Home / Special Coverage / Proton Exora – Proton MPV 2009

  • Proton Exora with CVT and turbo slated for 2012 UK launch, there’s a diesel version planned for 2014 as well!

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 108 comments

    Back in June, we posted spyshots of a Proton Exora mule testing a new drivetrain combination – CFE Campro turbocharged engine with CVT gearbox – so we know that such a car is coming, but not when. Proton also tested the same combo with ESP in snow as well. Some clues have now emerged (hat tip to reader Jerry & Mega), and they’re from the UK!

    The UK public probably first saw the Proton Exora when an electrified version entered the RAC Future Car Challenge held in London in late 2010, where it managed to travel for about 4 hours on just 2.2 litres of petrol thanks to the majority of the energy probably being provided by the on board batteries.

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    And then we got an email from reader Dan, sending in some photos of a Proton Exora CPS spotted at the local Proton dealer in Bacton Suffolk.

    Earlier this month, Autocar UK had their first drive of the Exora MC, powered by the usual Campro CPS engine. The review wasn’t glowing, which is expected when you take into account their standard of motoring, but the writer still called the Exora “a simple, inoffensive and comfortable MPV, offering plenty of kit and space for seven”. They tested a Malaysian spec car.

    The story revealed that the Exora will be Proton UK’s fifth model when it arrives in 2012, and that “the engine will be turbocharged and paired with a CVT ’box instead.” Assuming that this UK launch will happen in Q1 2012, we’re expecting a Malaysian launch before that, which makes the end of this year, or early 2012, a possible time.

    The next line of the article read: “A diesel variant will follow in 2014″. Now, isn’t a diesel powered Exora an interesting proposition? No more labouring, just let the torque do the job. And the boost in fuel economy will make it a great people’s MPV. It can’t come soon enough!

     

  • Proton Exora with updated design spotted near Ayer Hitam?

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009, Spyshots / By / / 223 comments

    This Proton Exora with some mild disguises and a tradeplate was spotted by reader Abdullah Kutan on the PLUS highway heading towards JB, just before Ayer Hitam.

    The front end of the disguised Exora features what seems to be a new front grille and a new front bumper design. The front grille opening seems to have been made bigger – I’m thinking wishfully that this might be in order to allow more cooling for a turbocharged engine hiding in the engine bay.

    At the rear, the strip across the bootlid has been painted body colour, and the tail lamps are of a new clear design such as the one we’ve seen on the Proton Exora Prime Concept, but not exactly the same either as the Prime had a clear tail lamp design while this one looks more like a combo of clear and smoked.

    Look after the jump for the photo gallery of the spied Exora.
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  • Something’s definitely up with this Proton Exora…

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009, Proton Persona R, Spyshots / By / / 346 comments

    At first glance this looks like just any other Proton Exora, except for the fact that even after it has been launched for quite some time now Proton found it necessary to put generous amounts of black tape on it. The lower fog lamp area peeks out from the taped up sections and what we can see is the old pre-MC update fog lamps without the chrome.

    But the headlamp is very much covered up – there could be some kind of facelift headlamp hiding in there. Or it could simply be an old mule with the headlamps taped up from before and not removed.

    This is where it gets interesting. The rear muffler is different. I don’t think there would be any reason to have a new rear muffler installed on a mule, other than to test a completely new powertrain and/or driveline ;)

    Big thanks to the photographer Asan Taring for these! They were snapped en route to Malacca. According Asan and his friend, the rear end of this vehicle looked pretty different from a regular Exora. This is all so very mysterious!

     

  • Proton Exora MC unveiled – new colour, trim and exterior enhancements

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 378 comments

    We are at Proton’s Centre of Excellence (COE) now, where Proton have just launched the new Proton Exora MC. MC stands for minor change, which is one step less comprehensive than a facelift for the MPV, which Proton MD Dato’ Syed Zainal Abidin said the company is already working on and will come later.

    Back to the Exora MC, which looks much better and somehow “more premium” than the car it replaces. Most of the effect is from the new Plum Red exterior colour, which joins four other hues.

    Other changes on the outside include the newly designed 15-inch alloys (now featuring five twin spokes) and a new bodykit.

    The latter is most obvious up front, where the front lip follows the look of the Exora Prestige seen at the model’s debut last year.

    Inside, the most obvious change is the colour of the trim, which is now in dark grey (from very light grey).

    The centre stack used to have a “brushed metal” texture, but is now smoothened out with some subtle graphics in place.

    The leather seats in the High-Line display model pictured here are also in black.

    The door trim also sports a strip of suede/alcantara style of material, which lifts the ambience a bit.

    There’s also a handy boot organiser (divided into three sections), which all trims except for the Base-Line model will get. The updates are small but make a big impact – the new colour really suits the car quite well, the chrome on the bumper complements the chrome on the grille nicely, and the darker interior looks better. Just in time for balik kampung.

    OTR prices are up spec-for-spec by RM1,000. Here’s the list:

    • Proton Exora B-Line MT RM58,998
    • Proton Exora M-Line MT RM65,998
    • Proton Exora M-Line AT RM70,998
    • Proton Exora H-Line AT RM76,998

    Live images, official brochure and a video from the event are after the jump.
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  • Proton Exora with trade plate and bodykit spotted!

    In Cars, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009, Spyshots / By / / 240 comments

    This Proton Exora was spotted by reader Suthesh somewhere near Seremban. The tradeplate number of B2646A belongs to Proton as it was spotted before on a Proton Exora prototype that we regularly saw roaming the streets of the Klang Valley before the vehicle was launched.

    At first glance this Exora just looks like a regular Exora but look closely and you can see that there are some cosmetic changes. The front bumper has some modifications to it – it has a chrome surround around the fog lamps and a thin horizontal chrome piece filling up the gap in the bumper area where the fogs are located. There’s also a bumper lip. This is the actually the exact same design that is found on the Proton Exora Prestige.

    This Exora’s alloy wheel is also different, featuring a 10 spoke design instead of the Exora’s standard 5 spoke wheels. There’s actually some side skirts here but they’re a little hard to see because they’re black in colour which is a contrast against the Exora’s white body. Perhaps they haven’t been painted yet.

    The bodykit treatment continues to the rear. This might just be a bunch of Proton staff traveling long distance on a work related trip on a random Exora in their fleet, but wishful thinking wants me to believe there’s a turbocharged engine under that hood.

    Also, it would be nice if Proton release a version of the Exora with this bodykit we see here. This will allow them to gain from some of the money flowing to aftermarket bodykit suppliers – there are a few out there for the Exora already. Perodua has the Alza Advanced which seems to have buyers, so it would be nice for Proton to have an Exora SE as well :)

    Look after the jump for a high resolution gallery of the spy pics. Nice work Suthesh!
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  • EOCM 2010 Genting Highlands Road Tour

    In Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 373 comments

    The 1.6 litre Campro CPS engine used in the Proton Exora has been the subject of much criticism, whether called for or not. Yes, having a relatively small engine in a large vehicle is bound to require a little more pedal to the metal but everytime there is a story about the Exora or the Alza on this site there is bound to be those who pop up and say that they’ve tried the Exora in so and so situations and the MPV failed to deliver.

    I think other than Proton themselves, the next group of people who are likely to be infuriated by such allegations are the Proton Exora owners themselves. After all, they’ve committed to years of monthly repayments to the Proton family vehicle of their choice and having a personal connection with their car, insulting the Exora is almost like insulting their logic or choice of picking the Exora over its competitors.

    Quite interestingly, the Exora owners over at protonexora.com.my (Exora Owners Club Malaysia) have decided to take the matter into their own hands. They’ve actually organised a convoy together up to the Genting Highlands Resort. The EOCM 2010 Genting Highlands Road Tour convoy began last Saturday at the Genting Sempah Rest Area. The Exora went up and down (with no sweat) and the members had a great time. The “Jom Ronda Bersama Proton” crew from TV3 also joined in to feature the convoy in an upcoming segment.

    It’s nice to see how much passion these guys have for their Proton Exoras. It’s one vehicle that Proton has managed to tick all the right boxes for its intended target customer – space, comfort and price. It just shows that although you could say Proton has failed us in the past with products that don’t quite right hit the sweet spot, when Proton delivers something good, Malaysians will reciprocate.

    Check out the EOCM.

     

  • Proton secures encouraging bookings at the 2009 Thai Motor Expo with Exora leading the way

    In Cars, International News, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 190 comments

    exora-side

    Proton received an encouraging number of bookings at the recently concluded Thailand International Motor Expo 2009, which was held from 2 to 13 December in Bangkok. The company’s order books were filled with 1,388 bookings from a total of 25,220 orders placed at the Expo.

    In fact, Proton recorded higher figures than all brands except for Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Mazda and Mitsubishi, most of which have pick-ups in their range. Not bad at all for a relatively new player in the market.

    The Exora, which made its Thai debut at the show, was the best selling Proton model with 825 bookings, or almost 60 per cent of total orders. The Savvy was the next best-seller with 270 units. Proton’s MPV is priced from 700,000 baht in Thailand, while its supermini starts from 399,000 baht. Meanwhile, 155 people put their names down for the Persona CNG, which is powered by compressed natural gas.

    Since entering the Thai market in 2007, Proton has successfully placed itself among the top 10 brands in passenger car sales and things are definitely looking up for them in the Land of Smiles.

     

  • Proton Exora on sale in Thailand this month

    In Cars, International News, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 94 comments

    Proton Exora

    The Proton Exora will go on sale in Thailand at the Thai Motor Expo this month. I don’t have the exact variants but Proton’s Thai distributor Phranakorn Auto Sales revealed that it would be pricing the car between 699,000 Baht to 799,000 Baht. This undercuts the recently launched Honda Freed’s price tag of between 894,000 Baht and 1,074,500 Baht. We will also be getting the Freed soon. The Savvy is also expected to be phased out in Q3 2010 and replaced with the 1.3 litre Proton Saga. – Source, Source 2

    In other Proton news, head honcho Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir revealed in a report in Business Times that talks with a strategic partner has been very intense now and the company will be announcing a strategic partner “very soon”, without revealing any quotable specific timelines. He added that the partner is an ideal one that would be good for the country and the automotive eco-system, which includes the parts ecosystem as well.

    Interestingly profit surged from RM43.8 million (on revenue of RM1.8 billion) during the same quarter last financial year up to RM82.1 million (on revenue of RM2.1 billion) this quarter. Proton claims the improvement was achieved thanks to higher domestic sales and better profit margins. Alot of the improvement is thanks to the Exora.

    A Thai publication’s Exora review: View to a Kill

    Look after the jump for Proton’s recent quarterly financial report.
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  • New Proton Exora Basic from RM57,548!

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 354 comments

    The new Proton Exora Basic (also known as the B-Line) is Proton’s cheapest Exora variant, priced at only RM57,548.00 for the manual transmission solid white model for the Peninsular Malaysia. The following is the full price list:

    Model West Msia East Msia
    Exora Basic (Metallic) RM57,998 RM60,598
    Exora Basic (Solid) RM57,548 RM60,148

    It is available at all Edar and EON branches nationwide and the booking fee is RM500. Here’s a list of what has changed compared to the M-Line and H-Line:

    • Manual transmission only
    • Driver airbag only
    • Seatbelt pretensioner for driver only
    • Passenger airbag replaced with tissue box holder
    • No front seat back pockets
    • No grocery hook at the front passenger seat
    • No aircond outlet for 2nd row, but 3rd row outlets remain
    • Fabric flat knitting for the seats (M-Line uses fabric flat woven)
    • Only 2 headrests for the second row
    • No third row headrests
    • No door trim inserts
    • No assist grip for the third row
    • No inner carpet deck box
    • No luggage lamp
    • No rear power socket
    • Matte black finishing for gear knob, panel shift lever, door inner handle, center panel finishing, side mirror hosing finishing, exterior door handle, rear garnish
    • No front grille garnish
    • No front fog lamp
    • 15 inch steel wheel with cover
    • No reverse sensors
    • No ABS and EBD

    On another note, if you’ve ran out of ideas of a family activity this weekend, you can check out the “Proton 4 You” customer appreciation event held at all Proton Edar and EON outlets throughout Malaysia.

    They’ve planned a variety of family-oriented programs at all outlets such as coloring contests, family quizzes and games wih prizes to be won. Proton will also throw in free personal assurance worth RM10,000 for all customers who book a Proton car on that weekend. There will also be Proton iCare teams at almost every outlet to perform free 20-point car inspections.

     

  • Proton Exora Turbo based on the Exora Prestige

    In Cars, Concept Cars, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009 / By / / 378 comments

    Proton Exora Turbo

    While the Proton Saga EV Green Propulsion Concept stole the lime light in University Putra Malaysia for the “Proton Exora – The Making” seminar, the national car maker also took to the opportunity to showcase the Proton Exora Prestige Turbo Prototype.

    It is basically the Proton Exora Prestige Concept which was first previewed at the Exora’s official launch event, but now fitted with a prototype turbo powerplant.

    Proton Exora Turbo

    The turbo engine based on the 1.6 litre CamPro powerplant was built in-house, without the input of Lotus. Which means, the engine mostly features aftermarket parts to turn it from a normally aspirated motor to a turbocharged one. It’s useful to test the durability and reliability of a Campro block when force inducted.

    The production turbocharged powerplant for the Exora is being co-developed with Lotus, and sources reveal that powertrain engineers will soon leave for the UK to intensify the development.

    Proton Exora Turbo
    Notice the aftermarket boost meter and various other extra monitoring gauges

    The powerplant featured in the Prestige Concept shown above is said to produce up to 270 horsepower, and with a torque figure that is rated at about 350Nm. (UPDATE: Now that I think about it, this quoted figure seems a little over the top. While no doubt it is possible especially if you strengthen the engine enough, it is not practical for production use so the production car will not likely be tuned to such extents as there is a high possibility for lots of turbo lag and the 4-speed Mitsubishi automatic transmission must be struggling with the torque.)

    A source revealed that the turbocharged Proton Exora MPV could most probably hit the market by between end 2010 to mid 2011. Honestly for me despite many customers eagerly waiting for a more powerful Exora, later is better as it means more time for testing, and a turbocharged production engine is something very new for Proton.

    The production turbocharged variant will very likely offer less than the 270 hp and 350Nm performance figures mentioned above, but even if it ends up producing anywhere in the region of 170 horses and 240Nm of torque, that would be a big leap already as it would be equivalent to a normally aspirated 2.4 litre engine, but with peak torque coming in at a much lower RPM.

    Proton Exora Turbo

    It wipe out one major issue that the current Exora has, which is a lack of go. The 1.6 litre Campro CPS that is currently being offered with the Exora produces 125 horsepower and 150Nm of torque. Proton also revealed that the Exora Prestige Concept is being sold to selected VIPs that have placed orders for the extra-luxury variant.

    Look after the jump for more photos of the prototype turbocharged Exora.
    Read more ›

     
 
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