Spied: Geely Binyue Testing In Genting Highlands – Future Proton SUV?

A camouflaged test mule of the Geely Binyue SUV has been caught testing by local motoring journalist Y.S. Khong.

The roughly 30-second video shows a dark blue Left Hand Drive test mule, camouflaged at both front and rear ends, driving out of a petrol station in Goh Tong Jaya. The video, albeit brief, gives us a good look the Binyue’s unmistakable silhouette which features a characteristic chrome window lines (top and bottom) which come together in the rear quarter glass. Along the flanks, the wheels also seem to be sporting camouflage, an indication that the localised vehicle could feature a different wheel design.

This is the second time the Geely Binyue has been spied testing on Malaysian roads. The first time the SUV was spotted, the test mule was wrapped from nose to tail in camouflage, revealing very little of the car’s overall design, besides the “Expanding Cosmos” front grille.

The Geely Binyue is based on the company’s 'BMA' platform, with two engine variants available. The first is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol that produces 177 hp and 255 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder that outputs 134 hp and 205 Nm, mated exclusively to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Depending on the market, the Binyue comes equipped with the company’s latest intelligent driving technologies, capable of SAE Level 2 autonomous driving. On offer are driving aids such as active cruise control, speed limit detection, parking assist, lane keep assist and departure warning, and a 360-degree view camera system.

In its home market in China, the Binyue is priced from CNY 88,800 for the 1.5-litre turbocharged model; for comparison, the Geely Boyue (Proton X70) is priced at CNY 129,800 – making it a relatively affordable B-Segment SUV. With that in mind, Malaysian consumers could expect the upcoming Binyue-based Proton model to have a ballpark price very close to that of the Perodua Aruz (Priced from RM 72,000).

The Binyue will go up against rivals such as the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V.