Mohd Azril Mansor sent in these nice spyshots of a car being tested on roads of Jalan Duta to Damansara Junction taken by his camera phone. I previously blogged about this mysterious car here, and speculated it might be Perodua’s next model under testing phases, perhaps to replace the Kancil. Thanks Azril! Click here to read the rest of Could this be a Kancil Replacement Model?
Proton’s media release department seems to favour the foreign markets more than our own local market. In a release by Proton Cars Australia, Proton says the new Satria Replacement Model three-door hatch will be released in Australia together with the Proton Savvy during the first few months of 2006.
At least now we know the SRM is coming in 2006.
Proton Holdings Bhd may post a second quarter loss of RM700 million due to MV Agusta, it’s unprofitable motorcycle unit. It previously posted a first quarter loss of RM 12.4 million, and attributed those to increased allowance for bad debts.
An industry source mentioned the red ink from MV Agusta’s books has spread to Proton’s. Proton will likely have to make some hard decisions involving cutting losses, and dumping MV Agusta.
A report by the Malay Mail last week had already given us some hints on this loss cutting exercise.
Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd hopes to cut down the waiting list time for its vehicles to two to three months from the current five months by Q2 2006.
Perodua currently produces 280-300 cars a day on average and 5000-6000 cars a month. On whether Perodua will be coming up with a new model next year, the company says more market studies would have to be made first before anything can become solid. Maybe a Kancil Replacement Model?
Perodua Marketing & sales division senior general manager Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim said Perodua could not see any impact to it’s sales by the Proton Savvy AMT yet.
Source: Bernama
Proton Holdings Bhd may appoint Syed Zainal Abidin Mohamed Tahir as the new chief executive officer of the company, replacing former CEO Tengku Mahaleel Ariff.
Zainal Abidin is currently the deputy managing director of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd. (Perodua) and one of the four executive directors of Perodua Auto Corporation, the 49%-owned manufacturing arm of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) and whose other shareholders are Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd (41%) and Mitsui & Co Ltd (10%).
Zainal Abidin used to work in Proton’s manufacturing division during the group’s early years of operation. He later joined Malaysian Trucks and Bus Sdn. Bhd, rised through the ranks to become CEO and moved on the Perodua to become it’s head of production.
Perodua officials said they’ve heard the rumours, but they are not at liberty to comment. Proton officials could not be contacted.
Source: The Edge Daily, Yahoo Finance
Proton has announced the availability of the Proton Chancellor beginning 15th December 2005. It will debut during the ASEAN Summit from 12-14 December. What is the Proton Chancellor? It’s basically a Proton Waja chassis with a 2.0 V6 engine from the Mitsubishi Eterna/Proton Perdana.
Proton officials say that the Chancellor had been redeveloped and not merely a stretched model like the Proton Perdana Executive. It has a 2850mm long wheelbase, compared to the Waja wheelbase which is 2600mm.
The Proton Chancellor is expected to be sold at a higher price than the current Proton Perdana and will feature luxurious trim such as DVD players. The Chancellor’s target market are high-ranking Government officers, corporate heads and senior executives.
Robert Bosch is in talks with Proton Holdings Bhd on supplying diesel fuel injection systems. Bosch currently supplies Proton with engine mnagement system parts, brakes, brake calipers, ABS systems, actuation systems, wiper washer systems and fuel injection systems. The companies are exploring options to use Bosch’s diesel fuel injection systems if Proton develops diesel-powered vehicles.
A diesel Proton Arena soon? Or a diesel SRM for the diesel+hatch loving European market. Proton used to have 2.0 liter diesel Proton Wiras, and the gearbox used for that car has been sought after by car modders for it’s supposed strength
KY, Kenneth and I headed over to Sepang for the A1 Grand Prix practice session yesterday, and we spotted this nicely done up Proton Savvy by the Race Rally Research Team. I assume this is a concept (or final?) design for the Proton Savvy R3’s bodykit, and I must say it complements the car well. Previously you saw this bodykit in black. Here’s one in red. The brighter colour makes it somewhat easier to see the details. The nice Advanti Racing rims are missing though. Click here to read the rest of Proton Savvy R3 Bodykit
I previously blogged about a Proton Savvy accident here on my blog. I’m sure most of you would like to know how a Perodua Myvi would fare in a collision.
Though the accident in this series of photos are not as ‘hardcore’ as the one in the Proton Savvy accident, it should give you an idea of whether the crumple zone functions, and whether the passanger safety cell has been compromised. Photos thanks to mraha9 from Malacca (photographer) and cbljkkj.
Let’s hope we don’t ever get to see a completely crushed Perodua Myvi - pity the driver. Click here to read the rest of Perodua Myvi Accident
Here are more on the road spy shots of the new Satria Replacement Model, codenamed SRM24. These photos were taken by Fariq Halim on the Karak Highway 2-3 months ago. Thanks, Fariq.
Click here to read the rest of Satria Replacement Model - Karak Highway
