm, up from 255 Nm in the X50 Flagship), and 2% more power (up from 177 PS of the X50 Flagship).
Power and torque are increased across most of the rev range, though power and torque bands of the i-GT appear to dip below those of the GEP3 Turbo engine from 4,500 rpm to 5,250 rpm. Test bench fuel consumption figures for the 1.5 litre i-GT turbocharged engine shows a 6% improvement over the 1.5L GEP3 three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 20% improvement over the 1.6L CFE turbocharged engine.
Compared between naturally aspirated engines, the NA version of the 1.5 i-GT engine offers claimed gains of 25% more torque and 26% more power, relative to the smaller displacement, also-naturally aspirated 1.3 litre VVT engine. According to official specifications listed for the 2026 Saga MC3, this BHE15-CFN port-injected engine outputs 120 PS at 6,100 rpm and 150 Nm from 4,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm.
As mentioned, the 1.5 litre i-GT engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms will be featured in upcoming updated iterations of the Proton X70, X90 and S70.
GALLERY: Proton i-GT engine presentation slides
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