A Proton Saga Iswara has unexpectedly become the star of a promotional video for Apple’s latest iPhone 18 Pro, catching the attention of Malaysians online.
The locally made car features in Apple’s #ShotoniPhone18Pro campaign, which showcases the smartphone’s video capabilities.
The 58-second film follows a group of youngsters in a dramatic single-take chase as they attempt to escape a mysterious man.
The Proton Iswara makes its appearance when one of the actors runs towards the car and jumps inside. A camera rig attached to the right passenger door then captures footage from inside the moving vehicle.
The Iswara, complete with a sunroof, quickly caught the attention of Malaysian viewers after Apple posted the video on Instagram on September 23.
Comments included, “I saw Proton Saga there”, “Wait, is that Malaysia Proton car?” and “Proud to be a Malaysian”.
Others celebrated the unexpected appearance with comments such as “Malaysia mendunia” and “I saw Proton, I press LIKE”.
The video was filmed by British cinematographer Matt Lewis, who directed the sequence to demonstrate the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera capabilities.
Lewis is known for his work on Netflix’s British crime drama Adolescence, which famously featured extended single-take sequences.
In the Apple film, Lewis explained that the production aimed to create a continuous chase sequence while achieving a cinematic depth-of-field effect.
The Proton Iswara appearance comes shortly after the iPhone 18 Pro officially went on sale in Malaysia on September 18, following the opening of pre-orders on September 12.
The Malaysian launch also attracted crowds at Apple The Exchange TRX, with customers forming separate queues for pre-order collections and walk-in purchases when the store opened at 8am.
