On Monday, Proton announced that it is developing a new engine family to replace the ageing CamPro mills that has been in use since 2004 – now, you can watch the full announcement, the first firing of the new engine with development partner Ricardo in the United Kingdom and the press conference here.
A recap on the details announced – the line-up, which will enter production by the end of 2017, will include 1.0 litre and 1.2 litre three-cylinder naturally-aspirated engines with variable valve timing (VVT), as well as 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre four-cylinder NA and turbocharged engines with direct-injection (GDI and TGDI). As such, there will be a total of six engine variants on offer, including:
- 1.0 litre three-cylinder VVT
- 1.2 litre three-cylinder VVT
- 1.3 litre four-cylinder GDI
- 1.5 litre four-cylinder GDI
- 1.3 litre four-cylinder TGDI (turbo)
- 1.5 litre four-cylinder TGDI (turbo)
The engines, which have been in development since last year, are the product of a RM600 million investment into the project. Developed in collaboration with Ricardo and Lotus, the engines will feature Dual VVT, a timing chain and an integrated exhaust manifold, as well as longer service intervals. The most powerful engine, the 1.5 litre TGDI, is capable of producing up to 180 hp and 250 Nm, yet is projected to be 25% more fuel efficient than the Iriz‘s VVT engines.
At the event, CEO Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah also revealed that the next Proton Saga will be positioned closer to the A-segment sedan market and may receive the new three-cylinder engines, while the Perdana will gain the Petronas-derived 2.0 litre NE01 engine to replace the Honda-sourced 2.0 litre and 2.4 litre engines it will get at launch. Elsewhere, chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also hinted that Proton has no plans to produce diesel engines anytime soon.
All this and more, in the video above.
