Archive for Malaysian Makes

Satria Replacement Model Road Tests

July 11, 2005 @ 2:44 am · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton Satria Neo, Spyshots

Here are some more spyshots of the Proton Satria Replacement Model. It’s currently undergoing road tests in Malaysia. Has anyone actually spotted it on the roads yet? The background in this photos indicate that the car is being tested in somewhat remote areas where it’s less likely for anyone to realize what it is.

A more “muscular” Proton Satria than the current M24 Satria.

The roofline indicates that rear headroom won’t be as bad as the Proton Gen2. Anyone think otherwise? It’s 2.43AM now, my brain might not be working that well

I keep seeing those rims on the Proton Satria Replacement Model spyshots. I honestly hope they won’t use this design in the final product because it looks a bit too “bling-bling” for the general public’s tastes… or my taste.

A look at the wheel arches show that the car is already pretty low in stock form.

I like what I see… but I wonder if they’ve sorted out the cylinder head shortage problem yet. The Campro has some production problems currently because suppliers in Australia can’t churn out heads fast enough.

Thanks to the reader who mailed me these photos.

Permalink Comments (49)

Volkswagen Willing to Buy Proton

July 5, 2005 @ 8:17 pm · Filed under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes

A foreign partner is key to Proton’s survival when Malaysia’s sheltered auto market is opened fully by 2008.

Mahathir says:

If we want to, we can sell more than 50% to Volkswagen. They are quite willing, I think, to buy even 100%. There are many other companies which would gladly buy 100% of Proton. Our fear, of course, is if they buy 100%, they might close the production of our national car and just assemble their cars.

However, Volkswagen Group chief executive says that the company would consider taking a stake in Proton only once VW finishes its plans for the coming five to seven years.

Full story here.

Permalink Comments (4)

Naza to Sell Rebranded Peugeot 206

June 30, 2005 @ 4:53 pm · Filed under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Naza, Naza 206 Bestari

Naza signed an agreement with French automobile company Peugeot S.A. yesterday (29/6/2005) for the rights to assemble and distribute the Peugeot 206 model in Malaysia and possibly South-east Asia.

Update: Naza has launched the Naza 206 Bestari. Click here for an in-depth coverage.

The Peugeot 206

Click here to read the rest of Naza to Sell Rebranded Peugeot 206

Permalink Comments (14)

Perodua Myvi Handbrake Problem

June 29, 2005 @ 4:05 pm · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes

A forumer dawn at the Perodua Myvi Forums has alerted us of a problem with the Perodua Myvi rear drum brakes. Apparently something is wrong with the left rear drum brake, causing the handbrake to have not much gripping power when parked on a slope.

He recounts his experience:

VERY IMPORTANT! Please be very careful when parking your cars on hills and roads which are angled. Your hand brake does not really work. I parked my car last night, pulled my hand brake and let go of my front brakes. I didn’t realise the car was moving. At the same time, I reached out to get my cell phone from the holder, my car hit the wall.

Later, I go find my friend and we test. I pull the hand brake, but one person is still enough to push the car and the car rolls. OMG!!!

So tomorrow, I’m gonna plaster the front bumper, paint a bit and get a new number plate. Damn, gonna cost me like RM200+. Damn it. If can, I will post some pictures but I gonna finish this as soon as possible so my dad doesnt find out, but I’ll try and see whether I can borrow camera.

Forumer songfui81 also mentioned that Perodua has been alerted of this problem with the left rear drum brake. Perodua Myvi owners with chassis number PM2M301S002000001 to PM2M301S002002500 should send your cars back to the Service Center to see whether your car is affected and fix the problem.

For Perodua Myvi automatic transmission owners, please shift your gear to the P position when parking to take advantage of the gearbox parking lock in addition to your handbrake. For manual transmission owners, put your gear into first gear on uphill slopes or reverse gear on downhill slopes when parking.

Original Forum Thread at Perodua Myvi Forums

Update: Perodua Myvi owners have experience some other problems. Read this.

Permalink Comments (33)

Satria Replacement Model Showroom Spyshot

June 24, 2005 @ 12:38 am · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton Satria Neo, Spyshots

I was digging through my hard drive when I found these. These pictures have been circulating around the internet for quite some time already but I have no idea why I did not blog them. Anyway here are two shots of the Satria Replacement Model or codename SRM24.

Personally I don’t like the front headlamps very much. I find the way the bottom curves up in the middle a bit strange. It’s like half of the Mercedes Benz C class’s peanut headlamps at the bottom and normal headlamp design on the top. I don’t know how to explain it but you should be able to get what I mean.

Bumper design has a common theme with the Waja, Gen2, and Savvy. There seems to be diffuser-style front skirts on the bumper.

Exhaust in the middle again. Brakelights look pretty decent. However I don’t see a keyhole to open the rear tailgate to access the boot anywhere. Is it going to be operated via the remote control or only openable via a button on the dashboard somewhere?

These are better pictures compared to the other spyshots as they are undisguised, allowing you to check the fine design details without them being obscured by black tape like how Proton usually disguises their cars.

Sorry, but there’s no side profile photos at the moment though. But you can check out the disguised side profile photos in my other SRM spyshot posts below.

Rumours are going around that the launch for this car has been postponed to early 2006. It was originally planned to be launched this year.

Permalink Comments (83)

Proton Should Merge?

June 22, 2005 @ 8:31 pm · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said that Proton should merge with another automotive maker to remain competitive especially in the overseas market.

Mergers are everywhere. The Daimler-Chrysler, General Motors and Ford Motor Company that you see today are actually the result of a series of mergers and buyouts. Ford owns Volvo, and the new Volvo S40/V50 shares the same platform as the Mazda3 and Ford Focus. Chevrolet managed to enter the Malaysian market again with car from it’s General Motors sister company Daewoo. Volkswagen bought out Skoda.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Should Merge?

Permalink Comments (27)

Proton Family Out For A Drive

June 13, 2005 @ 8:41 pm · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton Satria Neo, Spyshots

I found this image from the Cari Chinese forums.

(Click for larger image)

It shows 2 Proton Savvys, 1 Satria Replacement Model (SRM24) and a sports car road testing on a highway. I like what I see so far on the body shape of the Satria Replacement model.

We can assume that the SRM24 will be using an engine from the Campro family as the only reason Proton used a Renault for the Savvy is because it did not have any suitable Campro for that size/displacement. But I wonder if the SRM24’s Campro will really have Campro. Also, any possibilities for turbocharged Campros? Proton has had turbocharging experience with EON Motorsports’ turbokit for their Mitsubishi engines.

If anyone has anymore information on the Satria Replacement Model, or SRM24, please drop an email or a comment.

Permalink Comments (50)

Proton Savvy Automatic to get Renault Quickshift5

June 10, 2005 @ 8:26 pm · Filed under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

As you all know, the Proton Savvy models offered currently does not have an automatic transmission model. But what Proton is planning to offer to people who prefer the convenience of automatic in a Proton Savvy is not something usual. Normal automatic gearboxes are not liked very much by performance freaks because of it’s big power loss due to the torque converter, and lack of response to the throttle position and shift level changes.

The automatic variant of the Proton Savvy will be using something new which Proton likes to call a Automated-Manual Transmission, or Proton AMT for short. This gearbox is basically the Renault Quickshift5 gearbox, which is available in the Renault Clio. After all, the Proton Savvy was loosely based on the Clio.

Left: Gear position indicator on the Savvy meter panel. In the manual version that space is blank. Right: The Clio’s Quickshift gear lever.

The Renault Quickshift5 is a clutchless manual transmission gearbox. Yes, it works like a manual transmission with clutches and gears, not like an oil-driven automatic with a torque converter. No power loss there. It also has the speedy response of a manual transmission. All of that without the inconvenience of having to press a clutch, especially in traffic jams.

The Quickshift5, or Automated-Manual Transmission (AMT) as Proton likes to call it has 5 gears as you would expect from the name. There are 2 modes to it, a manual selection mode where you can switch through the gears sequentially by flicking the gear lever frontwards or backwards. The gearbox was derived from Renault’s normal 5 speed manual gearbox, but an electronic control module was added to it to operate the clutch electronically. The other mode is an automatic mode which shifts gears on it’s own and requires no intervention from the driver.

Because the clutch control is computerized with precised timing, shifts are much quicker than any average driver can ever attempt with a normal manual gearbox and foot-operated clutch. The result is a driving experience that’s zippy and fun. The computer features some form of fuzzy logic which allows the auto mode to adapt to your driving patterns.

Since the Quickshift5 is derived from a normal manual gearbox, it is lighter than an automatic gearbox thus improving fuel economy and performance.

Note: I am basing this blog post on Renault’s Quickshift5 gearbox, which has already been outdated by it’s Quickshift 6 speed gearbox. It is not known whether Proton’s variant of Quickshift5 will have all of the features I’ve mentioned. The Proton Savvy with Quickshift5 is still under testing with Malaysian road conditions.

UPDATE: The Savvy AMT has been launched. Details here.

Proton Press Release On The Savvy

June 9, 2005 @ 12:55 am · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes

08/06/2005 - SMALL BUT BIG ON PERFORMANCE - PROTON’S ALL NEW SAVVY

National car manufacturer PROTON today introduced the Savvy, a five-door compact hatchback making its debut and intending to set a new benchmark in the competitive small car market segment.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Press Release On The Savvy

Permalink Comments (42)

Proton Savvy Photos

June 5, 2005 @ 1:13 am · Filed under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton

I’ve received an anonymous e-mail once again with photos of the soon to be launched Proton Savvy.

Proton seems to have established an identity with all it’s new cars. The bumper and grill has that same look with the Waja and Gen2. Not sure if I am making myself clear on what I mean. The headlights remind me of an eagle’s eyes, something like the BMW E60 5-series headlamps.

Nice wiper there. Like Toyota’s wipers. A good change from the old style of wipers that most cars have. I am not sure why they made the back area between the brake lamps indent in like that. Exhaust pipe is in the middle.