Proton Exora To Hit Thai Market Next Week

BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- With over 7,000 of its cars already on the road, Proton is set to launch its maiden multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Exora in the Thai market at the Thailand International Motor Expo next week.
Based on initial feedback from the media and industry experts, Phranakorn Auto Sales general manager (operations) Apichart Wangsatorntanakhun said they were expecting a good response from Thai buyers.
"We took more than a dozen journalists to test the Exora in Malaysia. Exora received excellent reviews from the media, as well as those who came for discussion with us and saw the car at our showroom," he said in an interview here.
The Nation daily, in its review Friday said that Exora, with good handling and ride balance for its class, combined with versatile interior, was a good value as a family-mover against the smaller Toyota Avanza and the pricey Honda Freed.
Proton made its entry into the Japanese manufacturers-dominated Thai market at the end of 2007 to take advantage of the low five per cent import duty imposed under the Asean Free Trade Area agreement. Phranakorn was appointed as its official distributor.
According to Apichart, Exora's competitive pricing matched with quality, interior design and various accessories like leather seats and DVD player would enable it to compete with other MPVs in the market.
"It's value for money...it's similar to what Japanese manufacturers have been doing and is their secret for success. But now, their cars are a bit over priced," he said, adding that Honda Freed launched here two weeks ago was priced at between 894,000 Baht and 1,074,500 Baht (RM1 = 10 Baht).
Apichart said the 1.6-litre engine with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic Exora in five colours would hit the market in the price range between 699,000 Baht to 799,000 Baht.
Launched on April 15 in Malaysia, the Exora model has received 26,000 bookings todate, and 17,000 units were already registered in the domestic market there, as well as making its debut in Indonesia and Singapore.
Apichart said since its entry into the highly-competive market, Proton had sold more than 7,000 cars, with the top model being Savvy.
Asked on Phranakorn's sales target for Exora, Apichart said they had set a high target but declined to reveal.
"Overall, we hope to get about 900 bookings for all our models during the motor show.
"In fact, we are giving free insurance and free leather seats for Savvy buyers," he said.
Last year, Proton, which has 35 dealers nationwide, received 863 bookings during the popular expo attended by more than 1.5 million people. There were 14,000 orders.
Other Proton models available here are Neo, Gen 2, Persona and Persona CNG.
He said the overall sales was good, considering the weak Thai automotive market where sales dropped by 20 per cent for passenger cars and 28 per cent for pick-ups.
-- BERNAMA

Proton’s profit up from higher sales and bigger mart share

SHAH ALAM: Proton Holdings Bhd reported a higher profit and revenue during its second quarter as the company sold more cars and enjoyed cost savings from the consolidation of its sales and vendor network.

The national car maker, which saw its market share rise to 29% from 26% a year ago, is seeking to ratchet up export sales as it engineers a new cost efficiency programme that aims to bring in an additional half billion ringgit.

“The consolidation effort has given us significant improvement,’’ said managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir when announcing the group’s results yesterday.

For its second quarter ended Sept 30, Proton posted a net profit of RM82.1mil, or 14.9 sen a share, compared with RM43.8mil, or 8 sen a share, in the previous corresponding period.

Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir announcing the group’s second quarter results on Monday. Beside him is CFO Azhar Othman and behind them the Proton logo

Revenue rose 14% to RM2.1bil from RM1.85bil as the company’s sales bucked the industry-wide trend by showing a strong increase.

“Proton has beaten the consensus by a mile,’’ said AmResearch Sdn Bhd analyst Hafriz Hezri.

Hafriz attributed the strong performance to a favourable model mix where larger numbers of the higher margin Exora were sold and also cost gains from the consolidation of the vendor and dealer network.

“Improvement on our operating profit was largely due to the increase in domestic sales volume and profit margins which continued to strengthen through a better product mix,” said chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Salleh in a statement.

“Our domestic sales volume grew by 11% compared with the immediate preceding quarter and this was primarily driven by the increase in sales of our top three models – the Persona, Saga and Exora.’’

The best selling models account for 86% of total sales and demand for the Saga has exceeded initial expectations with the company having to ramp up production to meet the 7,500 bookings a month.

Proton will be exporting the Saga to Australia and Egypt

Apart from better domestic sales, ongoing efforts to cut cost – the latest through the rationalisation of its dealer and vendor network – has borne fruit.

Syed Zainal in the briefing said the cost per unit was down, along with administration and manufacturing charges.

To help cut cost further, Syed Zainal said consultants had been hired to look at the entire process and systems of the company.

Proton is going to spend RM150mil on new systems and information technology infrastructure but aims to reap conservatively RM530mil in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) savings by its 2012/13 financial year.

Proton is also expecting a revenue and profit bump from its partner in China Youngman as the latter starts with its CKD programme.

“As we move forward, volume from China will be more significant,’’ Syed Zainal said.

Apart from expecting gains from the China market, Proton is also seeking export growth from other markets in the Middle East and in the future, India.

“As for export, next month we will be launching the Exora in Thailand, as well as the Saga in Australia and Egypt. Notwithstanding the challenges, the group believes that sales volume prospects will be resilient,’’ said Syed Zainal.

In the pipeline is a global car, where styling and design, along with key components, are done outside of Proton.

Proton is already exploring green technology and aims to launch a fleet programme with the Government where between 50 and 100 of its electric cars would be used by the civil service.

Proton is also looking to develop a new powertrain.

“We will continue to focus on enhancing our returns by investing in the development of new value-for-money products, expansion into key selected markets and the execution of operational efficiency initiatives such as the rationalisation of dealers and suppliers, improvements in quality and capacity optimisation,’’ Syed Zainal said.

Malaysian carmaker Proton posts quarterly profit

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia

Malaysian national carmaker Proton reported an 87 percent jump in its quarterly profit and said it was not threatened by the launch of a seven-seater multipurpose vehicle by its domestic rival Perodua.

Proton said in a statement Monday it posted a net profit of 82 million ringgit ($24.3 million) for the quarter through September. Revenue rose 13.5 percent to 2.1 billion ringgit ($621 million) as Proton expanded its market share to 29 percent from 26 percent a year earlier.

Proton's Managing Director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said sales had risen 11 percent from the previous quarter, thanks to strong demand for its Exora multipurpose vehicle which was launched in March as well as the Saga and Persona sedans.

The Exora marks a turning point in Proton's product range, which previously focused only on passenger cars. The Exora accounts for at least a third of sales, but faces a stiff challenge after compact car maker Perodua launched a multipurpose vehicle touted to be the cheapest in the market.

"We expect some impact to the overall sales ... but our network has been prepared. We have a plan. We are not going to be threatened," Syed Zainal told reporters. "We believe the Exora has a better value proposition but we let the customer judge."

Perodua, partly owned by Japanese mini-car maker Daihatsu Motor Corp., overtook Proton in 2006 to become the top selling car maker in Malaysia and has maintained its pole position since.

Earlier Monday, Perodua launched the Alza, its first multipurpose vehicle and first 1.5 liter engine car. All its other vehicles have engines of between 0.6 and 1.3 liter.

Priced between $56,000 ringgit ($16,570) and $70,000 ringgit ($20,700), officials said they expect to sell 4,000 units of the Alza a month -- far more than Proton's monthly target of 2,500 units for the Exora.

Perodua has a 31 percent market share so far this year in Malaysia -- the largest passenger car market in Southeast Asia -- and expects to increase its share to 33 percent next year, officials said.

The Exora, which has a 1.6 liter engine capacity, is priced at below $76,000 ringgit ($22,480). Proton recently introduced a basic Exora model minus the frills to lower the price to $58,000 ($17,160) -- closing the gap with Perodua's Alza.

Syed Zainal said Proton would introduce new facelift next year to its cars to sustain sales.

The company remains cautious about the outlook for vehicle demand amid the weak global economy but it will invest in new product development including hybrid and electric vehicles, and accelerate exports to grow its earnings, he said.

He said alliance talks with Volkswagen AG were ongoing and hopes they would be finalized soon but declined give further details.

For the first half of its fiscal year ending March 2010, Proton's net profit rose 42.5 percent from a year earlier to 136.61 million ringgit ($40 million) while revenue was up 11 percent to 3.96 billion ringgit ($1.17 billion).

2010 Proton Persona facelift sighted on test!

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Drex Chan sent in these great photos of what appears to be the Proton Persona facelift that’s due next year. The Persona was first launched in 2007, so mid next year would be about the right time for a facelift if you follow a 5 year model lifecycle, though most of us probably feel like a replacement is due since the Persona is actually a GEN2 sedan, and the GEN2 has been around a long time.

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The front bumper is derived from the GEN2 CPS. The rear end shows tail lamps that have been taped up to hide an updated design. It looks like Proton has incorporated the use of LED lighting in the updated Persona’s tail lamps.

Two more details – firstly the wing mirrors also appear to be taped up. The tape hides the use of turn signal indicators integrated in the wing mirrors. Secondly, in the engine bay we can see that the engine uses coil on plug ignition, which means it is a Campro IAFM engine. This means that Proton is continuing with the separation of the Campro into two different versions – the IAFM engine as an economy-skewed engine while the CPS engine is more for power. They should really just have one powerful and fuel efficient engine for the 1.6 liter size – I’m sure it will be better for economies of scale.

There are a few more photos that you can view at drexchan’s fotopic page. UPDATE: Drex has sent in the pix on his fotopic page to be hosted here instead, as his fotopic page has ran out of bandwidth. According to Drex, the test engineers informed him that the IAFM engine would get an improved ECU. Look after the jump for the rest of the pix.

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Knowing Your Tyre Spring

Devices for measuring tyre spring rate are classified depending on the following criteria:
* Time-variation of tyre applied forces:
o static measurement;
o dynamic measurement;
o both type measurement.
* Direction of applied force:
o vertical (radial);
o longitudinal;
o lateral.
* Part of device that is moving:
o tyre hub;
o contact surface.
The test rig for measuring static vertical spring rate of passenger tyre and the vertical force transducer are shown, respectively, in figure 1 and figure 2 [1]. The test rig consists of several subassemblies: wheel attachment, loading system, measuring systems for vertical displacement and force.
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Figure 1 - Set-up for measuring vertical tyre spring rate [1]
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Figure 2 - Vertical force transducer [2]
Some device specifications are:
* wheel diameter = 12' to 15';
* fixed spindle, non-rotating wheel;
* vertical movement is effected by contact patch of the force transducer;
* vertical force up to 5000N.
Operation mode: a small vertical displacement of contact patch is induced, in such a way to primarily increase, and secondarily decrease tyre deflection. For every vertical position of contact patch, tyre deflection and vertical force are measured, using, respectively, a inductive transducer and strain gauge transducer shown in figure 2. The results are plotted vertical force vs. tyre deflection (figure 2 at chapter "Truck tyre spring rate").
A machine to measure vertical stiffness and damping coefficient of agricultural tractor tyre was built at Louisiana State University [2].
Measurement type, performed on a rigid surface for non-rolling tyre are:
* static stiffness and contact area;
* dynamic stiffness and damping coefficient.
The tyre loading machine subassemblies are: frame, axle, wheel attachment, loading system, oscillatory mechanism, displacement transducer, tyre load scale, and data logging system, figure 3.
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Figure 3 - The loading machine [2]
Some machine specifications are:
* tyre axle shaft can move in the vertical direction and can rotate, allowing for measurement at various tyre angular positions;
* wheel attachment system allows for various tyre sizes;
* for static measurements, a hydraulic cylinder pinned to the top of the frame provides up to 31 kN of compression force;
* a scale with three load cells, supporting the steel contact pad, is located directly under the tyre;
* a linear displacement transducer gives the position of the axle relative to the frame;
* during dynamic experiments, a sinusoidal motion is imposed to the axle by an eccentric shaft actuated by a hydraulic motor through a chain drive; the motor rotational speed can be adjusted to impose a certain oscillation frequency to the axle.
The data from the three load cells and from the linear displacement transducer are collected by a 48-channel data logger and transferred to a portable computer.
Some aspects of static experiments
* the vertical load is increased until it just exceeds the maximum value recommended for the set inflation pressure;
* the vertical load is slowly reduced to zero.
The increasing-decreasing load cycle is repeated two to four times to reduce measurement errors and to detect any hysteresis. Also, sets of measurements are made for different inflation pressures. A schematic static experiment is shown in figure 4.
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Figure 4 - Schematic of static experiment for tyre spring rate [2]
Deflections versus load curves are plotted for various tyre angular positions to study the effect of lug position on stiffness. Measurements effected on 14.9R30 agricultural tyre shown the lug position did not appear to affect static tyre stiffness significantly.
Some aspects of dynamic experiments
* the tyre is lowered onto the contact pad;
* the oscillatory mechanism is attached to the axle and it is adjusted until the desired preload is obtained;
* for 15 seconds tyre load, axle position and hydraulic motor angular speed are recorded;
* measurements are performed for different hydraulic motor speed, inflation pressure and preload.

proton previews the Proton Saga EV Concept

Proton previewed an all-electric version of the Proton Saga sedan in University Putra Malaysia, Serdang during the “Proton Exora – The Making” seminar organized by SAE International earlier this week. The “Proton” name would definitely make sense on this particular car!

You might expect this plug-in electric vehicle to have been co-developed with Detroit Electric which have a deal to produce electric cars based on the Proton GEN2 and the Proton Persona for certain overseas markets under the Detroit Electric brand. But on the contrary, what you see above is an in-house project done with the help of unnamed suppliers and partners.

This means that unlike the Detroit Electric e46 (based on the Proton Gen 2) and the Detroit Electric e63 (based on the Proton Persona), the electric Saga (officially called the Proton Saga EV Green Propulsion Concept for now) is probably being considered for the local market, although the auto maker is very tight-lipped about possible launch dates. It could take years.

The emissions-free Proton Saga EV on display features a 125kW (168hp) brushless DC electric motor, mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. It has a 20kWh Lithium Ion Polymer battery pack (12 separate batteries stored in the trunk). Because of the batteries, truckspace is pretty much non-existent but this is quite normal with concept electric cars based on a chassis that was originally designed to take a regular combustion engine and fuel tank. A production car would ideally have neater integration of the batteries.

According to Proton, the Saga EV can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.1 seconds, up to a top speed of 161 km/h, with a driving range of 109 kilometers over a full charge. Both the Detroit Electric e46 and e63 will feature a 150kW Axial Magnetic Flux motor instead.

There is more! The “green-mobil” also features re-generative braking and an electric power steering, apart from a built-in Batter Management System (BCMU), a plug-in charger (with a household power outlet), air conditioning as well as an In-Vehicle display screen that displays various information pertaining to the electric vehicle functions. Sources also revealed that Proton has plans to built an electric Exora MPV, and, is currently working on some hybrid vehicles as well, for research and development.

Since Proton took the trouble to produce a fully functioning Saga EV Concept, I am sure it is a matter of time till we actually see Proton-built electric cars on the road, but it doesn’t end at just producing such emissions-free vehicles. There has to an infrastructure ready to accommodate charging in the outdoors, which is something that will involve the government, apart from the private sector.

PROTON PERSONA

PROTON PERSONA 1.6 litre, 1600cc ( rm 90 for road tax) (Manual) RM41k on the road, silver, B-line, new car, low down payment

Detroit Electric to sign RM 1.2 billion agreement with Proton for electric car development

It appears that Detroit Electric has finally settled on Proton for its partner in producing its electric cars. According to a release by Detroit Electric, the company is set to sign a RM 1.2 billion (US$331 million) agreement with Proton to produce pure electric cars based on protons, beginning with the Proton Persona.

When we attended Detroit Electric’s press preview back in September 2008, we got to sample some electric cars converted by the company, such as an electric Lotus Elise. There were also various prototype electric cars there such as a Persona and a Savvy.

According to Detroit Electric head Albert Lam, a 100% electric powered Persona could be available in the regions of RM 80,000. Detroit Electric will use a production line at Proton’s Shah Alam manufacturing plant to produce the electric Protons.

Proton Persona and Proton Saga on test in India

India’s DNA Money reports that the Proton Saga and the Proton Persona have been spotted on test on the Greater Noida Expressway in India. These may be Proton’s initial model range in the Indian market which is good as niche cars like the 3-door Satria Neo do not make sense at the moment. Interestingly the same report also considers Proton vehicles “high-end” but with quality and finishing issues. When contacted by DNA Money, officials from Proton and rumoured partner Argentum declined to comment.

Proton Persona 1.6 SE (IAFM)

 

Proton Persona 1.6A SE

Interest Rate at only 3.65% p.a.
100% finacing package**
15 years financing**
Both conventional & Islamic Loan available(Al Ijarah)
Fast approval
Trade in accepted
Free gifts**

Priced at only RM59,800.
Available in two colours - Blue Haze and Brilliant Red.
Powered by the Campro IAFM engine.
Leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, gear knob and trim
Meter panel from the Gen2 CPS
Different alloy wheel design (15 inch)
Cruise Control
Smoked headlamps
Silver matte door handles and front grille
A bodykit consisting of front, side and rear skirts and a subtle spoiler
GPS navigation device

 

Price: RM 59800.00

Proton Persona – name of new Proton Sedan?

When a new national car is about to be launched, many will start to speculate on the name, and this is also the case with the new Proton sedan.

Word passing through the grapevines is that the new Proton sedan will be called the Proton Persona, and there was even a little photo being circulated of the sedan with the word Persona on it’s number plate.

Today we get a little confirmation – though not 100% sure as it is not from Proton’s mouth. The Edge carries an article on the new Proton Sedan and it calls the new car the Proton Persona. This name is not new, as it has been used by Proton in the past as the export market Proton Wira’s name in the UK.

The article also mentions Proton targets to sell about 4,000 units of the Proton persona a month, though industry analysts from RHB Research Institute thinks a figure of 2,000 to 2,500 Proton Personas a month is more achievable and sustainable.

 

UPDATE: Proton Persona SE now on sale for RM59,800!

Proton S16 ‘cheapest car’ to be launched in December

The four-door sedan is powered by a 1.6-litre twin cam petrol engine, producing 82kW and averaging 6.3 litres/100km.

Proton Cars Australia general manager of sales and operations Billy Falconer says the S16 is a unique prospect and offers great value for Australian motorists.

“S16 will be the only new four-door sedan available in Australia for less than $16,000 and will outpoint low-cost hatches and three-door models by offering a 1.6-litre engine and great equipment levels,” said Mr Falconer.

But the sub-$12,000 price tag is for a limited time only, with the manual GX model due for an upgrade in July 2010.

Despite this, Mr Falconer says interest in the new baby sedan has been strong.

“Our dealer network has embraced the new S16 already and there is a two month waiting list on dealer stock.”

The GX manual will be joined by an automatic in February, both cars coming standard with power steering, drivers SRS airbag, remote central locking with immobiliser and alarm and a CD player.

The refreshed line-up in July will welcome the higher-spec GXR model, which scores dual SRS airbags and ABS as well as alloy wheels, reverse sensors and fog lamps.

proton persona reviews

Review
i had bought the Pesona car in July 09. So my experienced for now is that this car is easy to maintain. The feature is very simple and straight forward so i didnt take long to adjust to the system. So far, i had drove up to 120km/h. It steering does wobbling when i reach that level but the car are very stable.For a family of five including myself, this is generally the suitable car i can see in the market. With big spacious booth and room for my leg, i enjoy driving as i can feel the comfort especially long journey. Simple yet afforable typical family car.

What I like
Simple car so nothing to mentioned. I like what it have now.

What I do not like
The aircon outlet does not have open and close door. So when you feel cold, you have to shift the outlet to other direction and still feeling cold.

Next Proton Persona Will Be Designed By Italdesign ?

The Business Times report revealed that a clay model of the car already exists at the design house’s headquarters in Turin, Italy.

The sedan is aimed at widening Proton's market, which at present is largely limited to Malaysia and its Asean neighbours.
It will be engineered to meet tougher European and North American standards although its marketing in these regions has not been finalised.
Strategies are being thought of and one option would be to market the car in some of the new markets, such as in Europe and North America, through collaborations with local established brands under which Proton could earn revenue from intellectual property rights.
Syed Zainal Abidin said the new car will incorporate plenty of new technologies and Proton is already talking to potential global suppliers on several inputs for the car.
"The objective is to produce a car very different from current Proton vehicles," he said.

Other strategies are also being explored for its other models. The Waja is headed for an enhancement programme through a collaboration with Japanese giant Mitsubishi and the same arrangement is being undertaken with another company to study options for the Perdana.
Eventually, Proton will produce a sport utility vehicle (SUV). Syed Zainal Abidin has said that the company intends to have a full range of products for its customers.
Exploratory talks with potential partners on an SUV programme have started, including with a Chinese car company.
It is also inevitable that Proton will have to look into the hybrid car segment.
Although it may be a while before it mass-produces an electric car, Proton, through UK unit Lotus Cars, has started talks with a South Korean battery company and an electric motor corporation.

Proton Persona “Our Pride and Joy” campaign wins 2008 PMAA Gold Dragon award

Proton’s Our Pride and Joy campaign for the Proton Persona by McCann Erickson Malaysia has won the Gold Dragon award at the 2008 PMAA Awards. The Gold Dragon was for the Best Brand-building Campaign category. Another Proton campaign, the Proton Sneeze campaign won the Silver Dragon in the Best Cause of Charity Marketing Campaign.

Look after the jump for a few sample ads from the campaign.
Click any of the ads below to view the hi-res version.

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Proton Persona SE now on sale for RM59,800!

When a new national car is about to be launched, many will start to speculate on the name, and this is also the case with the new Proton sedan.

Word passing through the grapevines is that the new Proton sedan will be called the Proton Persona, and there was even a little photo being circulated of the sedan with the word Persona on it’s number plate.

Today we get a little confirmation – though not 100% sure as it is not from Proton’s mouth. The Edge carries an article on the new Proton Sedan and it calls the new car the Proton Persona. This name is not new, as it has been used by Proton in the past as the export market Proton Wira’s name in the UK.

The article also mentions Proton targets to sell about 4,000 units of the Proton persona a month, though industry analysts from RHB Research Institute thinks a figure of 2,000 to 2,500 Proton Personas a month is more achievable and sustainable.

proton persona se

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Proton launched a special edition of the Proton Persona SE today, priced at RM59,800. The Persona SE is only available in two colours – Blue Haze and Brilliant Red. Like all new units of the Persona, the new Proton Persona SE is powered by the Campro IAFM engine which offers a smoother torque curve compared to the old Campro engine. It is only available with an automatic transmission.

The following are the differences in equipment for the special edition model:

• Leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, gear knob and trim
• Meter panel from the GEN2 CPS
• Different alloy wheel design (15 inch)
• Cruise Control
• Smoked headlamps
• Silver matte door handles and front grille
• A bodykit consisting of front, side and rear skirts and a subtle spoiler
• A Proton-rebadged windscreen-mounted GPS navigation device

The GPS device loads its maps from an SD card, so it should be easy to replace the maps whenever there are updates. I noticed there were some points of interests loaded onto the map such as local restaurants so if you’re in an area you do not know and want to grab a quick bite the GPS should be quite useful in that sense.

Look after the jump for more photos of the Persona SE.

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Detroit Electric to sell electric Persona and GEN2

Detroit Electric and Proton Holdings Berhad signed an agreement today for a supply and manufacturing agreement related to Detroit Electric’s upcoming range of electric vehicles. Detroit Electric is manned by ex-Lotus Engineering CEO Albert Lam and used to have a joint venture with ZAP and Youngman which didn’t happen.

Interestingly Detroit Electric’s ex-partner Youngman is Proton’s customer in China, where it buys the Proton Persona and GEN2 to rebadge as its own cars. Detroit Electric’s deal with Proton is similiar. It will buy the Proton Persona and Proton GEN2 from Proton to fit with an electric motor instead of the CamPro engine, and rebadge them as the Detroit Electric e63 and the Detroit Electric e46 respectively.

The deal is expected to take in RM 2 billion of revenue for Proton over the next 4 to 5 years, with expected volume to be 40,000 cars a year, potentially to grow up to 100,000 cars a year, if Detroit Electric does well in marketing its EVs. They will work with Proton engineers and assemblers to optimise the assembly line. The cars will be built alongside the regular Persona and GEN2 at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant. The installation of the electric motor and battery and etc will be done off line.

Detroit Electric said it picked Proton as its partner after discussing with a few others because it allowed Proton an easy entry into the market. Given that Lotus Engineering, the company that Albert used to work for, had a part to play in the development of the GEN2 and Persona should clear up any doubts that Detroit has with the capability of the car’s chassis.

More details on the cars to come in a post following this, but the specifications for the cars seem impressive at first sight but because of an extended teh tarik session between the VIPs there, the press conference was extremely delayed and we ended up having less than half an hour to ask questions, so we’re not sure if these specs are finalised or not. If they are finalised, looks good.

The first production cars will hit the road in Q1 or Q2 2010, and target markets are UK, Europe and China. No mention of Malaysia, apparently that is still under study Detroit Electric are targetting markets with incentives for zero emission vehicles or at least fines and taxes for polluting vehicles.

A US market entry is expected towards end-Q3 2010 or beginning Q4 2010 because of the additional work needed to get the Persona and GEN2 homologated in the US. Apparently Detroit Electric will be paying for this, so no expenditure from Proton in that sense.

Detroit Electric is also exploring the possibilities of locating its battery and electric motor plant here. Albert Lam says Malaysia is an attractive place for them because of the availability of engineers as well as the relatively low labour costs.

Coming up next – some specs of the cars. In the meanwhile look after the jump to watch some videos that Detroit Electric gave us.

Proton persona from paultan reviews

I guess today is the day that most of you have been waiting for the day that the car that promises to set off a snowball effect of recovery at Proton. First sightings of the new Proton sedan were early this year in April, but we actually got to see 3D renderings of it in March. Little did we know that it was a real car to be put into production.

UPDATE: Proton Persona SE now on sale for RM59,800!

As most of you have known by now thanks to a tip off by The Edge, the new Proton sedan is called the Proton Persona. The name is not unfamiliar as it has been used before for the UK market Proton Wira. This makes the name somewhat apt, as it is finally the car that will replace the Wira, something the GEN2 did not do when it was introduced a few years ago.

Proton has taken steps to ensure the Proton Persona is what the customer wants, not what the management wants. Many models clinics and surveys have been conducted to ensure market acceptance. After my first impression of the car at the media preview earlier this week, I must say that Proton has done a relatively good job with this car!

Read more on the Proton Persona after the jump.

Most of you have an idea of what the exterior looks like already. Its basically a GEN2 with a boot. Other than the tail lamps, the entire car from the B-pillar onwards has been reworked. The new car is 167mm longer than the Proton GEN2, and 12mm longer than the Proton Waja. The boot is a respectable 430 liters in size, which is larger than the Toyota Vios at 400 liters. It also features a lock, something that was missing on the Proton GEN2. A 60:40 split rear bench folds flat in case you need more space.

Rear headroom has been improved by 43mm over the GEN2 thanks to a redesigned roof curve at the rear. It now measures at 980mm, compared to 950mm in the Vios and 970mm in the City! It only loses out to the Myvi which has a pretty tall roof at 995mm.

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The interior has been thoroughly reworked and I can tell you this – the interior plastics arent the best that Ive seen but it is better than some C-segment Japanese sedans Ive driven recently. The dashboard is based on the one from the GEN2 but it has had its quirkiness removed. Normal is the new black, I say. I think the public is fed up of Protons previous attempts to be all “sporty minimalist Lotus”.

Other than the twin-pod meter panel (which now features fully black meter faces instead of the black and white one on the GEN2), the GEN2s interior felt like the Wira replacement it should be. Even the Pirates of the Caribbean cutlass-style handbrake lever is gone now. One qualm I have is that the buttons in the center of the dash still feel very cheap, and they do not really have any obvious switched on or off feel when you press them – or you could say the buttons provide not much feedback to tell you you’ve pressed them.

The door panels have been completely redesigned. The power window switches are now on the armrest which is the preferred location for many. There is some decent cloth trim on the panels. I dont know about you but I prefer my elbow touching some nice cloth or leather instead of bare plastic. The seats have a new design and now the front seats are more conventionally shaped and feature a headrest.

The little analog clock which no one could read has also been removed, so the dash lines flow a bit better now. But the best part of all would be a glovebox, although it is not a particularly cavernous one. With just a few minor changes, the functionality of the Proton Persona’s GEN2-based interior has improved. I hope this new dash carries on to the new GEN2 facelift as well.

There is central locking and 4 power windows on all of the Persona models from the base line to the high line. You can control the central locking either from a button near the power window button cluster or a button on the dashboard which the passenger can use in case of an emergency. The dash button also doubles up as the alarm deactivation button in case you mistakenly trigger the alarm system. The doors automatically lock themselves once the system detects all doors are closed, the handbrake is released, and the brake pedal is pressed.

Rear legroom was not too bad, a testament to how the increased legroom measurements translate into real life application. That said, once someone tall sits in the driver’s seat, the rear passenger behind him will start to suffer a little, but it is typical of a sedan car in the B-segment size.

Now on to how it drives. Proton allowed members of the media to drive the car around its test track in Shah Alam. At first impression, the Persona feels like it has a more comfort oriented setup unlike the GEN2, and this contributed more to body roll – you cannot have everything of course.

Proton included a 9-point Vehicle Dynamics Chart in the press kit and it shows that the Persona outperforms the GEN2 in terms of Ride Comfort and Roll Control but the GEN2 beats it in terms of lane change stability and cornering stability. The car generally understeers a lot under pressure but most of the time it is recoverable via throttle lift off.

If you want to toss the car around, it can be quite lively but the supplied Silverstone Kruizer 1 tyres are not exactly performance oriented. I would say its a case of the Satria Neo 1.3 with Sime tyres all over again. Do change them if you want to have some fun with the car and have the budget. But I am sure Proton has reasons for the Silverstone Kruizer 1 choice as they are generally known to be one of the quietest tyres around within their price range and by far the best tyres to come out of the Silverstone labs to date.

I can see what Proton is trying to do with the new Proton Persona sedan. Families want refinement and general quietness in their drive. They dont want anything trashy or noisy. That explains the choice of tyres. The NVH is also significantly improved over the Satria Neo especially – and better than the GEN2 of course. There is minimal loud and boomy engine noise towards the redline. It sounds rather refined really. The Campro engine had an appealing sound in the manual transmission car. It had a pleasant growl that was not overpowered by vibration or metallic notes, and despite going way over the 6,500rpm redline it felt like it could still go. The rev cut off was a little over 7,000rpm.

We drove two automatic transmission cars, and one of it had a little irritating zingy noise towards the redline, while the other was as aurally smooth as the manual. Upon checking with Proton later, they took note of it and said the noise could be coming from the heat shield, so if you buy this car and get this problem, you can give the service center guys a hint on where to look for the source.

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As for the Campro engine, it is pretty much the same as previous units. Still the same 110 (82kW) horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. There is still a general lethargy with the throttle at low to mid engine speeds, but the engine shines at high revs. This engine still does not have the Bosch Variable Intake Manifold system yet, but the automatic model does have an improved TCU. The improved TCU or Transmission Control Unit seems more intelligent now, making up for the Campros unfortunately torque curve shape by having no qualms about downshifting when needed with reduced delay, and the shifts are rather smooth.

There is nothing new about the Campro engine in this car really in terms of performance; its just that improved sound dampening have managed to make the car in a whole appear more refined. But there are some design enhancements over the original GEN2 Campro engines that have served to make the engine more reliable.

For one, the oil pan has been redesigned to be more crack-resistant. The drain plug has been moved to the side instead of it’s previous position at the bottom, and large ribs have been added on the bottom for protection. The oil pan in general has been moved higher up in the engine bay, but the volume remains the same.

Now on to some specs. The base-line model will have 15 inch steel wheels and wheel covers with 195/60/R15 tyres, central locking, 4 power windows, alarm with immobilizer, front disc and rear drum brakes, reverse sensors, fixed rear seats, and a normal CD player with 2 speakers.

The medium-line model is further enhanced with alloy sports rims and 195/60/R15 tyres, a drivers SRS airbag, a foldable split rear seat bench, steering wheel audio controls, an MP3-capable CD player with 4 speakers, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, and foglamps.

The top of the range high-line model gains additional features over the medium-line model – antilock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, disc brakes on all four wheels, both driver and passenger airbags, and remote trunk opening.

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Now for prices:

Proton Persona 1.6AT H-Line Metallic – RM55,800
Proton Persona 1.6AT M-Line Metallic – RM52,800
Proton Persona 1.6MT M-Line Metallic – RM49,800
Proton Persona 1.6AT B-Line Metallic – RM48,449
Proton Persona 1.6AT B-Line Solid – RM47,999
Proton Persona 1.6MT B-Line Metallic – RM45,449
Proton Persona 1.6MT B-Line Solid – RM44,999

All prices are on the road with insurance for Peninsular Malaysia. The prices have changed slightly since the teaser prices were announced last month. The Base-Line models are now slightly cheaper. While it wont really reflect much in your monthly installment amount, breaching the RM45,000 barrier by RM1 ringgit serves as a psychological encouragement to buy the car. Proton has negotiated with all banks for them to offer an interest rate of 3.88% for the Proton Persona.

At first impression, the Proton Persona is a worthy successor to the Proton Wira. It is improved in almost all areas compared to the Wira and even the GEN2. However there were still some build issues here and there, for example some wiring was left exposed, like the lock for the rear boot as well as some wiring in the footwell of the dashboard. The steering boss assembly in one of the cars I drove was also not up to standards.

These are normal quality issues with the early production batches of any car from any manufacturer. The true test of whether Proton has changed or not will be the test of time, and whether its service networks have been improved or not. It will be up to early adopters of this car to tell us of their experiences.

Anyway, for those who have the intention of buying this car and want to do something to it aesthetically to keep it a little different from the rest of the Persona crowd, this post might give you some ideas.

 

Blueberry Tea – exclusive for the H-Line models. Click to enlarge

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