Proton CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali has confirmed that the first Proton-Suzuki model will debut in October this year. He was speaking to reporters after the launch of the new Proton Perdana in Putrajaya this morning.
The Proton boss also mentions the exact model that the company will rebadge, and, as expected, it’s the Suzuki Ertiga MPV. A taped-up Ertiga with Proton’s trade plate has been spotted roaming in Malaysia lately, and Suzuki’s Indonesian arm – which produces the Ertiga – said in January that the MPV will be exported to Malaysia in knocked down form, from Q2 2016, at a rate of 1,500 units per month.
Production of the CKD kits headed for Malaysia will start at Suzuki’s factory in Cikarang, Indonesia from May, it was revealed then. Proton officially announced in January that the first Proton-Suzuki joint model will enter production before the end of 2016, so things are on schedule.
In existence since 2012, the Ertiga was given a minor facelift last year. The test mule in camo is wearing the pre-facelift bumper, which has a central rear fog lamp and a shapelier “diffuser” area. The 15-inch wheels, which are paired with GT Radial tyres, are from the facelifted car, though. We’ve not yet seen the front, so it’s not clear if the MPV has already undergone “Protonisation”.
The seven-seat Ertiga has a 2,740 mm wheelbase (Perodua Alza 2,750 mm, Proton Exora 2,730 mm) and is powered by a 1.4 litre engine with 92 PS and 130 Nm of torque. The K14B motor is paired to a five-speed manual and four-speed auto. An Ertiga Dreza variant with a unique face and more equipment is also available in Indonesia and Thailand. There’s a Mazda-badged Ertiga in Indonesia too, the VX-1.
Check out renderings of the “Proton Ertiga” as well as the original Suzuki MPV below.
GALLERY: Proton-badged Suzuki Ertiga renderings
GALLERY: Suzuki Ertiga facelift at GIIAS 2015
