I’m sure quite a few of you will remember when Lotus pulled the covers off its CityCar concept – essentially a three-door Proton EMAS with unique exterior styling – at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Back then, now-ousted CEO Dany Bahar told the press that a production version – tipped to be called the Lotus Ethos – was due to be introduced in October 2013.
Well, October 2013 has come and gone, and in the ensuing period, Proton’s version has morphed into today’s Iriz. How would a Lotus city car based on the national B-segment hatch look like, I hear you ask? Luckily, rendering expert Theophilus Chin was wondering the exact same thing, and envisioned what such a car would look like had the project lived to see the light of day.
To turn the Iriz into a Lotus, Theo gave it slimmer headlights, a more aggressive front fascia (complete with a carbon fibre lower grille!), a black roof, larger tailgate spoiler, slim horizontal (rather than vertical on the Iriz) tail lights, larger directional alloy wheels, and an aggressive rear diffuser with centre-exit exhaust (eagle-eyed readers will recognise the latter two from the Iriz R3 renders).
It’s surprising how close the styling of the Iriz mirrors the CityCar concept, sometimes even closer than with the EMAS. The undulating beltline (and the character line below it) matches almost perfectly, and even the “side blades” along the doors (coloured black here) are very similar to the ones on the Lotus. So, what do you think about this “Lotus-fied” Iriz?
Proton Iriz
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Better buy Myvi. Fuel efficient, no jerking gearbox and seldom stay at service centre back and forth countless times.
This make our Iriz looks very outdated.
Good Job Theophilus Chin!
I love the modern smoothen body.. Proton Iriz sharp angle here and there is quite old school.
A FWD Lotus with Proton’s crappy engine? No thanks
Since when Lotus has p1 engine? Get your fact right
China ‘Lotus’ not using P1 engine kah? Update your fact pls
That’s not real lotus. That’s why you yourself put ‘ ‘ between the word.comment backfired lol
Proton Iriz has had an impact on Toyota sales. Because this car got VSC, nobody now buys the VIOS. I feel UMW Management, by not putting VSC on their VIOS, has bukake on all the salesman faces.
Come on, you think the European are so stupid and easily fooled? You think Iriz engine and gearbox can fit in Lotus Ethos due to Euro requirement?? Don’t be naive!!!
Wanna sell more Iriz? Package it with Lotus emblem as “Cheapest Lotus” in Malaysia is much easier and profitable.
Not real Lotus? You mean Proton sells fake Lotus in China? Proton is penipu!
That’s.youngman company you know china also has protection, not only in here.
Exterior design Vios TRD Sportivo 1000x better than this
Jelly toyoda SA
LOL
Yeah better buy Myvi and kill a family…
steering feels less responsive, less safety, body not that rigid,
just facelift bodykit update only, 4speed auto? lame..
No ESP? moving coffin, score bad on crash test.
Iriz the engine & gearbox maybe not that good, but other things are that good, try compare the steering feel, the sound system,the braking, I feel more confident driving Iriz. Its just people perception against Proton.
Aiyo… just dont drive like hantu you’ll be okay…
What perception? Now taxi drivers are viicing out their dissatisfaction using proton. Nak tipu siapa lagi?
If want more space Mazda fan suggests go for lorry or van, lolol
If the current one loses the front grill chrome, adds a proper fun engine with da current 5speed manual… I can see it being really popular…
Im wondering why proton doesnt ditch those NA engines and just make or enhance the current 1.6 cfe and one smaller 1.1/1.2cc turbo to be put in their higher trim iriz, flx…
All this while i wanna test drive iriz 1.6 manual bt all showroom units are the cvt… Even local publications cant get their hands on one…
Wow nice.Good job!
Eww… Looks like Angry Bird
You must have mistaken it with Mazda2
Lotus??
Funny enuf, many protons seen on the road prefer to stick “Mitsubishi” sticker than “Lotus” sticker…
Enuf said…
You must be blind, many stickers are Lotus Ride and Handling rather than Mitsu crap
One of Theo’s best effort. Theo, you can turn urself into someting like Wald should you got at team with money, expert tuner and 3D printing expert. Or do you?
A nice playground to test if the Iriz has a chance to sell in european markets.
Suggestions:
-The rims are too small. As a Lotus will carry a premium pricetag, 17″ would be better.
-Put a powerful diesel inside, sourced from an european company, for instance 2.0l / 180PS or 150PS from Peugeot PSA. Advantages: This engine is build in large numbers and is already used by Peugeot, Citroen and Ford. Spareparts are easily available and no problems with EURO6.
-Start at the next 24h race on the Nurburgring. If the Thais can start with a Vios, why not Proton/Lotus with an Iriz?
The backlights are better looking. The current ones make the back look like a squashed insect. Hurts my iris to see it…
But still better than overdone Myvi
Hahaha, dat pun
Lotus Elise, Exige & Evora mainly uses Toyota engines with lotus tune. Wonder whose engine will be used in Ethos?
Btw, Toyota india has 1.5L Etios sedan, 1.2L Etios Liva & Etios Cross. http://www.toyotabharat.com/
Lotus Range Extender engine?
1.2l 3 cylinder. 0-100km/h : 9 sec, 240Nm torque
Full EV : 50km
Full range : 500km
Probably using Vios engine. Hahaha…
Nobody cares Vios engine, fuel guzzler even Saga more frugal
But Lotus rather use Toyota engine than Proton engine woh. Why? Proton engine not good enough?
Toyota will also uses BMW engine, Toyota engine is not good enough?
http://paultan.org/2013/12/17/toyota-verso-revealed/
Proton supporters mmg bodoh. That is COLLABORATION with BMW where Toyota redesigned the engine. BMW developed the engine while Toyota make it more reliable. For Proton’s case, Lotus simply use Toyota’s engine instead of Proton’s engine because everyone including Lotus engineers know Proton’s engine is crap
http://paultan.org/2011/11/29/toyota-and-bmw-discussing-broad-partnership-on-environmental-vehicles-primarily-for-europe/
Campro is from lotus and lotus is proton’s. What the fuss?
Why toyota dun make it itself? Why not its child company? Too many tiga suku engineers? Lol
Lol. Why talk about campro when even Lotus don’t use its engine? People explain already and Proton supporters keep asking the same question about why Toyota don’t make itself. The answer is Toyota did REDESIGNED the engine. Proton ada apa? Nak harap Azlan and his tiga suku engineers to design for Lotus? Lol
“BMW developed the engine while Toyota make it more reliable”
Completely nonsense. The engines are entirely made in a BMW factory, Toyota didn’t buy a production license.
Do you think that BMW will produce two types of engines?
And how shall Toyota make it “more reliable”, as Toyota has absolutely no clue on how to build powerful turbo diesel engines?
“Campro is from lotus and lotus is proton’s.”
Are you sure campro is from Lotus? Lol
iriz is best model from proton yet, better than myvi
on paper specs.. it seems better.
if only efficiency, reliability, durability, maintenance cost can be clearly stated on paper.
we can compare it more transparently.
Proton has the best engine out there.
We usually vote for unreliable Ford engine as the best one.
gaya ada, takde performance…..
0-100km/h sprint 1.2l engine can beat your civic 2.0l anytime.
am i the only one who notice the rare look like batman?
lol..
Vios looks like catfish
y u look like batmun
‘rare’ ???
Proton Iriz is a junk.
Junky comment
Adui… someone wants to copy Proton?
So the Proton car has badge that says “Tuned by Lotus”, and Lotus will have badge that says “Designed by Proton”??!
The sun rising from the west now? What has the world become?
1.3 Iris with the offered tire size looks weird when its on the move – it’s too small to me.
for us, this theo Lotus/Iriz & the current Iriz, both r very stylish, up to date exterior design.