Suprima S driven

Just a week after the launch of the national carmaker’s C segment hatch, members of the media were invited to participate in the drive to Nusajaya, Johor, in nothing less than the Premium variant of the sporty new model.

There are only two variants to be found here, the other being the slightly cheaper Executive variant.
The major difference between the two though, is that the Premium has all the bells and whistles.

As it should.

The Executive comes standard with six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, GPS navigation, the Proton Infotainment System (Android based) which includes a 7-inch LCD screen, DVD player, Intergrated DSP, Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity.

There’s also steering wheel audio controls, front fog lamps, and rear parking sensors.

Meanwhile, the Premium variant ups the ante with 17-inch wheels, push-start ignition, paddle shifters, cruise control, reverse camera, auto wiper activation and headlamp, hill-hold assist, a front parking sensor, six speakers and leather seats.

The southbound journey began from the Proton Edar Sdn Bhd Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya on a sunny Saturday morning and took us through a mix of straight stretches of highways and windy roads.

It was a colourful convoy as all the colour options for the Suprima S - Fire Red, Tranquility Black, Solid White, Genetic Silver and the brand new Atlantic Blue - were unleashed for the drive.

All the colours work well here as none of it could disguise its lines and good-looking sporty shape.

While one might argue that, looks-wise, it’s pretty similar to the earlier Preve model, there are differences such as the black honeycomb grille, the sleeker front and rear bumper design (the latter incorporates the angular and aerodynamic brake lamps) and extended roofline courtesy of the roof spoiler.

There’s an ease that comes with driving the car in terms of steering, handling and performance.

The 1.6-litre CamPro turbo engine, with 140PS and a maximum torque of 205Nm, is grunty and delivers enough performance to make our drive enjoyable.

The engine only starts to get rougher once it exceeds 5,000rpm.

Mated to a smooth seven-speed ProTronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), there’s no fuss bringing the Suprima S up to speed even when I was light-footed with the accelerator.

This is a car that just wants to go regardless.

While the exhaust notes of CVT-equipped cars are notorious for being flat and hollow, the Suprima S begs to differ and has the tunes that are raspy and satisfying.

It’s a really spirited driving experience with the precise steering, responsive braking and class-leading handling.

Even around corners, body roll is minimal.

It does after all come with the Lotus-approved suspension set up which is slightly firm yet not uncomfortable for long drives.

The cabin makes you feel secure and comfortable and well insulated from vibration and noise.

A long-haul drive such as this proved to be pleasurable and I was not plagued by fatigue, a big plus in my book.

The issue I found with the interior is the build quality especially the glove compartment; it’s flimsy.

The bottom half of the centre console which houses the three knobs for climate controls is just plain.

Proton, however, has gone to great lengths to make sure the Suprima S meets international safety standards and received a five-star ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program) safety rating.

Proton has ambitious plans for the Suprima S, among which is to “uplift the brand image of Proton,” said Proton general manager for product planning & strategy Hazrin Fazail Haroon during his presentation.

It’s the right attitude to take. Even more encouraging, is that the Proton management acknowledges the problems and negative connotations it face.

It says it is ready to deal with such perceptions head-on by emphasising the needs of the customers first.
It is a step in the right direction indeed.

The Suprima S Executive and Premium are priced at RM76,688 and RM79,988 respectively on-the-road in Peninsular Malaysia.