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McRae to drive for Proton in IRC’s Rally of Scotland

October 4, 2011 at 10:37 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Proton is handing its APRC rally driver Alister McRae a chance to compete in his home race – the RACMSA Rally of Scotland, which happens this weekend (7-9 October) and is the second last round of this year’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC). He will take the place of regular Proton IRC driver Giandomenico Basso, lining up beside teammate PG Andersson.

McRae, the younger brother of rallying legend Colin McRae, last competed in the IRC one year ago. He finished second in the inaugural Rally of Scotland in 2009 and will be bidding to emulate that performance in his homeland.

“It’s always nice to come home to compete again. Obviously, I have good memories of rallying in this part of the world and it’ll be great to see the (Scottish) Saltire flags out there flying high. We had a good finish here a couple of years ago, when we finished second in the Proton. But the competition is going to be really tough, there’s a good, quality entry for the rally,” McRae said.

He will be up against 17 other drivers in Super 2000 machinery out of an exciting 38-car entry. The rally features 15 stages over a competitive of distance of 196.96 km. If he does well, McRae will be bringing momentum into his next assignment, the APRC’s China Rally, where he will be fighting Proton teammate Chris Atkinson for the Driver’s title. McRae leads Atkinson by seven points going into the season ending rally after a podium finish in the recent Rally of Hokkaido.

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Proton and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia sign MoU to collaborate on innovation activities in automotive sector

October 3, 2011 at 5:25 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Proton, Technology

Proton and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation and collaboration related to innovation activities in the automotive sector.

The partnership will see Proton and AIM working together to promote and mutually assist each other in accelerating the development and commercialisation of innovative products and advanced technology in the automotive industry, to benefit both the industry and public at large.

The MoU specifies collaboration between both parties in the following areas: the promotion of innovation, in particular automotive-related advanced technology ideas; the utilisation of facilities to accommodate their personnel throughout the duration of a project; the exchange of information, publication and materials related to their project/s as well as joint-organisation of projects in relation to the promotion and development of innovation.

Under the MoU, Proton and AIM will establish a joint working committee that will be responsible for the implementation of mutually-agreed projects that will be undertaken.

In line with the company’s aspirations of becoming a global car manufacturer, Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said the collaboration would help to enhance and accelerate Proton’s research and development activities, not only for the introduction of new and exciting models, but in pioneering and commercialising advanced automotive technologies which would be beneficial in moving Malaysia’s automotive industry up the value chain.

The collaboration also underlines Proton’s commitment in support of the national agenda in transforming Malaysia into a high income and knowledge-based nation, as outlined in the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to elevate Malaysia to becoming a fully developed nation by 2020.

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Rally of Hokkaido – Gaurav Gill excluded from results, Proton assured the FIA APRC Driver’s crown

October 3, 2011 at 3:25 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Proton finished third in last weekend’s APRC Rally of Hokkaido in Japan, with Alister McRae standing on the podium with MRF drivers Katsu Taguchi and Gaurav Gill, the latter winning taking the honours in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. This meant that the Driver’s title race would have gone down to the wire in China, with a three-way battle between McRae, his Proton teammate Chris Atkinson (who retired in Japan) and Gill.

However, the latest news is that Indian driver Gill has been excluded from the results after a technical infringement found during the post-event scrutineering. This means that he’s out of reckoning, and the Driver’s title battle will be between Proton teammates McRae and Atkinson – who will take the title?

Congratulations! Now, let’s seal up that Manufacturer’s title as well!

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Proton at Rally Hokkaido – Alister McRae finishes third, and APRC driver’s title goes down to the wire

October 3, 2011 at 12:02 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo


UPDATE: Winner Gaurav Gill has been excluded from the results due to a technical infringement, and the APRC Driver’s title is now a two-horse battle between Proton drivers Alister McRae and Chris Atkinson.

Proton may not have been able to crown a champion at the Rally Hokkaido over the weekend, but three of its cars finishing on the podium in round five of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) was nevertheless a very good outing for the team.

Initial honours went to Indian driver Gaurav Gill, in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, though a technical infringement meant that his exclusion from the final classification results. As such, Toshihiro Arai, in a Subaru WRX STI, has been classified as the overall winner, with Gill’s MRF teammate Katsuhiko Taguchi coming in second. Alister McRae completed the podium by finishing third in his Satria Neo S2000.

Beginning the second leg of the rally 31.4 seconds adrift of Taguchi in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, McRae won two of the morning’s four special stages to close the gap to within 18.5 seconds, but in the end had to contend with third place despite closing the gap to within 8.8 seconds and being the fastest driver on Leg 2 of the rally.

The results in Japan will set the stage for a three-way battle for this year’s APRC crown, with McRae now leading Proton team mate Chris Atkinson, who retired on the first day, followed by Gill, with the title to be decided in the next and final round of the APRC, in Longyou, China in November.

“We had a good run in Japan, considering that the terrain and stages suited the turbocharged four-wheel drive cars better. The results might have been a lot different had it not been for McRae’s puncture and Atkinson’s retirement on the first day, but that’s the nature of rallying,” said Proton Motorsports head Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood.

“Having said that, the Satria Neo S2000 performed well against the more powerful turbocharged cars and the results are testimony to the level of progress we have made in terms of development of the car, which we have demonstrated this season by winning three of the five rallies so far. One more round will determine the APRC championship and rest assured that we will be fighting hard to end the season on a high note,” he added.

Completing the good outing in Japan were the dominant drives demonstrated by Proton’s two Group N 1600 Satria Neos. The team secured two podium finishes with Karamjit Singh and Japanese team mate Akira Bamba finishing first and second respectively in the APRC 1600cc Two Wheel Drive category.

Bamba also secured the inaugural FIA APRC Junior Championship title, with the Cusco-prepared Satria Neo Group N rally car. Meanwhile, Gunaseelan Rajoo clinched the Class “A” title in the APRC 1600cc Two Wheel Drive category in a Class “A” Proton Satria Neo.

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Proton scores double race wins in the MSS

October 3, 2011 at 11:22 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Some winning news about Proton. Over the weekend, Syafiq Ali and Faidzil Alang powered to double race wins in the Malaysian touring car championship at the Sepang International Circuit.

Occupying the top two positions on the grid, the Proton R3 racing team dominated to lead the 10 lap race from start to finish. Pole-sitter Syafiq set a blistering pace in his Gen2 to take the honours, with team mate Faidzil making it a one-two finish in the Satria Neo R3. Finishing third in race 1 and 2 was Siah Wy Pyng, in another Satria Neo R3.

Syafiq and Alang also had a day to remember as they both dominated qualifying and finals in the MTC, ensuring a 1-2 front row as they both posted 24:34:990 and 24:39:300 respectively for the final rounds.

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Naza Group hoping Gov’t will reduce duties on cars

September 30, 2011 at 11:11 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Naza

According to a report, the Naza Group of Companies says it is hoping that the government will see fit to lower the duty structure for cars by 20% to 30% for the 2012 Budget to give businesses a boost and the public the ability to spend more.

Its joint Group executive chairman Datuk SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin said the people are complaining that the duty structure was too high, adding that a reduction in duties would help create an interest among the people to buy cars, the report by Bernama stated.

“A lot of people have liquid cash but they need the right reason to spend. If we can lower the duty structure, it will help increase the saving power. There’s no point people having so much cash and they don’t want to spend. the economy will not grow,” he told Bernama at the launch yesterday of the Naza Racing Team, which will be competing in the Ferrari 458 Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Round 4 in Sepang this weekend.

In related news, Naza is hoping to bring the series to Malaysia as part of the calendar on the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific racing series, which is managed and coordinated by Ferrari, and that the race this weekend was an initiative carried out by the company to steer things this way.

“If they are happy with the exposure and the hospitality we show them, I’m not surprised that next year, we’re going to have five or six Malaysian cars on the Sepang circuit,” SM Faisal said.

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Hyundai Santa Fe goes the premium route – both 2.2 diesel and 2.4 petrol variants get the treatment

September 28, 2011 at 12:22 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Inokom, Koreans, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has announced the introduction of a premium variant of the Inokom-badged Santa Fe, with both 2.2 Diesel and 2.4 Petrol seven-seater models now available in the new spec level option.

Externally, the Santa Fe premium gets a subtly enhanced exterior and interior, with a redesigned front grille, black gloss fog lamp rings and front and back skid plates part of the dress-up package. There’s also a chrome tailgate garnish and newly-designed 18-inch wheels for the variant.

Going the Premium route also bags you Downhill Brake Control (DBC); the system receives information from the wheel speed, steering angle and acceleration sensors, and through its hydro-electronic control unit maintains control and speed of the vehicle on steep declines without having to use the brakes. The DBC function can be activated through a push-button located at the gear area.

No revisions to the output of the engines, which are 174 PS and 228 Nm from the 2.4-litre Theta II petrol block and 197 PS and 442 Nm from the “R” 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel mill; both continue to work with the six-speed auto transmission.

The Premium Specification 2.2 Diesel is priced at RM169,258, while the 2.4 Petrol version goes for RM158,517 (both on-the-road, without insurance). You’ll need to be a bit patient to view one though – the variants will only be seen in Hyundai showrooms next week, starting October 7.
[Read more...]

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DHL in talks with Proton regarding electric vehicles

September 28, 2011 at 10:37 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

Two weeks ago, national carmaker Proton handed eight electric vehicles (EVs) to the government for running trials with various ministries, which included three Saga EV and five Exora REEV (Range Extender Electric Vehicle) models.

As Proton works towards mass-production of these EVs in 2013, they have an interested fleet customer already. Global logistics provider DHL is exploring the possibility of using Proton EVs in Malaysia. DHL Asia Pacific business development VP Christopher Ong said the company has already initiated talks with Proton.

“We are still in discussion with them and hopefully we will be able to test one of their electrical vehicles, maybe early next year,” he told the media briefing yesterday, adding that this move was in line with the company’s strategy of reducing its total carbon emissions up to 30% by 2020.

Mr Ong hopes that the government will play a role in reducing our carbon footprint, suggesting measures such as imposing carbon tax to encourage people to reduce their CO2 emissions, as well as partnering with the industry to develop facilities for EVs such as charging stations. These would help accelerate Malaysia’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2020, he points out.

Curious on how Proton’s EVs work? We’ve exclusively driven the Proton Exora REEV prototype already, click here to read the report.

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Basso finishes 10th for Proton in IRC San Remo Rally

September 27, 2011 at 1:07 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Some late news about the San Remo Rally, which concluded on Sunday – Proton finished 10th when Giandomenico Basso reversed his misfortunes on the first day and made the most of his home rally advantage and knowledge to secure final championship point in round nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).

Fighting from 13th, after conceding 8th position when an intercom failure forced him off the road and losing more than five minutes, Basso pushed on – not even an alternator problem on the final day could deny the Italian as he powered the Satria Neo S2000 past Swiss Peugeot driver Grégoire Hotz on the very last special stage of the rally.

The result represents a big leap forward in the development of the Satria Neo S2000, which finished 18th in its debut at San Remo last year. Frenchman Thierry Neuville won the 53rd running of the rally in a Peugeot 207 S2000 ahead of Skoda’s Andreas Mikkelsen.

“We had a fantastic drive on the second and final day with a lot of catching up to do. Despite the early and many setbacks faced, overall, it has been a very rewarding rally for both Proton and I personally. The results have certainly proven the car has grown even more competitive over the short span of one year. We believe the Satria Neo S2000 has every bit the potential of fighting for victories in the IRC,” said a delighted Basso, who last won the San Remo Rally in 2008.

Chris Atkinson’s rally, meanwhile, had come to an early end. with an electrical problem putting paid to his rally on the opening special stage. The challenging San Remo asphalt had also taken its toll on Peugeot’s Guy Wilks, who retired on the same stage after hitting a bridge.

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Proton, Lotus supporting Lotus-Renault GP in Singapore

September 24, 2011 at 6:28 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports, Proton

We’re here in the Lion City to catch Formula 1′s only night race this weekend, and we’re seeing some familiar sights at Singapore’s Clarke Quay. Proton and its subsidiary Group Lotus, which is of course the title sponsor of Lotus-Renault GP, is making its presence felt in Singapore with a showcase amidst the trendy bars and restaurants of the riverside area.

The showcase features the main star – a Lotus-Renault GP F1 car – flanked by a white Lotus Evora and the sportiest production Proton, the R3 Satria Neo. Besides the machines, there’s a stall selling official LRGP merchandise as well as a Batak Machine.

The latter is a fun activity that tests and trains reflexes and is used as an F1 training simulator as well. Basically, the lights pop up and you hit the button – who hits more in one minute wins. The Batak duel was a big crowd puller among the Clake Quay crowd – I gave it a try as well and realised that my reflexes needed a lot of training!

We missed her, but Miss Universe Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs, Proton’s brand ambassador Down Under, made an appearance as well.

If you’re wondering why Proton is at an F1 race, it’s to support Group Lotus and to benefit from the association with the sports car brand. “It’s not Proton in F1, it’s Lotus. Proton has no business being in F1,” said Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin.

Both him and Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar revealed that the gold “Lotus” name is in among the top 10 most visible brands in Formula 1 (among the many names and sponsors) as tracked by two UK based agencies used by the sport.

They said that brand awareness is what Group Lotus is chasing after, and this brand awareness is crucial to support Lotus’ upcoming new gen of cars, starting with the Esprit in 2013. According to the plan, “when the Esprit comes out, it will come out in a very good environment, says Syed Zainal. “We want to bring the (brand) awareness back to the level seen 25 years ago,” added Bahar, who sounds consistent with his Paris 2010 speech.

As for LRGP, they’re not expecting too much from this weekend, as the R31 is not suited to Singapore’s layout. Team boss Eric Boullier also revealed that they’ve abandoned the updates brought in for this race, namely tighter bodywork and sidepods. It wasn’t a problem with the new stuff, but a problem with water flow for the radiators. Better not to risk it, so it was back to default. The updates will debut in Japan.

Will Sebastian Vettel be crowned world champion for the second time tomorrow? No one dares to bet against that happening, but Alonso and the McLaren boys will be all out to spoil the party, that’s for sure. Enjoy the race!

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