With all that’s happening at Proton right now, in the midst of what is looking to be a successful partnership with Geely, it’s easy to forget the national carmaker’s early struggles in building cars under its own power. One of the company’s notable efforts was the Savvy, a noble attempt to enter the small hatchback market – a segment that was Perodua’s heartland at the time.
Even though it was ultimately not as successful as its contemporary, the Myvi, the little tyke of a car still found fans, which is why Photoshop wizard Theophilus Chin has decided to utilise his skills to render a new generation Savvy, using bits of various Geely models.
Most of the hallmarks of the original’s distinctive design are there, including the strong shoulder section that wraps around the car, the U-shaped clamshell bonnet and the mask-like front end graphic. Only the controversial stepped window line is missing – the kink has been moved to the flanks, near where the door rubbing strips sit. Onto this, Theo has added a number of more modern touches.
At the front, you’ll find Proton’s new grille with the Infinite Weave pattern and the Ethereal Bow design that dips under the tiger badge. It is flanked by a pair of projector headlights with internals borrowed from the X70 SUV, while the lower air intake features silver trim and LED daytime running light strips.
Moving to the rear of the car, there are trapezoidal tail lights from the Geely Binyue, joined together by a chrome strip with the Proton script. The rear number plate recess, which was previously mounted on the bumper, has been moved up to the tailgate, while the funky centre-exit exhaust has been replaced by twin pipes. Eight-spoke turbine-style alloy wheels complete the look.
Such a car could utilise Geely’s new 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine in the Binyue, although that mill is only connected to a six-speed manual gearbox – not a problem for us enthusiasts, but it wouldn’t be good news for the commuters that would be the ideal market if it does enter production. Don’t count on that happening anytime soon, however, not when the local compact car segment is so small, and with Proton already having the larger, more practical and relatively inexpensive Iriz.
My answer will be “Nay”. Lucky Proton realize that their Savvy is a car with game over design and quickly discontinue it to prevent more loss. I hope Proton also do the same to their current game over PIES models.
https://paultan.org/2019/04/03/bangkok-2019-suzuki-swift-sport-halo-car-inspiration/
Game over Proton PIES sales are very dissapointing as some PIES owners already migrate to the X70. Some PIES owners also already migrate to the game changing Perodua Myvi, Bezza and Alza.
Now tell me. How is the Alza game changing?
It is the first car to guarantee 7 deaths at one go. Truly a game changer for the grim reaper.
Proton should stay focused in what makes money. Now like huru hara. Don’t know what to do also
Proton CEO already announced, Saga and Persona make 78% of their total sales.
They should focus on Saga and Persona.
Malaysians are particular about RV
You buy 2019 myvi today for RM50k, in 2020, you sell also can get RM45k
You buy 2019 Savvy (for example) for RM50k, in 2020 you sell you get RM18k
Just rebadge Proton sibling previous gen merc A-class. name it Proton Savvy Pro,
Alza changed the sales figures of Proton Exora – to the extent of proton badly wanted a compact MPV and asked Suzuki to rebadge the Ertiga.
June 2019 Myvi, Bezza & Alza owners migrate to the game master PIES. 6000 units decrease from 22000 units.
Perodua sales is 4X more than Proton sales. I think rakyat has spoken. They know which is a true car
You cannot challenge Axia and Myvi. Just Myvi alone, Perodua has sold 110,000 units from November 2018 to June 2019
In the same period, 700 Iriz was sold.
So, pls open your eyes Proton. Savvy will be another Iriz
You hardly can see any old Savvy on our roads. Pity Proton cars cannot last more than 10 years.
We must thank Li Chunrong for bringing Proton out of the ruts. Li Chunrong in 6 months turned around Proton for the better what local CEOs could not do in 30 years. We Malaysians express out utter gratitude to
1) Li Chunrong
2) Geely
3) China
Thank you Li Chunrong for saving the game over Proton!
Proton sales last year and this year just slightly more. This is because all the potential Persona, Exora and Saga buyers decided to migrate to Proton X70.
So sales more or less sama sama as last year because Proton local made cars very less now
The one that should receive gratitude is dato seri najib razak for getting geely to make a deal with proton.but at that time everyone was like oh no proton has been sold to china and dont want to buy it cause it is no longer malaysia’s car opps
Agree 100%
Local people just caused debts for Proton. Lucky got foreigner come and help
Locals buat apa? Goyang kaki in opis?
make sure you wash your slimy putrid hands after ya
Troll bait.
Troll baited.
Troll got caught.
Yep. Becoming a tired joke.
Not so very clever are y’all?
*comment unrelated to the thread above
I needed a second look after feeling confused seeing it the first time, design kinda warms up to you but that ‘Savvy’ font needs to change
Wanna bet how many shitstorms this pointless article will bring? Firstly Proton ain’t gonna revive Savvy cause the platform only works with that small Renault engine and compact AMT gearbox.
Enough with the trollbait, Paul Tan & crew.
Proton is still losing RM4 million per day despite sales of Proton X70 being good. Only until Proton reaches 100,000 Sales YTD only can it just break even
So, I don’t know where will Proton get the research funding for this new Savvy
You simply speaking never tell the truth.
Proton X70 profit margin more than other Proton models, with 10000 units X70 sales already break even.
50% owned by Geely China, so 50% of all profits go back to China.
Proton and DRB only get half untung
50% untung better than having all profits goes back to Japan.
What big lies, Proton never announced their Profit and Loss accounts and you can already say X70 break even. Don’t lie lie
Bila nak announce P&L to rakyat?
No private company has ever the need to announce P&L to anybody but the shareholders which in this case is Geely & DRB-HICOM. You don’t own any shares, you’re the least to make such demands.
If u all dunno P&L, how come the stupid guy always said loss 4mil every month?
Proton got no money also they want to waste on all these
Proton cannot tanggung malu as they have become just a China rebadger now. So, they trying so hard to jaga muka
Aduyai…even if its revived, they wont use the ori platform lah. Dont be too shallow like our gomen pocket…
Good to have new savvy with new powertrain, till today I still own 12 yrs old savvy
New Savvy with new powertrain 1.5T gti from volvo with stick shift. Base model 1.0T
Savvy was the most problematic car in Proton’s lineup.
1st generation Myvi still on the road. Running so well. Hardly can see any Savvy on the road.
They say French engine also mahal to maintain
Savvy can fit other car manufacturer engine, don’t you forget the new proton saga is based on savvy with a boot plus some cosmetic changes.
Nope. Not really. Engines, transmission and chassis are designed to a specific requirements for mating. Savvy’s engine bay might fit in Campro VVT 1.3L but it won’t be able to fit the Punch CVT into that limited space made smaller by that larger engine.
It fits 3szve and k3vet yrv
Avenger, this is a car site. i am not interested in your anger issues. Pls post relevant comments yea
You really should take your own advice.
Why take it so personally? Are you one of them? Did I hit the nail right on the head?
Incoming trolls in 3…2 ….1…
We must thank the trolls the past 6 years. If not for them, Proton would not have been motivated to find a good partner like Geely to reinvent themselves.
Lucky the trolls put a check and balanace to Proton’s lembap and lepak attitude and gave them a wake up call
A game changing thanks for you too Richard
Later, as usual, our resident troll will sure come here and say Perodua is better than Proton for this article
People prefer PErodua because got RV. Proton got no RV
Old Savvy dropped 70% in price in the first year!
No wonder so many regret after getting Perodua and quickly dispose them. Too high Regret Value.
Why utilise Geely’s 1.0 engine? It seems we are using everything Geely. Doesn’t Proton have their own 1.0 engine to put into this new car?
It is shocking that we have to take everything from Geely. Our designers and engineers don’t design new engines continuously? Other car companies are constantly making new engines for future prospective models.
If like this, might as well Proton becomes just a reseller of Geely cars.
Thats exactly what it’s gonna become. I have no delusions, Geely wanted Lotus, it was clear from the start. Proton was forced as part of the deal. Geely agreed but aside from swallowing Proton’s debts, they’re not interested in putting money into Proton. Proton’s R&D will spend their days designing Infinite Weaves for rebadging all the Geely models. Case in point, Proton’s assembly plants are being modified to put together Geely cars.
Perodua didn’t make new engine, SH still buy.
Proton just follow Perodua did.
Perodua makes maoney. Perodua gives company tax in the tune of billions per year to LHDN the past 30 years.
Proton has been getting tax exemptions the past 20 years. Not one sen of taxes paid by Proton.
So thats the difference
The difference is whatever profits Perodua makes all goes back to Japan, which is why Perodua never pay taxes. Proton on the other hand had made profits and given millions back as taxes on profits.
So thats the difference. One makes profits and gives back to rakyat, the other makes profits but give all back to Japan.
Proton got 10,000 staff. Produce 55,000 cars per annum
Mitsubishi in Thailand got 5000 staff. Produce 350,000 cars per annum
So much time in their hands.
Not bad. Not bad at all. Now I think it’s time for the Tiara though no studio shots of that exists.
Time for a total revamp on the drive train is much needed. No use recycling the same engine from yester year. With a newer and nippier package from Geely’s backyard, P1 will definitely be rejuvenated.
The Saga itself was based in the Savvy’s chassis. You can see the obvious characteristics of it on the Saga.
Yuck.. Eww no. Just no.
waste of time effort
If Iriz is not around and it handle like the original Sawy, why not…..which means it wont happen as Iriz is around and the new sawy wont handle like the original thanks to Geely.
Iriz is B segment, savvy is A segment… Similar to Axia
NAY!
Ugly to core
I will be interested if they have latest drive train from geely too. If the price is right, this can compete with the picanto and win!
Its only miss the underwear or our pm’s nose back then (oh, he still is) at the back.
Looks like previous gen A1 haha
Sayur bergerak.
Nope! The 2nd hand Savvy is less than RM1k…
Better to bring in a new Geely product, maybe…
Geely Vision X1 to compete with Axia :p
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2018_Geely_Yuanjing_(Vision)_X1_front_8.9.18.jpg
Sorry, it looks way too dated, it’s going to be a Nay
Nay or Yay..not for us to decide..
Proton should have fired the designer and whoever approved those ugly design.
Why all proton cars so fugly one?
Looking like a Proton Tiara… Way to move backwards rather have the mimos guy designs…
Haha so funny.the one that should get the gragitude is dato seri najib razak for getting geely to make a deal with proton.but at that everyone was like oh no the proton is no longer malaysia car and has been sold to china opps
If it cheaper than Iriz, why not?
HELL NO
Im greeb savvy owner for 13 yr, i feel happy n excitee, if slow engine it is a kill off,
This car should pyt 1.0 turbo or 1.3 turbo
If not wasted the good looks
i think older one look nicer lo…..
haha…
apa tukar?
*speechless*
Definitely NAY
Nay…
Paultan.org should tukar nama kpd prototan org..
even uglier than the existing Savvy.
For now just forget about this Proton Savvy. More appropriate to propose this SAVVY to the 3rd National Car Project Company for their first 3rd National Car.
Savvy? hahaha … Tak usahlah diungkitkan kisah aib Proton ni.
Nay.. Because of its design.. Rubbish.
I would like to see rendered satria neo
Yucks!!! But the colour gives me ideas of the colour name
Green – Bok Choi Green
Orenge – Singo Pear Orangy
Blue – Yalong Blue
Yucks!!
WHY???
Nay. What a hideous looking car.
Good looking… fit with 3 cyclinder turbo engine, Proton can consider this.. ha ha ha…
Theophilus Chin > Azlano
As opposed to bashing the poor car. I bought the savvy in 2012 still own it now. 156kms on it, still drives well with decent FC. I must point out for the nonsense bashing without know the truth is pointless to keyboard warriors. The savvy was doomed to fail from day one, it made the person who secured the deal a ton of money but the rest is history. Common misconception, the AMT is not weak. Just that the training materials did not go out to the proton staff to check the clutch bite point at certain service point. No money invested on this NEW product training. If it was checked and adjusted, we wont hear about the AMT being a crappy car. Admittedly is was an early version for auto/manual tranny, but then again same can be said for early version for wet clutch transmission or even the first FI cars. Before bashing know the truth understand what happened and then comment. Comparing P1 and P2 will open another can of worms. Its not apple to apple. Another discussion for another day.
Iriz is already savvy replacement
Nay… Totally game over!
Nay… I just want proton bring back.. A new wira.. Waja.. Satria gti and putra… Please bring them…
I still use my 14 year old manual savvy. Don’t play play with my tough savvy. Camri knock my back, camri kemek. I langgar mercedes, mercedes kemek. It is the first proton car made of high tensile steel.
If that true Proton want bring back Savvy model on the road, I’m very happy about that. Last time when I drive Savvy (my sister in law car), I said “I want buy this car after I finish my study & get job.” Then before I finish study, my brother said he want change Savvy because maintenance cost & that car always have problem. I so sad about that & I very hope Proton can bring back Savvy with new design like a spotty car & low maintenance cost. Please build good engine 1.3 or 1.5 litter timing chain, not belting!
Nay. Because still using renault base. Still can see the old savvy. It’s front looks too big because of the space distance between the lamp and lower grill design is too big. At the back maybe ok. But the whole body, still look like the old savvy renault base.
Kenapa tak buat wira baru
Nay ! I own a Savvy and still driving it. But would love to have after market kits for the rear, looks very nice.