Fresh from its appearance at an ASEAN Summit event recently, the Proton Saga MC3 with the songket-inspired wrap is now on display at the brand’s Centre of Excellence. We’re not certain if the new sedan will be there for long, so here’s a gallery of it in case you miss it and have to wait until launch day. Alternatively, you can see the uncovered version in Ruby Red that prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed earlier this morning. The heavy facelift for the Saga sees an overhauled front end featuring redesigned LED projector headlamps with integrated L-shaped daytime running lights and two inner indicator light bars. The latter is visually connected to an Ethereal Bow on a full-width concave grille, which has black pins on its insert and joined by a thicker upper chrome bar. Also new is the bonnet that has its creases spread further apart than on the outgoing MC2. The lower apron now gets a rectangular-shaped intake flanked by small inlets that appear to channel air to cool the brakes. Progressing down the sides, we find new side mirrors with integrated indicators and 15-inch wheels in a four-twin-spoke design with Atlas AS380 tyres in a 185/55 profile. The general profile, roofline, beltline and crease the runs through the door handles all appear to be unchanged. At the rear, there’s a full-width light bar that links the taillights with dashed bars as its signature. The Proton script sits just below the boot lid with a small ducktail, with the rear bumper having a diffuser-like element. The ‘i-GT’ badge on the left of the boot lid likely points to some engine technology, with the Saga expected to get a new 1.5 litre inline-four petrol engine (deep dive here). A leaked document previously indicates this will be paired with a conventional automatic transmission on Standard and Executive variants, with the top-spec Premium getting a CVT instead. The COE display car was locked during our time with it, so we had to get crafty to obtain these interior photos. Changes are far as we can see include a brand-new dashboard that has a large housing to house a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system. There are also pill-shaped air vents, with the central ones sitting just above physical controls for the air-conditioning and certain vehicle functions. Other cue include textured trim on the passenger side, with the wavy design also replicated on all the door cards, which now offer more practicality by having larger storage cubbies. The centre console also gets a new design and accommodates a revised gear lever aft of a cupholder. To the right of the driver is a dedicated panel for side mirror controls and engine start button. This is likely the top-spec Premium given the partially perforated leatherette upholstery on the seats. The Saga MC3 is built on the AMA platform, which is a platform used on models previously developed by the company but significantly upgraded to be relevant to newer safety standards and technologies. The presence of a camera behind the rear-view mirror suggests some form of ADAS, which would be a first for the model. However, it doesn’t look like Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features like adaptive cruise control is on the cards, judging by the absence of on-wheel controls for such functions. Also visible on the inside are airbag labels on the front seats and interior pillars, indicating the presence of six airbags. This is a big jump from the two airbags currently offered, and it also beats its biggest rival, the Perodua Bezza. We expect this, along with ADAS, to only be offered on the top-spec Premium, as is the case with rivals in this price range. With everything you know and have seen of the Saga so far, are you looking forward to the launch of the next chapter in the brand’s iconic nameplate? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater.