Pour one out for the Proton Iriz, production of which has apparently ended this week with the last body, #97576, having been churned out by the Tanjong Malim plant on September 9. That’s according to the above image that has surfaced on the Proton Iriz Club Malaysia (PICM) Facebook group, quashing any hope of the hatchback receiving a Saga-style makeover.
While the national carmaker has yet to announce the news publicly (and the car is still listed on the official website), it’s likely that sales will end quietly, as was the case with the Exora MPV in 2023. This means that Proton will soon be without a hatch in its lineup for the first time since it launched the Mitsubishi Mirage-based Satria way back in 1994 (1987 if you count the Saga Aeroback, although that was more a liftback).
It’s a case of what could have been for the Iriz, which was launched with much fanfare almost exactly 11 years ago as the car that would take the Proton name overseas and save the company. You can trace the model’s roots all the way back to 2010 with the Giugiaro-designed EMAS concept (not to be confused with the eMas 7 EV that took the name 14 years later) that made headlines at the Geneva Motor Show that year.
Not much of Proton’s splashy period actually came to fruition – remember that it was also during this time that it brought range extender EVs to the UK and made the now-infamous announcement to launch five new Lotus models at the Paris show. But just three years later, the world would catch a glimpse of what the EMAS was turning into with the first spyshots of what was then known as the Global Small Car (GSC).
Yours truly joined paultan.org in early 2014, just as development of the car was properly gaining speed, with photos of disguised prototypes being sent to our inbox seemingly every week. It was a truly astonishing period as we learnt more and more about the car as the months progressed, with whispers of “Myvi killer” suggesting that Proton was serious about trying to beat Perodua at its own game.
The Iriz eventually made its debut on September 25 that year (who could forget the tagline “Betul2 Onz”?). Offered in 1.3 and 1.6 litre versions and retailing between RM42,438 to RM62,888, it was priced to tackle the Myvi head-on and specced to beat it – particularly where safety was concerned. I even managed to become one of the first people to drive the car at the launch, describing it as a promising but flawed machine.
Unfortunately for Proton, Perodua cut its legs from under it by launching the smaller and cheaper Axia just ten days before it, stealing its thunder. Only one of these two cars ever received a second generation – take a guess as to which one.
In the end, the Iriz never quite managed to meet the frankly unrealistic expectations it was burdened with. That caused a dramatic curtailing of its future plans – it never did manage to get exported to the UK, Australia or Europe (although it did end up being turned into an R5 rally car in the UK, achieving modest success), and it also never received the driver assistance package it was tested with, even as Perodua rolled out its own Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) technology across its lineup.
Neither did the Iriz receive the electric version that it was designed for – and which resulted in the car’s tallboy design – nor the sportier turbocharged engine (paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, no less) that was teased; those Proton firsts ended up going to later Geely-developed products. We still haven’t forgiven the company for denying us the pukka Iriz R3 of our dreams.
To its credit, Proton did give the Iriz several updates over time to address issues with refinement and CVT performance. These included two significant facelifts in 2019 and 2021 thanks to Geely investment, the last one turning it into a surprisingly attractive car and finally bringing the rugged-looking Active variant into production (albeit in significantly watered-down form).
The Iriz also sired a sedan version in 2016 in the shape of the third-generation Persona. That car ended up becoming more successful, repeating the effect seen on the previous model versus the Gen.2 and indicating that Proton arguably should have led with the four-door version first. As yet, there is no news about whether production of the Persona would end alongside the Iriz, although we suspect it will soldier on for a couple more years at least.
I think we’ve said enough about the Iriz, which will be fondly remembered (our own Hafriz Shah will – he even bought one!) despite not setting the sales charts on fire. Take a bow, you likeable not-so-Global Small Car, and enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
GALLERY: 2021 Proton Iriz Active in Malaysia
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A great car during when it was launched. Compared to its nearest competitor, the king Myvi, it was the better handling and comfortable car! Sadly that’s all the advantage it had, the Myvi is more economical, slightly larger inside, more practical and perceived to be cheaper to maintain, which proved the better option for its intended market. Ps: special mention goes to Iriz for being one of the earliest in the relatively cheap car segmentto be equiped with ESC, which prompted cars like Vios, City and even the way more premium Camry to have to step up
Iriz is new generation of proton which show promises. However market volume and viability of frequent design updates makes it outdated very fast. If we see Chery brand today. In less than a year already hv facelift or changes. The frequency of change is so high I doubt if proton or Japs can keep up
It was the car that saved many many lives that would otherwise be killed in a Perodua. Sadly there were more Peroduas sold hence the reason that road fatalities increased as Perodua sales increases.
If only they went with Proton instead, many would still be alive today. Sad
It was the car that saved many many lives that would otherwise be killed in a Proton Wira?
Wira was how many generations removed from Iriz? Did you type that BS comment on a 486 PC? LOL
Crap will happen whatever car it is. Blame the monkeys causing the accidents.
How a car is built determines whether survive or death and X50 have proven occupants could survive a 150 kmph crash with just scratches. That is how well built Proton cars.
how ironic , because x50 is a geely car. proton only contributed the badge and grill designs.
And since when there is ever a true Perodua own creation car? LOL
If the new saga really use new geely engine, left persona only model with proton origin.
Proton iriz nice handling b segment car but only spoiled by the miserable clutch setting punch cvt.
I don’t think persona will stay after saga release, this is because proton use 1.5 engine only for saga which lap over persona category. It’s impossible for today proton under DRB producing same engine for multiple car.
You can see multiple same engine from khazanah era but never under drb
Persona will follow soon, not forgetting the Campro engine. Perhaps.
Probably very true if S70 facelift base model comes with 1.5NA and CVT and price dip closer to below RM65K. And Saga’s new AMA model will have it’s specification well beyond Persona’s other than the size that is slightly smaller.
Persona’s spot is going to be temporarily taken by a lower specced S70 with 1.5 NA engine from the upcoming Saga.
15000 units booked even before launch…. no other models come close. That’s what was claimed lah.
Let all of us admit that the Myvi is the winner.
Agreed, Myvi was champion in taking its occupants lives with subpar safety and questionable crash rating. Well done Myvi!
Worth mentioning was that the Iriz/Persona was Proton’s last indigenous design before the Geely stake and also never got a LHD version which limited export potentials
About time la. Milked dry.
almost bought this over the myvi g2 because that car got nothing compares to the Iriz, but then the myvi g3 came out with modern safety features, final straw
If they want to retired Iriz, why not use it platform as base for new Saga?
The brother of a friend of mine was involve in a 50% overlap head on collision collision in an Iriz. The other driver fell asleep on the wheel.
Forgot what model was the other car but its a sedan.
Both survive the impact but the Iriz A pillar did not even buckle and no injury at all to the Iriz driver.
Anyway, for me the first model is let down by the CVT behavior. The rest of the car is indeed very good. Driven the latest variant of Persona and if that variant of CVT is in the 1st gen Iriz, the 1st gen will be perfect for me. Still, wont beat the Myvi…History has proven at that price bracket, fc plays a huge role.
If a pure R3 version is made available, i am sure i will have one in my garage till today. Nothing hardcore or all out. Since it wont matter in Malaysia emmission std, the 145hp tuned up CPS engine is good enough for me…manual tranny of course. Tuned the ESC to allow some tail wagging action or remove it completely as i found the chassis communicate very well with the driver. Kinda like a taller Neo CPS.
CVT was Proton poison to this Iriz model.
When it was available in just low spec manual, less consumer purchase which does not justify Proton to go ahead with R3 or higher spec manual.
Oh well… look ahead now to Saga?
No need to be so sentimental, korang tak beli pun :P
Soon, the whole Proton line-up will be all China re-branded versions. Gone are the true Malaysian ones. Syabas P1! One by one model they slowly get replaced!
Malaysia made is so shit and outdated. This whole national car thingy is a scam anyway, it is a plan to enrich the government members. So happy to see more sophisticated car replace them.
How about you built 1 first, built a car is not as easy as build house. There’s many mechanical part need to be tested
ugly and cheap looking car finally have its life ended.
Parasite killing host slowly and then merebak.
P1 losing money, you cried about incompetence.
P1 making money, you cried for independence.
Haters like you gonna hate no matter what.
parasite spreading and killing host, sounds a lot like east coast kelantan/kedah/terenganu they protesting against concerts and dragging down our economy spreading their poison ideology across the nation
Tutup ja la kilang Proton and Perodua. I studied hard in my younger days then I made in my career then suddenly Malaysia introduced our own and because of the protection, imported cars became too expensive. Now I am semi-retired and still cant afford a brand new imported. Thanks to local cars and the politician that coined the ideas. Government should impose a law where all parliament members can only drive local cars and none others. Fair kan?
Its good to study hard, no doubt in that.
Ever wonder why others with ‘lesser study’ than u can afford imported model and change it every couple of years?
Its because they work smart.
Apparently u did not ‘made in your career’ i guess.
will become a collector car in 100 years time
So proton iriz is discontinue
Not even 100k units over a period of 10 years is actually non performing. A waste of time, money and effort.
I have nothing to comment
Typical old proton mentality.
Thanks to china ceo, they survived
Iriz would be more successful f designed more ahead then myvi specced that time. The boot space marginally larger and then being overtake by new myvi. The engine that not receiveing EEV status and all hated by journalist CVT is the main failure. It would be aucceasful if IRIZ was using Toyota/perodua engine…still missing my previous Iriz but due to fuel consumption and afraid of CVT reliability, sold it for good.
Good handling and solid build quality, but let down by a poor CVT and outdated design. Glad to see it go. Hoping Proton introduces a stylish hatchback inspired by the Peugeot 208 or the latest Renault Clio.