Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar is the owner of the prized ‘F1’ number plate, and the new Proton Perdana. Yesterday, he stuck the new plate on the new car and went for a spin in the red 2.4L sedan with Proton board member Datuk Zainuddin Che Din and CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali.
Last week, it was announced that Sultan Ibrahim secured the ‘F1’ number plate with a bid RM836,660. It was the highest sum he has paid for a number plate, having won the bid for ‘W1N’ for RM748,000 in 2014 and WWW1 for RM520,000 in 2012. Big sum, but not over RM1 million as hoped for by the JPJ and much lower than the supposed RM5 million bid from a “local celebrity” from Ipoh.
It was announced in May that the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital of Putrajaya will get ‘V’ and ‘F’ prefixes in July and June. KL’s ‘V1’ will soon be up for grabs.
Launched last month, the latest Perdana is based on the previous-generation Honda Accord but has a unique fastback-style rear end. 2.0 and 2.4 litre Honda engines are available, paired to a five-speed automatic gearbox. The big sedan is priced at RM113,888 for the 2.0L and RM138,888 for the 2.4L seen here. Check out our first impressions test drive report, video review and walk-around video tour of the latest Proton.
GALLERY: Proton Perdana 2.4L
AD: Drive the Proton model of your dreams. Submit your details and Proton PJ will get in touch with you.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
AI-generated Summary ✨
The comments mainly focus on the significance of the Sultan of Johor placing an expensive F1 plate on his Proton Perdana, sparking admiration, sarcasm, and discussions about patriotism and status symbols. Some viewers find it a proud and patriotic act, highlighting support for Malaysian-made cars, while others criticize the high value of the plate compared to the car itself. Several comments speculate on the Sultan's intentions, suggesting he might use the plate on more luxurious or exotic cars later. There’s also light humor and sarcasm about the bid amounts and the perceived extravagance, with some mentioning the plate’s iconic value and its emblematic presence at national and car collector levels. Overall, the sentiment is mixed but largely revolves around the symbolism and implications of showcasing wealth and pride through this act.