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  • Rally of Queensland: Proton looking for APRC success

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo / By / / 4 comments

    It’s on to Australia and the third round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) this weekend, where Proton is hoping for a change in fortunes at the 2012 International Rally of Queensland.

    The first two rounds, in the Rallies of Whangarei and New Caledonia, have made for a challenging start to the season for the team. Swede PG Andersson clinched second place in Rally Whangarei, but despite both Andersson and reigning APRC champ Alister McRae demonstrating incredible pace in the Satria Neo S2000 in New Caledonia, retirements meant they did not go on to secure an overall position

    Rally Queensland will be run over a total distance of 863 km, consisting of 19 special stages. The longest special stage is some 33.25 km while the shortest measures just two kilometres. McRae returns to the grueling Australian rally having finished fourth last year, while for Andersson, this weekend’s three-day event will be his first time out Down under.

    Meanwhile, out to defend his title in Australia will be reigning 2WD APRC champion Karamjit Singh and defending APRC junior champion Akira Bamba in the Proton Cusco Rally Team 1600cc Satria Neos – they will be joined by a third driver, Kenneth Koh.

    Ahead of the race, Proton celebrated an early “victory” when the Satria Neo S2000 piloted by Andersson won a sprint test against a helicopter – the event was organised for the second year running to promote the Rally of Queensland.

     

  • My Proton Makeover: Madam Lee’s 1991 Saga revealed!

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton / By / / 67 comments

    The sixth and final My Proton Makeover project car was unveiled this afternoon, when R3 Head of Engineering Tengku Djan Ley handed back the keys of this 1991 Saga Aeroback to its first and only owner, Madam Lee Koon Gaik. The 54-year old homemaker was ecstatic, and couldn’t recognise her ride, which has been thoroughly “overhauled” by the R3 team.

    Lee said she liked the new colour and “comfortable seats” the most. “The whole appearance of the car has changed,” she exclaimed, going on to explain that the although the 21-year old Saga was difficult to start at times, and the air con wasn’t as strong as she liked, it had no major problems. It’s the only car that serves her and her retired husband, and she uses it to visit the market and fetch kids to school.

    The thrifty lady from Seri Kembangan even sewed the car’s torn cushions herself, although none of that can be seen now with black leather and alcantara covering the cabin. The “furry” material is also found on the dashboard and original steering wheel. R3 also threw in red piping and a Sony single-DIN player.

    Tengku Djan explained that the goal for this car was to “keep it as stock as possible” with some R3 touches. The top drifter also revealed that Madam Lee’s Saga was one of the easier cars to do – some of the previous chosen ones had specific requests, and some cars looked decent but were less pretty under the skin.

    “Understanding her driving patterns as she uses her car for daily errands, we worked to give the car a more pleasurable drive. The engine and gearbox were rebuilt without adding any performance enhancements or mods, with the exhaust system being tweaked to improve torque without making it loud or noisy.

    “Considering that she does a considerable amount of town driving, the car’s suspension was upgraded to improve ride comfort. To improve the car’s stability, we went with 16-inch wheels which will enhance the car’s overall road holding ability,” Djan added.

    As a Saga owner myself, I really like the fact that R3 chose to maintain the “classic feel”, retaining the car’s original grill and logo. They would have put in original tail lamps too, but new OEM ones are no longer available. As seen in the work-in-progress images posted yesterday, exterior enhancements include a slim rear spoiler, gunmetal highlights and subtle red pinstripes.

    Let’s give the final word to Madam Lee. “I have always maintained that this car would be sufficient to serve me a lifetime. Thank you Proton for your commitment towards simple customers like me, going the extra mile to help me keep this car going,” she said.

    Previous My Proton Makeover projects include Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga, Sashideran Radha Krishnan’s 1994 Wira, Norzamzarini Mohd Bajuri’s 1996 Iswara Aeroback, Hafiz Mohd Hashim’s 2001 Satria GTI and Amirul Azim’s 2001 Satria 1.3.

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  • My Proton Makeover: WIP pics of Madam Lee’s 1991 Saga

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton / By / / 23 comments

    The My Proton Makeover programme started in August last year with Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga, and will end with a Saga of the same vintage. The sixth and final car chosen for a rework by R3 is Madam Lee Lee Koon Gaik’s 1991 Saga, and from these work-in-progress pics, we can see that the beat up Aeroback has been thoroughly refurbished.

    R3 has given the homemaker’s trusty car a new (and badly needed) paint job, changing the Saga’s colour to silver. Contrasting gun metal trim with red piping have been added, along with 16-inch R3 alloys. The wheels look identical to those on Fadly’s Saga, but are finished in silver.

    The cabin is a mixture of black leather and alcantara, with red piping. It’s quite a sporty look, so perhaps Madam Lee’s sons will also approve of R3′s efforts!

    Previous projects include Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga, Sashideran Radha Krishnan’s 1994 Wira, Norzamzarini Mohd Bajuri’s 1996 Iswara Aeroback, Hafiz Mohd Hashim’s 2001 Satria GTI and Amirul Azim’s 2001 Satria 1.3.

    We will be at the final unveiling – stay tuned!

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  • My Proton Makeover – Amirul reunited with his Satria 1.3

    In Cars, Local News, Proton / By / / 74 comments

    Car number five in the My Proton Makeover programme has been reunited with its owner – Amirul Azim recently received his 2001 Satria 1.3, all spruced up from the refurbishment, from the good folk at Proton.

    Petaling Jaya-born Amirul, who works for an IT management company, described his relationship with the Satria as one that has matured over the years. From his bachelor days, subsequently into marriage and now as a father of two, Amirul’s Satria has seen many miles doing daily commutes to Cyberjaya and regular family visits back to Kuantan.

    In expressing his admiration for the brand and the work done by the R3 team when he sent his car in, Amirul mentioned a particular fondness for the Satria Neo R3, so the R3 lads decided to give his car a Fire Red exterior shade, along with a Satria GTI body kit and a limited-edition R3 race splitter, explained R3′s head of engineering Tengku Djan Ley.

    Elaborating further, Djan said that Amirul stated his joy for fast driving, as well as his long-distance commuting – as such, in overhauling the car’s engine, tweaks were made to adjust to Amirul’s driving habits to enhance overall performance of his beloved Satria.

    A coil-over system was installed to improve the car’s handling, and the rear brakes have been upgraded from drums to discs, giving the Satria better stopping power.

    “With regards to the aesthetics, we gave the car’s interior a matching red theme, similar to that of the Satria Neo R3,” Djan added. “Topping it off, we opted to give Amirul a set of 15-inch wheels, so that the acceleration of his 1.3 litre car will not be compromised. This is definitely an impressive package presented by the R3 team, not just with regards to performance and drivability, but also in its styling,” he concluded.

    Amirul was certainly a very happy bunny, thanking the R3 team profusely during the handover ceremony. “This unforgettable gift from Proton will forever be etched in my heart. The generosity, time and effort that have been shown to my car and I is immeasurable,” he enthused.

    The 2001 Satria joins Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga, Sashideran Radha Krishnan’s 1994 Wira, Norzamzarini Mohd Bajuri’s 1996 Iswara Aeroback and Hafiz Mohd Hashim’s 2001 Satria GTI as the five makeover specials done so far. The final car due out is a 1991 Saga belonging to homemaker Lee Koon Gaik.

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  • Proton Prevé Turbo CVT and IAFM Manual tested

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Preve, Test Drive Reviews / By / / 368 comments

    I’ve had a go at the Proton Prevé, finally. After hearing so much about it from my colleagues (raves and rants, but more of the former) who attended the preview drive, and seeing the latest Proton in the metal at the launch, a drive event to Cherating in THE car of the moment was not to be missed!

    The media drive was divided into two groups, and I drove the Prevé on the return leg from the East Coast to KL. Two variants out of three were brought to the event – the range-topping Preve 1.6 CFE (turbo engine and CVT gearbox) and the entry level 1.6 Manual, powered by the Campro IAFM+ engine.

    Continue reading after the jump.
    Read more ›

     

  • Proton R3 – performance parts and styling kit promotion

    In Cars, Local News, Proton / By / / 52 comments

    If you’ve been looking to kit up your Proton Inspira, Gen-2 or Satria Neo with R3 gear, then this will definitely be of interest. Came across a Proton Motorsports promotion on R3 performance parts and styling accessories while browsing the Proton corporate website.

    On the going list are a number of styling, handling and performance parts – among the items are R3 4-2-1 headers for the Neo CPS and CamPro as well as the Gen-2 CPS, a Neo R3 spring set and Neo CamPro, Gen-2 and Inspira bodykits. The promo runs until June 30, so plenty of time to peruse the stuff, if you’re so inclined.

     

  • Left-hand drive Proton Prevé caught testing in Shah Alam!

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Preve, Spyshots / By / / 98 comments

    The Proton Prevé has been launched, so what are these testing pics doing here? Snapped by the male (it has to be) behind justanothermale.blogspot.com, these two pics are of left-hand drive Prevés undergoing testing in Shah Alam.

    The first image shows the rear of the Prevé sporting an “LH DRIVE” sticker. In what looks like a highway rest stop, the blogger approached the cars for a chat with the testers and snapped a pic of the steering on the left side.

    No surprise here, since the Prevé is Proton’s first global car, and exports are part of the masterplan. Traditional export markets for Proton are the UK and Australia, where the Prevé will be launched in September. More recently, the national carmaker started selling in neghbouring markets such as Thailand and Indonesia. These are all right-hand drive markets.

    The emergence of LHD mules signals Proton’s intent to sell the Prevé in countries that drive on the right side of the road. Possible markets are China (where Proton has a collaboration with Youngman) and Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.

    Click here to read our Prevé launch report and here for drive impressions.

     

  • APRC: Proton fails to convert pace into results in New Caledonia – Gaurav Gill leads Team MRF to a 1-2 finish

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo / By / / 5 comments

    Round 2 of the 2012 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) has ended, and the New Caledonia rally was won by Team MRF’s Gaurav Gill. The Indian driver’s teammate Chris Atkinson made it a 1-2 for the Skoda Fabia S2000 powered team. In third spot was Kiwi Brian Green in his Mitsubishi Lancer.

    Team Proton headed to the Pacific island with high hopes but failed to convert strong pace into strong results. APRC debutant PG Andersson led the rally from the start and set fastest times in three of the four special stages, but the second day saw the Swede’s car experience an abrupt loss of power as a result of a water crossing, a predicament that would later cost him to lose more than 14 minutes.

    After a new head gasket at final service. Andersson’s final day fightback lasted only 6km before the engine stopped once again, this time for good.

    Things didn’t go well in the other Proton, too. APRC defending champ Alister McRae retired in SS2 but continued on the final day under Super Rally format, winning three of the day’s six special stages to secure seven championship points. But he wasn’t eligible for a podium finish.

    “We had hoped for a repeat of last year’s double podium results in New Caledonia but the reality of rallying is such that all the hardwork and preparation is never a guarantee of a strong finish,” said Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood, Head of Proton Motorsports.

    The next APRC round is the Rally of Queensland in late May. The Aussie rally will be the third of six rounds this season, and it’s vital for Proton to get back to winning ways Down Under if they are to prevent Team MRF from running away with their title. Still early days, though.

     

  • APRC: Proton ready to roar in New Caledonia, PG Andersson aims to bounce back from Kiwi misfortune

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo / By / / 2 comments

    The second round of this year’s FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) will happen in New Caledonia this weekend. Defending champions Proton return to the Pacific island in search of their first win of the year, after finishing second and fourth in the opening rally in New Zealand.

    The drivers in action are APRC reigning champion Alister McRae and Swedish driver PG Andersson – the latter is in his first full APRC season and will be competing in New Caledonia for the first time. Proton’s main rivals will once again be the Skoda Fabia S2000s of Team MRF.

    As defending champion, McRae will again be in the unenviable position of having to start the rally first, clearing the road for the other drivers behind him.

    “Winning the championship last year means I am first on the road on all the rounds this year and that was quite a disadvantage on the first round in New Zealand, but I don’t think it will be so much in New Caledonia. The rain is likely to have washed away much of the loose gravel from the surface before we got there and it’s possible that running at the front might even give us a small advantage,” said the optimistic Scot.

    Teammate PG is ready to bounce back from the Kiwi bad luck which cost him an outright victory in the opening round. Comfortably setting fastest times en route to winning 11 of the 16 special stages in New Zealand, Andersson caught a puncture to surrender the lead. “One thing for sure is that I’m starting this event as I start every event – to win. I have never been to this rally before, so it’s always exciting to try some new roads,” he said.

    Based in Noumea on Grande Terre, the largest island in New Caledonia, Rally New Caledonia moves through beautiful lush vegetation and farming plains, and will be contested over a competitive distance of 252.82 km covering 19 special stages.

     

  • Proton is close to being delisted from Bursa Malaysia

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton / By / / 110 comments

    The Edge Financial Daily reported today that Proton Holdings Bhd is well on its way to being delisted from Bursa Malaysia after new owners DHB-Hicom had secured over 90% equity interest through its takeover offer. As of 5pm yesterday, DRB-Hicom owns 90.02% stake in Proton as announced by the company’s advisers Maybank Investment Bank Bhd and Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd.

    DRB-Hicom now has the freedom of restructuring Proton without the need to answer to the minority shareholders. There is also speculation that Proton’s Shah Alam plant will integrate its operations with those of Tanjung Malim. Consequently, the land in Shah Alam will be sold or redeveloped.

    The report continues to note that the privatisation of Proton will create a sizable automotive entity that would rival the Perodua-Toyota Malaysia alliance that lists Toyota Japan, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Daihatsu Japan as its key shareholders. The shockwaves of DRB-Hicom’s move will send tremors to certain parts vendors; DRB-Hicom is known to have an extensive automotive parts manufacturing business and it might be sourcing parts from its own backyard.

    When asked about the fate of Lotus Group, DRB-Hicom was quick to put the stopper on the rumour mill. The conglomerate also renounced the knowledge that Lotus would be sold to Youngman or be put under administration. As of now, DRB-Hicom is still supporting Lotus Group financially and management-wise.

    Read the full report here: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/212366-drb-hicom-on-track-to-delist-proton.html

     
 
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