Dubbed the Proton Iriz Active concept, it previews what could be a production version of a more rugged Iriz and is aimed to invoke a sense of “freedom of mobility”.
Designed to show what the Iriz platform is capable of, Proton intends to parade the car as a new challenger into the mini-SUV segment. Before you rush out to your nearest Proton showroom, let it be known that, at least for now, the car is just a concept as Proton intends to gauge public reaction before making the next step. Should response towards the concept be positive, Proton will proceed on putting it into production.
Exterior wise, the Iriz Active concept comes with full body cladding and has an increased ground clearance of 30 mm – considerably more than the normal Iriz hatchback. The eye-catching paintwork consists of a combination of what Proton calls ‘Earth Grey’ and ‘Orange Zest’ scheme.
From the front, the most prominent change at first glance is the new brightly coloured grille, where Orange Zest accents have replaced the chrome finishing. Roof rails are decked out in silver and the blacked-out C-pillars help Proton achieve that ‘floating-roof’ design’.
The wheel design features a new direction as it aims to make the car look “active when stationary”, according to one of the designers. The concept is shod with Toyo Proxes T1R tyres with the rim dimensions measuring at 205/45/R17.
At the rear, the concept comes with fog lamps and the rear turn indicators are now designed to bridge the panel gaps between the rear shoulder line and the boot panel gap. Prominent tow hooks are also found on the back of the car, again adding to the ‘Active’ mantra.
Another feature that stood out at the rear is the repositioning of the rear view camera, which is now just below the Proton badge. The reason for the move is that the new rear view camera actually replaces the rear view mirror with a “live” LCD monitor inside.
Proton has collaborated with Korean technology giant, LG, on the development of the car’s electronics and lighting system. It now features a new lighting system dubbed NEXLIDE. Electroluminescent film strips replace the LED daytime running lights – which have now been incorporated into the headlight assembly. The LED turn signals are also repositioned, this time being integrated into the bumper.
The added benefit of this new system is, according to Head of Design at Proton, Azlan Othman, is that Proton is able to shape new eccentric designs for their lights with less effort. The interior benefits from a host of new changes courtesy of LG.
The centre console features a 13.3-inch Proton infotainment system while the traditional set of gauges have been replaced by a 12.3-inch HD display unit. A wireless charger on the centre tunnel with improved EMI reliability and integrated NFC (re-radiated antennae) and an integrated air purifier complete the added list of features.
Splashes of orange and grey on the leather seats help spruce up the interior atmosphere and tan leather door inserts complete the internal aesthetic upgrades.
The highlight is perhaps the new LG-developed ‘ADAS’ system – an autonomous emergency braking system. It employs stereo cameras mounted where the aforementioned “live” LCD monitor is and scans the road ahead for potential obstacles and pedestrians which may pose a threat. The system is reminiscent of that employed by Volvo.
Unfortunately, details under the hood are scarce as Proton has remain tight-lipped about what they plan to employ to power the Iriz Active concept. From that, we can only speculate that the company may be looking to introduce a new engine altogether – should the car ever make production.
With the new Iriz already making waves across the country, one can only hope that this design exercise gets the green light for production. What do you think of an SUV-style Iriz Crossover? Let us know in the comments below.
- source: Paultan.org
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