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Proton P3-21A high speed Karak test caught on camera

December 6, 2011 at 3:19 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Spyshots

It has been awhile since we had updates on the Proton P3-21A sedan. The last was when a pic of an undisguised yellow example made its way to the Internet, showing us a front end design that has been modified from the Tuah concept paraded at KLIMS 2010. If the final product stays true, the C-segment contender will have projector headlamps, LED DRLs and a wide “mask style” grille.

Anyway, reader Bay MH recently spotted something interesting when driving down the Karak highway to KL. He saw two taped up test mules of the P3-21A and whipped out his camera for some decent shots.

According to our car paparazzi, he was in a Vios and the Protons were doing over 140 km/h, with a Ford Fiesta chasing them (naughty fella!). He observed that both mules had four passengers onboard, and one unit sat lower at the back than the other, probably because it had cargo in the boot.

And just like in a Michael Bay movie, there were action scenes – Bay said that he had to slow down in the corners but had enough to catch up on the straights and both Protons were “cornering nicely at speed”.

Here are the shots that Bay (MH not Michael) managed to snap, bad black Fiesta included :) Click here to view our previous post featuring the abovementioned yellow undisguised pic.

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Proton Saga FLX SE launched – RM49,899 OTR!

November 30, 2011 at 4:06 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

Ah, while all the action seems to be in Tokyo, along pops up something more relevant and closer to home. Proton has announced the introduction of the Saga FLX SE, which we “previewed” last week, all thanks to an erstwhile reader and a leaked brochure.

Danny’s story already carries most of the tech details, so the big news is really about the photos of the car and the price – the 1.6 litre Campro and CVT-equipped vehicle rolls in at RM49,899 (metallic) and RM49,449 (solid). There are only two shades, the Fire Red as seen in the photos (which is the metallic), and Solid White.

Priced RM2,900 above the current selling 1.6 litre automatic Saga FL, the Saga FLX SE features eight exterior and three interior changes. It’s fitted with 15-inch alloy wheels, an complete factory-fitted body kit in contrasting grey, fog lamps and smoked-finished combination rear lamps.

Meanwhile, the 108 hp and 150 Nm vehicle’s interior gets a healthy dollop of leather; hide is to be found on the seats, steering wheel, door ornament as well as the parking brake and gearshift levers.

The company is hoping to shift around 500 units of the Saga FLX SE per month. Oh, and customers who have ordered a Saga and are still waiting for their car to be delivered can opt to change their booking to the FLX SE at the respective showroom in which the booking was originally made.

If you’re thinking of viewing the FLX SE, don’t rush out just yet, because the car will only be at all Proton showrooms from tomorrow, December 1.

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Proton-Mitsubishi strategic collaboration – Proton expects to ink deal by year-end to build Mitsubishi sedan models

November 30, 2011 at 6:35 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Mitsubishi, Proton

Following the news in September about Proton and Mitsubishi discussing a broad ranging collaboration, Bernama reports that Proton expects to seal a JV agreement with Mitsubishi Motors by year-end to build Mitsubishi sedan models at its Tanjung Malim plant.

The agreement will see the manufacture of 60,000 Mitsubishi units annually, which is about 90% of the plant’s production capacity, Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said, adding that the plant is currently operating at between 56% and 58% capacity.

Syed Zainal was briefing reporters after the announcement of the company’s Q2 2011/2012 financial year results yesterday, which saw the Group recording a lower pre-tax profit of RM47.524 million for the six months ended September 30, 2011, compared to RM185.914 million made in the corresponding period last year.

The lower profit was largely attributed to higher spending by Lotus Group International Limited, mainly on capability enhancement, infrastructure development and marketing costs, in line with its five-year business transformation plan.

Meanwhile, despite a second-half downtrend forecast by the Malaysian Automotive Association, Syed Zainal said that Proton would overcome it with the introduction of its Saga FLX Special Edition in December, the report added.

He said that 2012 was set to be an exciting year for the company, with the introduction of four models, the Exora Bold and Exora Prime, Inspira R3 and the P3-21A sedan.

Syed Zainal also said that Proton is set to expand its presence in the Chinese market – under a memorandum of understanding it has signed with Hawtai Motor Group, it is slated to sell four Proton models under the Hawtai badge.

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Proton wins Malaysian 1.6 Touring Car Championship

November 28, 2011 at 11:39 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Proton clinched the 1.6 Touring Car Category in the 2011 Malaysian Super Series Championship (MSS) over the weekend – Faidzil Alang drove a textbook race in the fifth and final round of the season at the Sepang International Circuit to take the coveted title behind the wheel of a Satria Neo.

His team mate, Syafiq Ali, in a Gen 2, sealed a Proton 1-2 in the 10-lap race as well as the championship, with the two drivers concluding what has been a dominant performance all year long.

“The results today conclude what has been a triumphant year for Proton in motorsports, particularly for the Satria Neo that has excelled in both circuit racing and international rallying,” said Proton Director of Group Marketing and Branding, John Doody Chacko.

“We’ve done very well in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, winning all the eight major individual titles. We are now we focusing on our R3 Racing team and after completing all five rounds of the MSS, we are now in our final phase of preparation for the Sepang 1000 km or S1K next week, with most of the development work completed,” Proton Motorsports boss Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood added.

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COMING SOON! Proton Saga FLX SE 1.6L with CVT leaked

November 24, 2011 at 7:33 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Spyshots


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The ultimate Proton Saga is coming soon! Thanks to reader Ali, we have scans of a Proton brochure featuring “The new Saga FLX SE 1.6L with CVT”. Proton has thrown everything at the name, and it’s a mouthful, but all we need to know is that this upcoming variant is the range topper, the SE of the current Saga FLX range, equipped with the Campro 1.6L engine and CVT gearbox.

Currently, the Saga FLX with continuous variable transmission (CVT) is only available with a 1.3L Campro (launched in July, read our test drive report here). Proton has a 1.6-litre powered Saga – the Executive 1.6L – but that one was launched before the FLX with CVT, so it comes with a four-speed torque converter automatic ‘box.


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So with this new FLX SE variant, Proton is marrying what’s good from both cars (1.6L + CVT) and sweetens it further with the usual sporty SE add ons.

Upon closer inspection, the FLX SE’s 1.6L Campro puts out 108 hp at 5,750 rpm and 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The current Executive 1.6L with 4AT makes 110 hp at 6,500 rpm and 148 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Nothing significant, except that peak power is made 750 rpm lower in the CVT equipped FLX SE. The variance seen here is probably due to the engine being retuned to match the CVT.


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The FLX SE is available in Fire Red (as seen here) or Solid White, and it wears a full bodykit that is painted grey to contrast with the red. This hue is repeated on the strip above the grille and the side skirts; although likely, we can’t confirm if the lower rear bumper is in the same colour. At the back, the lamp cluster is now in clear lense/silver style for maximum bling effect.

The SE comes with 15-inch eight-spoke alloy rims, the first time a Saga is leaving the factory wearing rims bigger than 14 ins. Along with that comes wider tyres – 195/50 compared to the current 185/60.


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Equipment wise, the Saga FLX SE gets leather seats, leather wrapped wheel, stereo with MP3/USB/AUX, dual airbags, ABS + EBD, steering audio buttons and driver’s seat height adjuster, among other kit. The meter panel now has a white backlight, no longer orange, and the centre console, door handles and air-con vents are trimmed in Satin Black.

Currently, the Saga Elegance 1.6L is priced at RM46,549. How much do you think this FLX SE 1.6L with CVT will cost? As a marker, automatic variants of Perodua’s Myvi SE 1.5 start from RM53,900, going all the way to RM61,700.

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Proton to continue building the Satria Neo, in Shah Alam

November 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Proton has stated that it is not stopping production of its Satria Neo hatch, despite a report saying that it was set to do so. Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said that the company was shifting the manufacturing of the model to its main plant in Shah Alam, from Tanjung Malim, and that it was rearranging its facilities at Tanjung Malim in order to bring in its new model (in this case the P3-21A Persona replacement set to arrive next year), according to Bernama.

“There is no truth in the report that we are ceasing production at the Tanjung Malim plant and shifting to Shah Alam. People may misinterpret that we are stopping production in Tanjung Malim to “kill the brands produced there,” Syed Zainal said at a press conference yesterday, in response to an earlier news report that the Satria Neo was nearing the end of its production cycle.

He was speaking at a press event to shout the company’s clean sweep of APRC titles this season, and hinted that a special edition Satria Neo to commemorate the APRC victory would be coming about. “Expect some exciting derivative of Neo, perhaps some special edition,” he said, adding that a “yellow Neo” with “some of the DNA of the S2000″ could be coming out in Q1, 2012.

Syed Zainal did however say that the company has decided to discontinue the sale of its Savvy hatchback, which was introduced in June 2005, and was also phasing out the Gen.2 model from the domestic market. “We are shifting the production of Gen.2 and as you know, we are talking to our partners in China and Iran to assemble the model there. We are still in negotiations,” he said.

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Is this the new Proton Tuah-based Persona R (P3-21A)?

November 17, 2011 at 12:48 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton

I think the picture pretty much speaks for itself – a very nice and revealing shot of the new Proton P3-21A sedan that has been making its way around the internet this week. Done in a sporty yellow, we can spot projector headlamps, and a nice sporty bumper with a prominent center air intake and big fog lamp inserts.

There have been a few revisions to the front end of the P3-21A compared to when it was previewed at last year’s KLIMS motorshow as the Proton Tuah concept. We’ve uploaded one picture of the Tuah above for easy comparison. For one, the headlamps have a different internal lens configuration now, and the lower edge of the headlamps now joins the grille. The daytime running lights at the fog lamp area has also been replaced by a regular fog lamp, but it appears that Proton has kept some form of LED daytime running lamp running along the lower edge of the headlamp.

Do you like what you see?

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Proton celebrates APRC title clean sweep, we’re told to expect a special edition “yellow” Satria Neo soon!

November 16, 2011 at 7:43 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

They’re not a football team, so no open top bus parade around the city, but Proton proudly paraded their multiple trophies gained from this season’s FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC). The six-leg championship ended in China earlier this month, where Alister McRae won the rally to clinch the Driver’s title from teammate Chris Atkinson.

That title was one of eight titles won by Proton in this season’s APRC – a clean sweep underlining total domination. The eight titles are the Overall FIA APRC Manufacturer’s title, FIA APRC Driver’s title, FIA APRC Teams Trophy, FIA Asia Cup Driver’s title and the FIA Pacific Cup Driver’s title. Those were won by the Satria Neo S2000s.

Proton’s Group N 1600cc 2WD Satria Neos won the Manufacturer’s title in the FIA APRC Rally Cup (2WD category), the FIA APRC Rally Cup Driver’s title and the FIA APRC Junior Cup Driver’s title. Karamjit SIngh, driving the Cusco prepared Neo, won all five events he entered in 2011.

By the way, this is Proton’s first APRC win after seven years, their previous three wins coming in 2001, 2002 and 2004. Proton returned for a full season last year, finishing second in the Manufacturer’s standings.

At this afternoon’s event, Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin reminded all that while they’re happy with the trophy haul, their main agenda in joining motorsports is marketing and Proton’s in it to “race on Sunday and sell on Monday.” Proton says that events like the APRC provide the brand with enormous exposure, reaching out to an estimated audience of over 390 million viewers worldwide in 129 countries. “It will be a crime not to exploit the success of the Satria Neo in APRC,” Syed Zainal added.

The boss also hinted at a special edition (a special edition, not Special Edition) Satria Neo to commemorate the APRC victory. “Expect some exciting derivative of Neo, perhaps some special edition,” he said, adding later that a “yellow Neo” with “some of the DNA of the S2000″ could be coming out in Q1, 2012.

Could it be a Satria Neo R3 in the rally car’s signature yellow with matching interior accents? Or can we expect an even more powerful Neo with more serious kit? No harm in listing down your wish list, someone might be reading!

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First group of Proton Amazing Holidays winners revealed

November 9, 2011 at 3:29 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

Proton has announced the first group of winners of its Amazing Holidays contest. The contest is part of Proton’s Very Important Proton (VIP) programme aimed at acknowledging and rewarding customers.

The lucky half dozen are Proton owners Rosliza Abu Bakar from Klang, Tan Siang Loong from Ampang, Hairul Nizam Abdul Rani from Kuantan and Ahmad Radzlan Mohamed Yusof from Kluang. The contest, also open to non-Proton owners, also sees two winners in this category: Kong Pooi Yee from Batu Caves and Lee Liew Chloe from Kuching.

All winners will receive a 3D2N getaway at either the Hard Rock Hotel in Penang, Tanjung Jara Resort in Terengganu or Casa del Rio in Melaka.

The Amazing Holidays contest is really easy, requiring contestants to answer only two questions. With four more rounds to go, there will be another 24 winners over the next four months. For more information and to join, go to www.protonvip.com.

The VIP programme, initiated in the middle of this year, also includes the more well known “My Proton Makeover” contest. The Overhaulin’ style effort has already seen R3 rework Fadly Hisham Roplay’s 1992 Saga. Next up for Proton’s motorsport and tuning department is Sashideran Radha Krishnan’s 17-year-old Proton Wira. Stay tuned to see how that one turns out!

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Proton wins China Rally – Alister McRae takes APRC driver’s title, Proton clinches manufacturer’s title

November 7, 2011 at 12:32 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo

Proton emerged victorious at the China Rally over the weekend, clinching both the Asia Pacific Rally Championship driver’s and manufacturer’s titles for the 2011 season.

Alister McRae won the driver’s title in style, piloting the Satria Neo S2000 to its fourth victory of the six-round season, finishing ahead of Finnish driver Jari Ketomaa in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X. Chris Atkinson finished third to make it a Proton 1-2 in the APRC driver’s championship.

The Satria Neo S2000’s dominant performance throughout the season also gave Proton the coveted APRC manufacturer’s championship ahead of Mitsubishi, with Subaru finishing a distant third.

The results in China also saw Proton becoming the first car manufacturer to win all eight major individual titles in the FIA APRC, with the overall FIA APRC driver’s title and FIA APRC manufacturer’s title leading the honour roll.

The other titles are the FIA APRC Teams Trophy; the FIA Asia Cup driver’s title; the FIA Pacific Cup driver’s title; the manufacturer’s title in the FIA APRC Rally Cup for two-wheel drive category; the FIA APRC Rally Cup two-wheel drive driver’s title; and FIA APRC Junior Cup driver’s title.

“The results in China sum up what has been a challenging, but nevertheless rewarding year for Proton. Excelling in competition serves a bigger purpose in that it significantly supports our aspiration in becoming a competitive global car manufacturer,” said Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin.

“Motorsports is one of several key strategies being pursued to enhance the Proton brand especially in markets that we are actively exporting to. In addition, it also enables us to promote the brand and increase awareness in new and potential markets.”

“Motorsports also injects excitement into the brand or a particular model, and it provides a platform in which technology and technical know-how can be developed and applied to future road-going models,” he added.

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