Archive for Cars

Look at all the unsold parked cars in Proton’s factory in Shah Alam. Manufacturing capacity doesn’t seem to be a problem for Proton. The problem is selling all the cars.

Picture by Bloomberg.

Somehow Proton does not realise that it’s declining sales are because the we, the rakyat are sick of them shortchanging us on the quality control issues. The export market Protons are of so much higher quality than ours. Proton Persona vs. Proton Wira. Anyone would take the Persona anyday. Proton used to hold 60% of the auto industry but it’s share dropped to 44% last year, a steady decline from 48% in 2003.

Click here to read the rest of Negative Image Hurting Proton Sales

The original S40/V40 sedan and wagons were a product of a partnership between Volvo and Mitsubishi. The base chassis was basically a Mitsubishi Carisma, modified heavily by Volvo. Basically some of the same mounting points and stamping were used, but most of the other stuff like materials are different, so very little is interchangeable although they came from the same origin. More details available here. This same chassis was also used by Proton as a base for the Proton Waja.

The Volvo V50 is one cool people mover. Station wagons have never looked so good before. Wait, that’s not right. This is a Sportswagon, as Volvo calls it.

This new S40/V50 series is based on a Ford/Mazda platform. (Details here) The same one found in the current Mazda3 and also the upcoming Ford Focus. The S40/V40 family is now the S40/V60 family as Volvo has changed it’s naming convention to even numbers for sedans and off numbers for the wagons and SUVs.

More details on why Volvo stopped sharing platforms with Mitsubishi are available here (Mitsubishi and Volvo fall out of bed).

The V50 has a bigger wheelbase than the successful V40 model it replaces. This is done by placing the wheels further towards each corner, creating a roomier interior.

It also has that classy interior which first appeared in the new S40.

The V50 is powered by a 2.5 liter T5 engine, with 5 cylinders arranged in an in-line formation. Why the odd number of cylinders? Who knows, but Volvo seems to have perfected the 5 cylinder design. Another car with 5 cylinders which I know is the Fiat Coupe. Anyone know any others? The turbocharged DOHC T5 engine produces 220bhp at 5000rpm and 320Nm torque at 4800rpm, more than enough to propel the 1540kg car from 0-100 in 7.3 seconds. Top speed for the car is 235km/h. The car has an average combined cycle fuel consumption of 9.6 liters per 100km.

The engine power is put to the wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed Geartronic automatic transmission. It seems that only the 5-speed Geartronic auto transmission is available in Malaysia. The wheels on the car are 205/50/R17. Sweet.

The car comes with safety features such as ABS, EBD, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, Emergency brake Assistance, Dual front and passanger airbags, Side Impact Protection airbags for the front, Whiplash protection system, inflatable curtains, and well, so much more being a Volvo. Full specs available in this PDF download.

The car will damage your bank account by a sum of RM229,988.67 without insurance for personal registration.

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.

Proton recently gave a press statement to Channel4’s 4Car regarding it’s sports car project.

It also promises “a mid-engined lightweight sports car” – developed, no doubt, by Lotus, though to be offered at Proton prices.

Source – 4Car

The design for the Proton sports car project, which I will refer to as Proton Ultimate in this blog post for convenience sake, has been patented by Proton and the patent has been filed with the UK Patent Office. The design was registered on 30th July 2004 and approved on 30th August 2004.

Here are photos from the patent filing:

Definitely reminds us alot of a Lotus. The original location of the pictures filed with the patent are available here.

The picture I used at the top of this post is an artist’s 3D rendering of how the final product will look like, based on these patent design filings.

The patent design was originally registered to Lotus but moved to Proton as at 19th January 2005. Details available here.

Thanks to Kimi for the sources.

Related Posts:
Proton Ultimate – Proton Sports Car Road Test?
An Insight into the Proton Ultimate’s Specifications
Proton Ultimate Updates

If we look at the SUV market in Malaysia, it seems that Toyota is missing a contender. Honda has the Honda CR-V, Ford has the Ford Escape and Nissan has the Nissan X-Trail. No, the Toyota RAV4 doesn’t count.

UPDATE: Facelifted Toyota Fortuner for the 2009 model year unveiled.

Introducing the Toyota Fortuner. Click the thumbnails for an enlarged picture.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Fortuner SUV

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.

Related Proton Savvy posts:

Tiara Replacement Model Available For Booking
Tiara Replacement Model On The Road
Tiara Replacement Model Again
New Tiara Replacement Model Spyshots
Tiara Replacement Model Ads in Newspapers
Proton Sassy – The Name for the Tiara Replacement Model
Proton Savvy: Proton Renames The Sassy Tiara Replacement Model to Savvy
Proton Savvy Launch this 8th June
Possible Proton Savvy Interior Shots
Proton Savvy Photos
Proton Savvy Quality Control TUV Audit
Proton Savvy Launch at 5pm today!
Proton Press Release on the Savvy
Proton Savvy R3 ?
Proton Savvy R3 Concept at Proton Edar Mutiara
Proton Savvy Automatic to get Renault’s Quickshift 5

Proton Edar has the Proton Savvy R3 Concept on show at the 3S Center at Mutiara Damansara beginning from today. If you are in the area drop by to see what Race Rally Research has in store in the future for the Proton Savvy.

The Proton Savvy R3 Concept is a one-off prototype and the specifications are not finalised yet. Targets for the final R3 version of the Proton Savvy would be similiar to the Proton Satria R3, which is a lighter and more powerful car ready to attack the track with great handling.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Savvy R3 Concept at Proton Edar Mutiara

Nice? Hehe. That red and white stripe that gives the R3 identity looks really good on the Savvy. Looks like the same Advanti Racing rims as the Proton Satria R3 too.

Click for larger image.

More updates here.

Related Proton Savvy posts:

Tiara Replacement Model Available For Booking
Tiara Replacement Model On The Road
Tiara Replacement Model Again
New Tiara Replacement Model Spyshots
Tiara Replacement Model Ads in Newspapers
Proton Sassy – The Name for the Tiara Replacement Model
Proton Savvy: Proton Renames The Sassy Tiara Replacement Model to Savvy
Proton Savvy Launch this 8th June
Possible Proton Savvy Interior Shots
Proton Savvy Photos
Proton Savvy Quality Control TUV Audit
Proton Savvy Launch at 5pm today!
Proton Press Release on the Savvy
Proton Savvy R3 ?
Proton Savvy R3 Concept at Proton Edar Mutiara
Proton Savvy Automatic to get Renault’s Quickshift 5

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

The Proton Savvy will be launched today nationwide by Proton at 5pm. Check out your Proton showrooms to get a glimpse of the car. Now for a short re-cap on what the Proton Savvy has to offer.

Colours

The Savvy comes in three colours. Magma Red, Stratosphere Blue and Midnight Black. Bright and sporty colours, quite suitable for the car I think.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Savvy Launch at 5pm Today!