2026 Geely Boyue L in China – next-gen Proton X70?

Remember when we showed you the Geely Galaxy L7 from Auto China 2024 in Beijing? At that time we speculated that it was a distant crystal ball for the next-gen Proton X70, being a PHEV version of the Boyue L. Well, two years later, in Beijing again, we now give you the fourth-gen Geely Boyue L, known as the Starray or Atlas outside China.

Since this is the ICE model (the Galaxy sub-brand is now reserved for EVs and PHEVs; non-Galaxy models are ICE or HEV – somewhat analogous to Proton eMas and Proton, right?), this guy is arguably closer to what we’ll get as the next X70. It first launched in the Middle Kingdom early last year, looking considerably more conventional than its sharp-eyed, bigger-grilled 2023 predecessor.

The back, however, has been changed a lot less – it still has those arrow-shaped full-width tail lamps and the same tailgate spoiler. Only the lower bumper has been reworked for a neater and more mature look.

Still underpinned by the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, the latest Boyue L’s length, width, height and wheelbase are respectively 4,730, 1,910, 1,710 and 2,785 mm, making it 60 mm longer, 10 mm wider, 5 mm taller and with an 8-mm longer wheelbase than before, while being 198 mm longer (!), 79 mm wider, 16 mm taller and with a 115-mm longer wheelbase (!) than our current X70.

It’s inside where the changes are most prominent – there’s a new dashboard with a landscape-oriented 15.4-inch touch-screen instead of the previous 13.2-inch portrait, pause symbol-shaped side air vents, slim dual air vents below the touch-screen, new door cards, and the wireless charger has been moved from beneath the touch-screen to beside the stubby gear lever.

The 25.6-inch augmented-reality head-up display and the 10.25-inch instrument panel remain, but the speaker count now tops out at 16 (previously 11). Suspension? MacPherson struts up front, multi links out back – status quo.

Like before, 181 PS/290 Nm 1.5TD (already on our current X70, X90, X50 and S70) and 218 PS/325 Nm 2.0TD engines are available – both turbo direct-injected four-cylinder units are connected to a seven-speed wet-clutch DCT.

Looks like as far Proton is concerned, this 1.5TD-7DCT pairing is in for the long haul. Once the Persona goes, you won’t be able to buy a new Proton ICE car with an engine displacing anything other than 1.5 litres. Even the eMas 7 PHEV has a 1.5 litre engine. I’m all for economies of scale, but a boy can dream – how about a 218 PS/325 Nm 2.0TD X70? No? Just me?

The rear three-quarter is my favourite angle – the sharp, angular look brought about by those arrow-shaped tail lamps is distinctive – but I actually prefer the previous face as I think it looks more futuristic. Do you think this new conservative face would sit better with us Malaysians?

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