When Proton confirmed its partnership with Geely, rumours were rife that its motorsport business unit, Race Rally Research, better known as R3, was set to have its plug pulled and its staff redesignated to other divisions within the organisation.
While that didn’t happen, there has been very little activity on the R3 front since then, with the performance unit continuing to remain quiet aside from the participation of the works team in racing events such as the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) and the Sepang 1000KM (S1K) endurance race.
Product-wise, there was the Saga R3 Limited Edition and also the Iriz R3 Limited Edition from last year, but these models, made to celebrate R3’s racing successes, were simply cosmetically enhanced editions devoid of any R3 touch. All that silence has led many to believe that by and large, the days of old – and a hallowed name – are all that’s left of the sub-brand.
Well, here’s news that should cheer up fans – things are far from over, because the R3 brand is coming back, offering more than the merchandise and premium motor oils it has just introduced. Now parked under Proton Global Service (PGS), a subsidiary of Proton Edar, followers of the brand can look forward to exciting developments in the not-too-distant future.
In an interview last weekend with Proton deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah and PGS CEO Lee Yeet Chuan, it was revealed that R3 will not only be offering accessories for Proton models, but is planning to offer modification services to customers as well as produce factory-tuned performance variants of existing Proton production models down the line.
The idea, as Lee puts it, is to bring back the glory days of R3. “As you know, R3 was born out of a passion for high performance. Moving forward, we hope to bring this back with performance equipment, from accessories to vehicle tuning, which is the most important aspect. We will also look at Proton models that we can work on and sell as R3 variants,” Lee explained.
He said that initially, offerings will include R3 wheels, body kit elements and decals (in the vein of the Modulo route for Honda), but the ambition – away from R3 badged models – is to offer more performance-based services such as mechanical-related modifications and suspension tuning.
“The company actually received many enquiries from customers over the years to help them modify their cars, but at that time R3 was not business oriented, so these orders were not taken up. Now that R3 is under PGS, we want to look at a “House of R3″ type of business and provide such services to our customers, not just for new cars, but also for existing Proton owners,” he said.
While cosmetic items such as body kits and decals could come about by this year, Lee said that performance components won’t appear so soon, nor will any new model with R3 badging, due to various development processes and also obtaining relevant approvals from authorities.
“Usually to develop a new variant, it takes at least a year. This is because there are many legal processes such as vehicle type approval (VTA) from JPJ and durability testing. Even if it is only producing performance equipment, you can’t make them to sell directly – you have to do rigorous testing because they are OEM components. So it will take about a year, and you can expect at the fastest, next year,” he said.
Roslan said that in terms of a complete model, the automaker is still in the process of identifying the vehicles that R3 will work on, but they will be distinct R3 products, and not just cosmetically-enhanced variations.
“For now, we are still doing research on this, but the most important thing I told Lee is that we cannot produce an R3 model that for example, when you look at the grant, only says Proton Saga. We need to produce a model with the name R3 listed on the grant. Of course, to produce a new variant like this, a lot of additional process work needs to be done. We also need to strike a balance between the process and price – we need to sell at the right price,” he explained.
Regarding the model that will be chosen to be given this performance variant later, Roslan stated that it could be any model in the current Proton line-up. “For example, now we have the Saga, we have the Iriz, maybe we can start with these models first. Now, there are people who say why not the X50, or the X70? Of course we will look into these, because the opportunity is there, but we are still studying all possibilities. From here on, we can gauge what customers demand, what are their expectations, and will work based on that,” he said.
Roslan added that there is also the probability of Automotive Conversion Engineering (ACE) – which produces special modification models (such as the stretched Perdana limo) – contributing its expertise. The engineering firm, which is also under Proton Edar, is expected to be involved in one way or another, he said.
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when proton and geely gotten together, people dont really mind about R3. its the Lotus that we cared the most.
Even on its finest day, R3 isnt replacing the Lotus at all.
its just an Abeng in a proton uniform
R3 is not supposed to be a lotus replacement.
R3 is supposed to be the division that pushes the image of sportiness of the Proton brand as a whole. making customers excited and aspired to buy a low spec saga because it performs well and win on the racing circuit.
if ahbengness sells cars, then ahbeng it is.
And this is not just about malaysia. it is about Proton image in other countries too, if it wants to be successful exporting cars. Other asean countries like malaysia are swayed by the image of sportiness.
Which is why toyota malaysia spent millions on the vios racing series, and toyota thailand sent teams to nurburgring with their altis.
Shiok sendiri.
Honestly, for now, and for the next 3 or 5 years (It’s up for them to decide, look I’m just an ordinary customer here. But If there is a Proton Management here, please read this advice…please) Proton Better focuses on big profits and sales, good management, product quality, Fuel Consumption, and after-sales service (Yes, that one is should prioritize a lot, especially the dudes who own X50 and X70, you know lah the problems…) so that the Profit and Assets of the Company will increase and efficient…
Well, if Proton feels mature and the company’s performance is good. The funds that can be allocated focus on the R3 High-Performance Motorsport models, so that Proton fans know that Proton doesn’t have to be like you know …
Look, I’m no expert on this, those of you in management at Proton know best, better than us here lol. But remember, it’s also good to listen to good advice from customers who also support Proton, what’s wrong with that ?
Customers are the top priority, and they also want the best from everything…
The rest is up to you, what is the best for Proton’s business going forward ?
And no, I don’t hate P2. It’s just their fanboys annoying, I love both P1 and P2…
Someone asked for performance parts, well you are soon to get a whole car tune up. Howzat?
Did they say how much it will cost? Surely more expensive than the standard version.
Add on performance, manada free bro.
Org hanya nak tahu harga, bro. Bukan nak mintak free..
If people asking performance model same price as standard car that means they are asking for free lah bodoh!
Another Polestar under Geely.
so ACE is still alive? ACE built low volume cars like the classic TD2000 before. Something like the R3 Elise should be a no problem yes?
For a start, just do a R3 version of the Iriz active. Nothing drastic for VTA ease of pass.
– manual gearbox option other than auto.
– uprated absorbers, springs and anti roll bars.
– sports seats
– red seatbelts
– a real aerodynamically tuned rear wing and front spoiler
– develop Rally5 (not R5) version for international rally. there is a lack of affordable low cost FIA approved rally cars and a FIA Rally5 version of Iriz could be a money maker for R3. If skoda can sell 400+ of their fabia R5/Rally2 rally car, R3 could probably find home for at least 100 Iriz Rally5 cars.
To bypass VTA, a tuning program AFTER the vehicle has been registered can be done like the old “stage” upgrades for GTi R3. A blanket mod approval can be requested from kejuruteraan JPJ so it would be “legal” (something like engine change request but actually more lighter mod)
can use ACE to create really low volume special versions like the old Lotus R3 Neo.
probably something like 20-50 units of Iriz but with X50 turbo engine. A conversion like what proton previously did to Waja, putting 2.0 perdana V6 into the Waja chassis to create the low volume Proton Chancellor.
Now this one an interesting news to hear. Looking forward to it.
Saga turbo kit satu!
I’m about to book Saga as my daily car cuz the NVH level is so good compare to the Myvi 1.5av belongs to my father where the NVH is terrible especially during rain. But after watched this news, I’m cancelled my booking intention and just wait for this and i dont care if it would take years(since I have other car also) Really looking forward for new saga R3 with performance upgrade, Getrag manual transmission, but noise insulation still be installed just like normal saga. I also hope that this saga R3 price wouldn’t be too much different than a normal saga. Not like tht rm100k satria neo lotus racing bcz most of the youngster still have the typical average salary. Please understand that. No need tht carbon fibre stuffs, pricey suspension, etc in order to cut the price. All we wanted is an engine with reasonable high hp compare to other car. Im expecting atleast 150-180hp for saga. If cant be achieve with a 1.3 campro then put the 1.6 version. The saga R3 sepang had 190hp right? Detuned it to 150-160ish to make it realible. But if R3 could find a way to achieve even higher hp without compromising the reliability, we would happily to enjoy that(perhaps new developed engine?).