Proton’s Perdana Replacement Model will be based on a Volkswagen Passat. Proton is already going to build the previous generation Passat for sale in ASEAN markets for Volkswagen so it might OEM the model for it’s own Perdana.
This is the 2001 Passat in case anyone doesn’t know what it looks like. Looks very much like an Audi A4 right? Probably sharing same platforms as Audi belongs to Volkswagen AG.
Too bad Volkswagen AG thinks we’re not good enough for the latest Passat sold everywhere else.
Yeah, Mahaleel keeps saying it wants to develop it’s own models so it would not have to pay royalty payments to other manufacturers but so far it’s all been a lie. Even the first Proton (the Proton Waja) said to be an all-original design was a Mitsubishi Charisma/Volvo S40 platform anyway.
Malaysia’s Proton plans to launch new Perdana model by year-end
Tuesday June 14, 06:15 AMKUALA LUMPUR (AFX) – Proton Holdings Bhd plans to launch a replacement model for its high-end Proton Perdana by the year-end, afternoon paper Malay Mail reported, citing unnamed sources.
It said Proton is cooperating with Volkswagen AG (Xetra: 766400.DE – news) to help build a new model.
The replacement model is likely to be similar to Volkswagen popular Passat model, the paper said, adding that Proton is banking on the new model to stem a five-year decline in its share of Malaysia’s car market.
By year end? Either the Perdana Replacement Model will be delayed, or the Satria Replacement Model which is supposed to be out by early next year will be delayed even longer.
The Skoda Superb which is sold in Malaysia is also based on a Volkswagen Passat and is priced at RM165,000. The Superb is based on the Passat which Volkswagen sold in China which is 10cm longer than the standard Passat.
Related Links:
Perdana Replacement Model to be a Volkswagen Passat
Perdana Replacement Model Photoshop
the royalty payments were made to mitsubishi in the 1980's and 90's as proton receives technology transfer, right from the basic training for the shop floor operators to the mouldings, dies, engine, transmission etc…proton has reduced royalties significantly as the firm has already acquired the capability to design cars from scratch. yes, the waja did use the mitsubishi/volvo platform but the waja's body and interior was 100% designed in-house. the car was the last to utilise mitsubishi-based platforms.
VW Passats (old & new) are everywhere in Shanghai. Nearly all the Taxis are Passats as well. It's not too bad a car actually…very standard…nothing to shout about but it's quite good.
yes the a4 and the passat has the same wheelbase if i am not wrong…
I think proton is aware that they need quality products to compete effectively. They have been taking things for granted for too long with bad designs and concepts. Hopefully the replacement will be worthy to be even compared to the passat.
Do I care the least?
Not really!
As long as the APs are being used by silly connected individuals to gain easy money, protectionism of local auto industry and car importation is still being restricted by loads of conditions, personal car prices will continue to be non-affordable, in the correct sense.
Car prices are too expensive and public transport is almost a non-entity.
Pity takyat Malaysia.
THe best course of action is to ensure an efficient public transport system to reduce the need of personal vehicle ownership and then to ensure an open distributorship of any cars in the country. Then we'll talk. To do this, I'm afraid, the country needs stronger opposition in Parliament! Walk the talk, and talk the walk.
I have seen the passat (old and new model). Good car and can only look better after being its look is "proton"nified ala savvy or gen2 front.
At the end of the day, it will still the price that determines whether people will flock to the PRM. Difficult to imagine it selling bucketloads if price > RM 100k.
Mamatd: well said. a small country like malaysia in the first place does not need an auto industry. even britain with 50 mln ppl can't sustain one. the koreans can do it by exporting aggressively AND protecting strongly the local market. even then their car companies' positions are still shaky; a strong slowdown in demand for autos might still wipe them out. as i've said in an earlier post, the way forward is to sell vw a controlling stake, with other investors holding only a significant minority holding, say 25-30%, to get some earnings stream. let proton be the super-budget sporty marque of vw (one can say a poor man's mazda, perhaps?). with the money from the sale, strengthen the country's public transport network, in the inter-city, intra-city and suburb-city. let vw use tg malim as their base for SE asia and right-hand drive markets. i don't think the country will be invaded by germans overnight(!), the shop floor operators and plenty of managers would still be locals. vw would likely squeeze more quality from the local partmakers and kick those who don't conform to their high standards. so there u go…of course this scenario ignores VESTED INTERESTS, ceteris peribus…
The VW taxi's in shanghai are VW Santana not Passat's …. i want to correct what [email protected] said
IN shanghai, like 90% or more are santana's . they have just recently started using Merc E class too…
HOWEVER … there are ton's of Passat B5's around …i saw more Passat's and Audi's in shanghai then any chinese make…. the passat B5 1.8 T costs around 200-220RMB which works out to be around RM100K – 110K.
The passat is NOT an ordinary car, besides that fact that it has a 1.8Turbo engine like the A4, it has all the cool features that you can read more in a Skoda Superb in auto praha's web site.
The Skoda superb is based off the Passat, which is very muchw hat the PRM will also be …
It's a great car and if you read the local forums, ppl who own passat are almost 100% satisfied customer…so are Skoda owners….
i look forward for the PRM and if it's prices in the regiono f 100K i will buy!
Waiting for the new perdana in late december this year. What else they will change……….
Perdana already good?? why they doesn't go out with type racing or classic??
is it better
Volkswagen is a smart choice. The VW range (from sleek city cars to full-size people carriers to commercial trucks) is well-acclaimed in Europe. Why? Excellent build quality parallelled only by Audi, Seat, Skoda et al. =) Just take a seat in a 2001 Golf and you'll know what I mean. And you haven't been in the 2006 Golf yet. By the way, the 2006 Passat has an elegant, upmarket look. Let's all hope the VW quality brushes off on the new Perdana… =)
not really the next perdana will be Nissan Fuga =P