KUALA LUMPUR: Long before its launch, the Proton X70 had already attracted the interest of the public for being the national carmaker’s first sport utility vehicle, a model that would complete Proton’s line-up.
Many people were impressed with the model when it was launched on Dec 12 as it has many features and sophisticated technology offerings.
One of the features that have been the talk of the town is the voice command system which allows the driver or passengers to communicate with the car, much like the sophisticated vehicle featured in the popular US television series ‘Knight Rider’ that ran from 1982 to 1986.
Leveraging the connectivity technology, the voice command feature is powered by artificial intelligence that enables the driver or passengers to control certain functions of the car by talking to the car.
A recent test drive in Langkawi organised by Proton provided this writer with an opportunity to get to know the X70 better.
Packed With Features
The test drive participants, comprising journalists from the broadcast, print and online media, were exposed to the car’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), comprising a combination of features that improve the driving experience and enhance safety.
ADAS features include the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system that automatically brakes the car to avoid a potential collision, and adaptive cruise control (ACC) that maintains a safe distance from the vehicle in front when cruise control is in operation.
The participants were also exposed to the lane departure warning (LDW) that alerts the driver if the vehicle drifts out of the lane unintentionally, and hill descent control (HDC) which maintains the car’s downhill speed at four kilometres per hour.
During a session to familiarise the participants with the X70’s 360-degree camera system and parking sensors, they were asked to drive the car with the windscreen, side mirror and rear mirror covered and guided only by the camera display and instructions from professional trainers.
It was an interesting experience and felt like a scene from the movie ‘Bird Box’, starring Sandra Bullock, where the characters have to drive a car with its windows, windscreen and rear window painted in black to avoid being possessed by an evil spirit that causes people to commit suicide.
Smooth, Responsive and Adaptive On The Road
On the road, the X70’s performance is unquestionable with the 1.8 litre turbo gasoline direct injection engine and six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode keeping the ride smooth, responsive and adaptive.
Also available are the eco and sport drive modes to fit in with the driver’s driving style.
As for the connectivity features, the voice command system that everybody is talking about was actually a little below expectation as the car’s response to the voice commands seemed slow and at times, it could not recognise the driver’s instructions.
This was most probably due to the weak Internet connection on some parts of Langkawi where the X70 was test driven, as the voice command system requires Internet connectivity to perform its functions.
Meanwhile, another connectivity feature that has not been highlighted but is interesting is the smartphone connectivity that allows the driver to monitor and perform certain functions of the car using a smartphone application.
Remote Functions
Once the smartphone application is connected to the car, the owner can check vehicle details such as its model, colour, chassis number, engine number and registration number via the application.
The application would also show the mileage, average fuel consumption, average speed, driving range available for the fuel left in the tank and location of the car.
Remote functions available through this application are unlocking the door and trunk, as well as opening the window just in case the doors are automatically locked with the key inside the car. The application can also be used to turn on the horn and lights in case the driver forgot where he or she parked the car.
Another function of this application is recording all the trips made by the car in a log. This feature can be disabled but once the trip log is recorded, it cannot be deleted.
On the whole, the experience of test driving the X70 was enjoyable. The technology used by the car, however, is not something new, while the voice command has been used in other marques but at a higher price.
The Proton X70’s on-the-road, without insurance, price ranges from RM99,800 to RM123,800. – Bernama
