Proton launched it’s iconic two-door hatchback, the Proton Satria back in December 1994. The Proton Satria was based on the Mitsubishi Colt and came in 1.3 liter and 1.6 liter variants. Two years later, it received it’s first minor facelift, with the number plate relocated to the hatch instead of on the bumper. Four years after it’s introduction, the sporty Satria GTI variant was released, featuring a sporty bodykit, Lotus tuned ride and handling as well as a powerful 1.8 liter twin-cam engine making 140 horsepower. In 2003, Proton introduced the Satria Special Edition which featured a new bodykit and a minor interior facelift. In 2004, the R3-tuned limited edition Satria R3 was launched.
The Satria is one of Proton’s more successful models, achieving near-cult status in hatchback-loving countries like the UK. We have been looking at spy photos of the Proton Satria Replacement Model for more then a year now, and the wait is now over. Proton has launched the Satria Replacement Model and it has been given the name Proton Satria Neo. Let’s have a look at the new Proton Satria Neo.
The Edge Daily reports that the Satria Replacement Model will be launched this Friday, on the 16th of June 2006, confirming many of our speculations on the actual launch date of our national automobile manufacturer’s long-awaited three-door Satria hatchback replacment.
I am sure most of you have seen the leaked product pages from Proton Edar’s site. Come back to this blog on Friday evening for a full review of the car specifications including a track test drive experience.
Proton has put up a teaser site for the Satria Replacement Model over at Desire. Teaser ads with the URL were shown at KL International Motor Show the last 3 days. The site looks incomplete though, not all the games are working. They also have an image of the SRM dashboard there. Looks nice, they’ve stuck to the standard dual-pod sporty Lotus-inspired design for the two meters, and the colour is blue.
Utusan Malaysia reports that the Proton Satria Replacement Model will be launched before the end of this month, and both 1.3 liter and 1.6 liter versions will be launched. Utusan also reports that the 1.3 liter model will be priced below RM45,000 and the 1.6 liter version will be priced below RM55,000. That’s about the same range as the Proton Gen2.
Industry sources say that the Proton Satria Replacement Model will be given a name that will reflect it’s target market - young professionals who enjoy a spirited drive.
This should be the last in the series of spyshots for the Proton SRM (Satria Replacement Model). Spyshots for this car have been around since early 2005, with my earliest post containing spyshots dating back to March 29 2005. This was before the Proton Savvy was even launched, so it’s really been quite a while. Hopefully with the extensive testing that seems to have been done, Proton will make a killer with this 2-door hatchback designed to replace the Proton Satria. I am hoping that this time Proton will have some continuity in it’s model names and call it a Satria again. There’s no bad vibes associated with the Satria name, and the Satria GTI was an excellent car. The Proton Satria R3 did the Satria name good as well. So I don’t see why a new model name should be used.
The car in these spyshots seem to be a lower spec model. Notice the lack of a rear windscreen wiper and the usage of normal steel rims with bling bling style rim covers. I guess this should confirm that the Satria Replacement Model will come with the bling bling rims design instead of the black 5-spoke ones we saw on MPH’s spyshots of a Satria Replacement Model with a cardboard intercooler at the bumper. I am guessing this is a 1.3 liter model, which should mean the Satria Replacement Model will be launched with both 1.3 and 1.6 variations at once. The middle exhaust pipe location is still there, and I really like the rear lights. It’s of the crystal reflector variety but doesn’t look horribly Brothers-like like the ones used on the silver special edition Iswara. Pretty nice actually. The whole car looks muscular and sporty. The shape reminds me of the Seat Ibiza. Fortunately this time there are no quirky design elements like the Proton Waja look on the Savvy’s rear hatch, except for the bling bling rims. Of course, that is a matter of personal taste really. And rims can be changed easily. You can’t really see the dashboard properly from these spy pics, but I think they look grey to me.
Rumours are that the SRM will be launched very very soon, it could be even next week. Price range should be around the Gen2’s prices, perhaps slightly less. We’ll see how the car really looks like when it is launched. Especially the interior, since uncamoflaged photos of the SRM exterior were available for quite some time. One thing I can say for sure, it surely looks alot better than the BMW 1-series.
Reader Mun Wai sent in these spyshots of a convoy of Proton vehicles. There were a few Proton Savvys escorting a Proton Satria Replacement Model. From this photo, you can have a look at the size comparison between a Proton Savvy and a Satria Replacement Model. You’ll also notice a very nice white Proton Savvy. I wonder if Proton will be offering this new colour soon?
This is a left-hand drive Proton Savvy being tested on the same roads. Could Proton be testing for the left-hand drive China market? Or perhaps the US market. I think the previous is more likely.
GoAuto carries some news on Proton’s model timeline for the Australian market, which could give us a guideline on when models will be released on our own shores. Probably take off a few months to half a year from each Australian launch date and we’ll get the Malaysian launch date.
The interview also carries some specifications for the new SRM. Proton Cars Australia MD John Startari says the new SRM will use 1.6 liter Campro engines found in the Proton Gen2 and the Proton Waja Campro. The GTi version is not fully developed yet, but 140kW or 187 horsepower is the current performance target for the hot hatch. It will might be equipped with Eibach performance springs. The SRM’s design is said to take design cues from the Alfa Romeo 147 and the Audi A3.
Here’s the timeline for Proton launches in Australia:
I will have to begin following foreign automotive news more often from now on since Proton seems to like giving foreign journalists nice tidbits of information on future plans. Especially Australia and UK where Proton has relatively significant presence.
A report by New Straits Times says Proton expects to launch a new model in April. This could most likely be the SRM as I don’t think there’s any possibility of a Perdana based on the Mitsubishi 380 to be launched in such a short time frame. If you read the article, you would notice the bad reporting by the journalist, who said the Proton Savvy uses a Campro engine. Journalists should really do their homework.
Here are the latest spy images for the Proton Satria Replacement Model or Proton SRM24 which have been in testing phases for quite some time already. These photos were taken while the Proton SRM was parked in a parking lot, with it’s driver nowhere to be found. Because of that the photographer managed to get shots of the interior. Spyshots are after the jump!
You’ve been used to looking at spyshots, but this is the first ever spy video on this blog! Reader Aris Tee sent in this video of the Proton Satria Replacement Model that his brother captured a few weeks ago. No, the video isn’t the photo above, I just used it to spice up this post. Video is after the jump!
This should be the last in the series of spyshots for the Proton SRM (Satria Replacement Model). Spyshots for this car have been around since early 2005, with my earliest post containing spyshots dating back to March 29 2005. This was before the Proton Savvy was even launched, so it’s really been quite a while. Hopefully with the extensive testing that seems to have been done, Proton will make a killer with this 2-door hatchback designed to replace the Proton Satria. I am hoping that this time Proton will have some continuity in it’s model names and call it a Satria again. There’s no bad vibes associated with the Satria name, and the Satria GTI was an excellent car. The Proton Satria R3 did the Satria name good as well. So I don’t see why a new model name should be used.
