Car review: Proton e.Mas 7 glitters with utility and functionality
SINGAPORE – The last time a Proton review ran in The Straits Times was 12 years ago. Not long after the Preve compact saloon was launched and tested, the Malaysian brand exited Singapore.
Now part-owned by China's Geely group, Proton has returned to Singapore, but with a car which is nothing like its 'cheap but cheerful' models that old-timers like me used to know. In fact, the e.Mas 7 is nothing like the other models in the current Proton line-up.
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Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Proton e.Mas 7 review: Punching hard for the price
[Singapore] Everyone loves a good comeback story, and the 7 is the star of Proton's. A pure electric crossover (what isn't, these days?), it spearheads the brand's September relaunch here, after 11 years' absence. There are still Protons on the road (Land Transport Authority figures show roughly 300 in the country), but your chances of spotting a Ferrari on any given day are three times higher. The 7's job is to change all that, while paving the way for a new family of electric cars from the Malaysian car company, all with the ' branding. It's gotten off to a flying start, at least at home. It's now Malaysia's top-selling electric vehicle (EV), and in May, Proton claimed it had sold one every hour since its launch in January. Still, how much pride our cousins across the Causeway should take in that achievement depends on whether you think of the 7 as Malaysian or Chinese. It's very much a Geely Galaxy E5 (or EX5, depending where you shop) with a Proton badge, and it's assembled in China for now. A little graphic on the windscreen depicts a landmark from Hangzhou, not Kuala Lumpur. But that should be a selling point, if anything. No one churns out well-equipped EVs at aggressive prices quite like the Chinese, after all, and Geely's control of Proton is what makes the 7 work. Sure enough, new distributor Vincar EV is launching two versions here for tempting sums. The 7 Prime kicks off the range with a pre-launch price of S$168,988 including a Category B Certificate of Entitlement. It has a 49.52 kilowatt-hour battery, which is enough for an uncompetitive 345 kilometres. Both versions have a 218 horsepower motor driving their front wheels, but the Premium (S$172,988) bumps battery capacity to 60.22 kWh for a more workable 410 km of range. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up That alone should swing it in favour of the Premium, but either way, the 7 feels very much like a modern Chinese EV to drive. The suspension setup borders on firm but feels better sorted than the segment's soggy norm, and though the acceleration never arrives in a violent surge, it's smooth and instantaneous. The roomy 7 favours family duties over driving thrills. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING While there's plenty of grip available around corners, the 7 is never going to be the kind of car you take to your favourite road for laughs. It feels too heavy for that, and the motor keeps up a stoic silence no matter how hard you stomp on the accelerator. At least it rewards you with thrift; I found it easy to keep energy consumption way below the car's claimed consumption figure. Anyway, it's clear the 7 favours family duties over driving thrills. It's deceptively roomy, especially in the rear where legroom is limo-like. Barring the odd hard plastic and wonky panel, the cabin doesn't feel cheap. And there are thoughtful touches all around the car, such as a deep boot well that lets golf bags stand tall, and a tray beneath the rear bench that's perfect for stashing a pair of shoes or keeping, say, a laptop out of sight. Up front, an impressively sharp 15.4-inch display takes centre stage. It's smooth and lag-free, but still needs polish. Apple CarPlay was glitchy on my test car (I had to reconnect my phone often), and Android Auto is currently missing in action. The native navigation system doesn't work in Singapore, so it can't find charging stations here. I expect software updates to sort those eventually, and there is a companion smartphone app in the works. In the meantime, the 7 does make a strong case for itself, though not the Prime version and its short range. For slightly more money, the Premium goes a lot further but also comes with a head-up display, panoramic glass roof, a 16-speaker sound system, larger wheels and so on. Up front, an impressively sharp 15.4-inch display takes centre stage. PHOTO: BIG FISH PUBLISHING Proton's real challenge isn't product strength, but a hostile landscape. BYD looms large in the imagination of nearly every EV buyer here, and while the 7 is pitched against the smaller Atto 3, its Category B placement will have buyers wondering if they shouldn't stretch their budgets for a larger Sealion 7 instead. As for Proton's place in buyers' minds here, anyone comfortable with the thought of owning a car from Geely brands such as Polestar and Volvo ought to be fine with the 7, but it's anyone's guess whether Singaporeans will embrace the badge. Come September, the Proton saga continues. Proton 7 Premium Motor power/torque 218 hp/320 Nm Battery type/net capacity Lithium Iron Phosphate/60.22 kWh Charging time/type 6.1 hours 10 to 80 per cent (11 kW AC), 20 minutes 30 to 80 per cent (100 kW DC) Range 410 km 0-100 kmh 7.1 seconds Top speed 175 kmh Efficiency 16.6 kWh/100 km Agent Vincar EV Price S$172,988 with with COE Available September 2025
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Car review: Proton e.Mas 7 glitters with utility and functionality
Elusive styling: The 7 looks nothing like any other Proton, past or present. SINGAPORE – The last time a Proton review ran in The Straits Times was 12 years ago. Not long after the Preve compact saloon was launched and tested, the Malaysian brand exited Singapore. Now part-owned by China's Geely group, Proton has returned to Singapore, but with a car which is nothing like its 'cheap but cheerful' models that old-timers like me used to know. In fact, the 7 is nothing like the other models in the current Proton line-up.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
China's 'robot Olympics' sees humanoids from 16 nations compete in table tennis, football, track
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Humanoid robots take part in a test 100m run ahead of the opening ceremony of the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, at National Speed Skating Oval, in Beijing, China, August 14, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang BEIJING - China kicked off a three-day long sports showcase for humanoid robots on Friday, looking to highlight progress in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries competing in the World Humanoid Robot Games. Robots will compete in sports such as football, track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackle robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams come from countries including the United States, Germany, and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises. Robots from Chinese companies including Unitree and Fourier are among those competing. The Beijing municipal government is among the organising bodies for the event, underscoring the emphasis Chinese authorities place on the emerging robotics industry and reflecting the country's broader ambitions in AI and automation. The China's robotics push also comes as the country grapples with an ageing population and slowing economic growth. The sector has received government subsidies exceeding $20 billion over the past year, while Beijing plans to establish a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups. China has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world's first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Power fault on Sengkang-Punggol LRT line brings trains to a halt Singapore Owners call for stronger management rules in ageing condos, but seek to avoid being overburdened Asia Johor authorities seize four Singapore-registered vehicles over illegal e-hailing Singapore More families in Singapore using childminding and elder-minding services Business US Treasuries a draw as yield gap with S'pore govt bonds widens, but analysts urge caution Asia Attack on my son is a 'warning' to silence me, says Malaysian MP Rafizi Ramli World Trump says Putin ready to make deal on Ukraine as leaders prepare for Alaska meeting Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength However, the marathon drew criticism after several robot competitors emitted smoke during the race and some failed to complete the course, raising questions about the current capabilities of the technology. Still, while some may view such competitions and events as publicity stunts, industry experts and participants see them as crucial catalysts for advancing humanoid robots toward practical real-world applications. Morgan Stanley analysts in a report last week noted a surge in attendance to a recent robot conference from the general public compared to previous years, saying this showed "how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence." "We believe this widespread interest could be instrumental for China's continued leadership in the humanoid race, providing the necessary talent, resources, and customers to boost industry development and long-term adoption," they said. Booster Robotics, whose humanoid robots are being used by a Tsinghua University team in the football competition, views soccer as an effective test of perception, decision-making and control technologies that could later be deployed in factories or homes. "Playing football is a testing and training ground for helping us refine our capabilities," said Zhao Mingguo, Chief Scientist at Booster Robotics. REUTERS
