SUBANG JAYA, Team PROTON R3 demonstrated total domination with a 1-2 finish at the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race 2014 by leading from start to finish. The No.12 Proton Prevé driven by Tengku Djan Ley & Syafiq Ali took the chequered flag after 181 laps with the No.11 Proton Suprima S driven by James Veerapen & Tengku Ezan Ley finishing in a close 2nd. Both cars with no "team orders" battled it out all the way to the end of the race with an incredible 0.42 seconds separating them as they crossed the finish line.

The PROTON R3 team set several records on their way to victory with the fastest qualifying time of 2 minutes 36.8s and a new lap record for the “Malaysian Touring Car” class race car. The 1000 km race distance was also completed in a record time of 8 hours and 17 minutes which saw faster overall lap times and the dry weather contributing to this achievement.

Last year's winner, Honda Malaysia Racing Team finished in 3rd and 4th with their brand new Honda Jazz and Honda City race cars showing consistent pace.

This victory marks the 2nd time Team PROTON R3 has won the coveted Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race and also their 2nd 1-2 finish.

- More affordably priced with the same engine performance

SUBANG JAYA, PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today unveiled and introduced its Proton Suprima S Standard which is priced as low as RM69,438.

Powered by PROTON's 1.6L Turbo engine and mated with PROTON’s 7-speed ProTronic CVT, the Suprima S Standard delivers power and torque equivalent to a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. The 1.6L power produces 140PS at 5000rpm, and with a maximum torque of 205Nm from 2000 to 4000rpm while its driving dynamics is enhanced with Lotus Ride and Handling.

The Lotus Ride and Handling developed exclusively for the Suprima S range give it exceptional dynamics. Whether it’s tackling the city streets or a winding country road, the agile chassis of the Proton Suprima S Standard delivers an incomparable driving experience and enjoyment behind the wheel every time.

"The introduction of the Suprima S Standard is a reflection of PROTON's commitment to our customers in not just meeting their demands, but to continue to produce a variety of products that offer driving enjoyment and satisfaction, " said Dato’ Abdul Harith.

Occupant protection and safety is primary with PROTON, and it starts with the Reinforced Safety Structure. Just like the Premium and Executive variants of the Suprima S launched in 2013, the bodyshell is manufactured using an advanced hot press forming process, giving it ultra high tensile strength to make it more capable of absorbing impact force and at the same time lighter weight, which aids better fuel consumption.

Dato’ Abdul Harith added that PROTON had always been engaged in planning and undertaking means and ways to reduce cost whilst improving quality of its vehicles. The introduction of the Suprima S Standard is part of PROTON’s effort to continuously provide a better value-for-money, and affordable cars to Malaysians.

The Suprima S Standard, among others is fitted with 16” inch alloy wheels, 2-din radio with CD player and MP3 with USB connection without touchscreen, power steering, manual side mirror control, side turn signal integrated with side mirror and dual airbag.

The model is available in five colours; Tranquility Black, Solid White, Genetic Silver, Atlantic Blue and Fire Red. The Suprima S Standard comes with a five-year or 150,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

The booking fee for the Suprima S Standard is RM300, and customers can view the car today onwards at all PROTON showrooms in the Peninsular. For customers in East Malaysia, the new variant will be made available at showrooms from 18 December 2014.

Proton Suprima S Standard On the road prices:
  • An SPM student from SMK Taman Melawati and a graduate of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore bagged the Championship in the inaugural PROTON Design Competition 2014.
  • Competition to act as a good platform and open doors of opportunity for Malaysian youngsters to showcase their talents in automotive design.
KUALA LUMPUR, Success was all the sweeter for two students from different backgrounds, and age groups, Muhammad Amiruddin Abu Bakar and Pow Ying Hern who bagged the Championship in their respective categories in the PROTON Design Competition 2014 against over 300 other submissions across the nation.

Muhammad Amiruddin, 17 is an SPM student from SMK Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, while Ying Hern, 25 is a Degree Holder in Product Design at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and a Master Holder certificate in Car Design Course from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy. Although both of them had only 8 weeks to submit their entry for the competition, they managed to submit winning entries by making sure their submissions meet the criteria by providing design brief to include the title and design concept; unique selling proposition of the car and to propose the engine system. Contestants are required to design the exterior outlook of the car which include the ¾ front and rear view and the side view. In addition for Category 2, the contestants are required to design the interior outlook of the car as well. To win, their designs would definitely have to be outstanding than the rest. Four (4) guiding principles such as originality, innovation, aesthetics and presentation were evaluated and considered by the judges. Muhammad Amiruddin won for Category 1 (secondary pupils aged 13 to 17 years old), while Ying Hern for Category 2 (college students and youths aged 18 to 25 years old).

Their moment of triumph was made even more memorable when they receive their prizes from YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chairman, PROTON Holdings Berhad, at a special ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur today.

The competition, challenged students to design what they envisioned to be the upcoming Proton city cars in the years to come. It is also held as a platform to expose Malaysian youths to the world of automotive design and nurture their interest at a young age.

Commenting on the design competition, Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON said the competition received 337 entries in which 158 submissions are for Category 1, while 179 are for Category 2.

"Many of the entries comprised of modern and sophisticated designs. There seems to be a high level of interest in automotive design in Malaysia and we hope this competition serves as the initial platform for students in Malaysia to challenge their creativity and abilities. It is my hope that the PROTON Design Competition will be the catalyst to the growth of the automotive industry in Malaysia especially in the area of automotive design," he added.

"We feel that there is so much potential in the students and the quality of their submissions. Of course, we could see that there is so much to improve too in terms of their exposure to the world of automotive but that is alright, because this competition is fairly new in the country. The winner for Category 2 would benefit from the internship at PROTON Design and we foresee that in years to come, the knowledge transfer and exposure to young Malaysians can further boost the knowledge and competency in the quality of submissions. We won't be surprised that young Malaysians can excel in this area internationally, if we nurture them well and look into this long term," he added further.

Sessions of shortlisting were held to carefully select outstanding pieces for the two categories and a final round of selecting the best 10 from each category was carried out.

The judging panel for the competition comprised of representatives from the senior management of PROTON's Design, Group Communications, Group Marketing, Branding & Motorsports, and Product Strategy divisions. Apart from that, the panel of judges also consist of representatives from Paultan.org (media partner for PROTON Design Competition 2014); Dr Shahriman Zainal Abidin, Senior Lecturer in the Industrial Design Department of UiTM's Faculty of Art & Design and En Azlan Othman, PROTON's Chief Designer who led the panel of judges.

The Champion in Category 1 receives a unit of MacBook Air and RM3,000 cash; first-runner up receives a unit of MacBook Air and RM2,000 cash; and second-runner up gets a unit of MacBook Air and RM1,500 cash. Seven other consolation winners receive RM500 cash.

For Category 2, the Champion receives a unit of MacBook Pro and RM5,000 cash, while first-runner up receives a unit of MacBook Pro and RM3,000 cash. The second-runner up receives a unit of MacBook Pro and RM2,000 cash while seven consolation winners each receive RM1,000 cash. The Champion, Pow Ying Hern also won the Chairman's Award which entitles him to an internship with PROTON Design and a special trophy.


SUBANG JAYA, For Team Proton R3, the Sepang 1000KM (S1K) Endurance Race is the finale of a long and tough season on the race track. This year, the team finished 2nd in the Malaysian Touring Car category in the 2014 Malaysian Super Series championship. It has been an extremely competitive year battling with strong competitors in the form of private teams Tedco Racing and R Engineering and their Satria Neo Race Cars.

The biggest competition is expected to come from the 2013 Sepang 1000KM Champion, Honda Malaysia Racing Team who will be featuring their brand new Jazz and City racing cars.

Proton R3 will once again run their now familiar Proton Suprima S and Proton Prevé race cars. After a difficult start to the season, the team has worked hard to improve the performance of both cars and have been rewarded with a 1st and 2nd finish in the recently concluded round 5, the final round of the 2014 Malaysian Super Series.

“The no.12, Proton Preve R3 will be driven by the pairing of Tengku Djan Ley and Syafiq Ali. In car no.11, Proton Suprima S R3, James Veerapen will be joined by a newcomer to the team, Tengku Ezan Ley, who is a former driver for Honda Malaysia Racing Team. He will make his first appearance for Proton R3 since 2006.

2014 marks the fifth edition of the Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race since its inception. The Race will feature flat-out racing for 1000KM around the 5.543km Formula 1 circuit with pit-stops and driver changes adding to the drama. The Race attracts competitors from Australia, Thailand and Indonesia. The race cars themselves are based on locally available production models from Proton, Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Mazda and are instantly recognisable by fans.



JOHOR BAHRU, As part of its aggressive on-going nationwide transformation exercise to improve its service centres and the upgrade of its network’s facilities and services, PROTON Holdings Bhd (PROTON) today held a symbolic event and officiated the new look to one of its largest 3S service outlets in Pasir Gudang.

The centre, known as Kulis Auto Sdn Bhd, is an authorised PROTON dealer since the past nine years. With the initial building cost of RM5 million, the 3S Service Centre has been serving customers in Johor Bahru (JB) as well as the surrounding areas such as the towns of Kota Tinggi, Plentong, Johor Jaya, Masai and Ulu Tiram.

PROTON Edar Sdn Bhd's Chief Executive Officer, Encik Norzahid Mohd Zahudi said the 3S Service Centre enables the company to tap into the growing demand for Proton cars in Johor. As it is, this impressive 2.0 acre facility features an area with customer lounge facilities, a meeting room, Astro and free high-speed WiFi internet in addition to a service centre equipped with eight service bays and the capacity to service up to 15 cars a day.

“Last year Proton cars market expanded to 14% in this state. So far in 2014, we have seen the demand for Proton brands in Johor increasing, keeping our marque in line with other brands,” he said.

In the event, this PROTON 3S Service Centre saw the unveiling of PROTON’s new logo from the rebranding exercise it underwent in 2013. The new CEO of PROTON Edar, En Norzahid Mohd Zahudi was tasked to see through that all PROTON authorised outlets make the necessary changes to keep the look and feel of the brand consistent. This is part of the national automotive manufacturer’s transformation plan which has also seen the launch of a recently upgraded 4S service outlet in Sungai Petani, Kedah. All other PROTON outlets are currently carrying out this initiative nationwide.

In conjunction with the event, two units of Iriz were presented to their proud owners.

Adding more cheer to Johoreans, PROTON is currently offering its customers a special promotion package known as “My PROTON Family” that allows current Proton owners to purchase another Proton car with a loyalty discount of 5%. Apart from that, all new cars come with three years free service and up to five years free warranty.

En. Norzahid said, PROTON valued the support of its loyal customers and wanted to show its appreciation by giving the privilege. “The offer is also extended to the Proton car owner’s father, mother, spouse and children. This means that their next Proton car does not necessarily have to be registered under the existing customer’s name,” he said.

PROTON currently has 270 service outlets nationwide with 16 outlets upgraded to 4S centres. For a start, 47 outlets have started opening 7 days a week starting 10 October 2014, whilst the rest will follow suit by January 2015, gradually.

Customers are advised to call PROTON We-Care at 1-800-888-398 for details of the participating service centres nearest to them or visit www.proton.com for the list of participating service centres. As higher volume of customers are expected during the weekend in some areas, customers are advised to make an appointment.




SUBANG JAYA: National automotive manufacturer Proton, opens its second 4S (Sales, Service, Spare parts and Spray paint) centre in the northern region of Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Operated by Mercu Usaha Mesra Corporation (MUMC), the facility - previously a 1S outlet occupying a two shop-lot facility, now occupies a new building on 78,000 square feet of land.

According to Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah, the company is looking to instigate improvements at all levels, with efforts concentrated at providing quality services and convenience to all its customers.

One such convenience is having its service centres open seven days a week in the more urban or busy areas after having identified a trend pointing to Proton owners preferring to service their vehicle over the weekend.

Beginning Oct 10, 40 service centre outlets will begin operating on all seven days, while the remaining centres will gradually follow suit by January 2015.

"People have said to me that producing good quality cars do not suffice if we fail to see the much needed improvements in our after-sales-services team, and we agree,” said Harith.

Proton currently has 270 service outlets nationwide - 16 of which are 4S centres.
TANJUNG MALIM: The new Proton Iriz promises class-leading comfort and safety features as well as being easy on the pocket.

The B-segment five-door hatchback was launched by Proton chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Proton City in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

Also present were Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Hamim Samuri, and Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah, and DRB-Hicom Bhd chairman Datuk Syed Mohamad Syed Murtaza.

The five-door hatchback is billed as having specifications and equipment that are on par with or exceed non-national cars.

Its size pits it against B-segment cars like the Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

The Iriz has new 1.3 and 1.6-litre engines with VVT (variable valve timing).

The 1.3-litre Iriz comes in entry-grade Standard and mid-grade Executive variants, while the 1.6-litre Iriz has Executive and high-grade Premium variants.

For all variants, the transmission is either a Getrag-sourced 5-speed manual or a 6-speed CVT (continuously variable transmission) from Punch Powertrain.

All Iriz variants come standard with ESC (electronic stability control), ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), traction control, brake assist, HHA (hill hold assist), and a SBR (seat belt reminder) system for all seat belts.

The Asean NCAP has awarded the Iriz a five-star rating in Adult Occupant Protection and four-star rating in Child Occupant Protection.

Dr Mahathir said Proton has received 17,000 bookings for the Iriz to date. Deliveries to customers are expected to start in mid-October.

"The mindset in Proton today is to produce cars that can be sold anywhere in the world," said Dr Mahathir.

"We are improving our quality to meet the stringent requirements of foreign markets. During the development of the Iriz, we tested the car in winter conditions in Sweden and also, in extreme desert environment where temperature was 42 degrees Celsius.

"The Iriz also ran for 100,000km in endurance testing. You will find driving the Iriz a great pleasure. It is the best car I have driven out of Proton."

On-the-road prices start from RM42,438 and the highest grade variant is retailed at RM62,888.




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SHAH ALAM: The upcoming Proton Compact Car (PCC) will have class-leading comfort and safety features, as well as attractive price tags and after-sales packages.

During a recent media preview at the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam, we were told the five-door hatchback has specifications and equipment that are on par with or exceed non-national cars, but prices will be at national car levels.

We also learned that the PCC has a length of 3,905mm and wheelbase of 2,555mm which pits it against B-segment cars like the Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

It is due to be officially launched on September 25 at Proton City in Tanjung Malim, Perak.


"The PCC is not a small A-segment car. This is why it is now referred to as the PCC, instead of the GSC (Global Small Car) which was used earlier," said Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah.

Abdul Harith said the PCC took four years and RM500mil to develop.

"It uses a new platform, and has new 1.3 and 1.6-litre engines with VVT (variable valve timing). Hopefully, this is the game changer for Proton and also, our export programme," he said.

The 1.3-litre PCC comes in entry-grade Standard and mid-grade Executive variants, while the 1.6-litre PCC has Executive and high-grade Premium variants.

For all variants, the transmission is either a Getrag-sourced 5-speed manual or a 6-speed CVT (continuously variable transmission) from Punch Powertrain.

According to Proton chief technical officer (group engineering) Abdul Rashid Musa, the new 1.6-litre VVT engine outputs 107hp at 5,750rpm and 150Nm of torque at 3,750rpm.   

"It is quite torquey and responsive," he said.

Kerb weight ranges from 1,150kg to 1,175kg.

"It is also the most fuel-efficient Proton car, being the first to achieve a fuel economy rating of below 7 litres per 100km," said Abdul Rashid.   

The PCC's fuel consumption on the combined cycle (New European Driving Cycle or NEDC) is said to be 6.5 and 6.7 litres per 100km for the 1.3 and 1.6-litre (manual transmission) units respectively.

The PCC also uses an EPS (electric power steering) which reduces fuel consumption (up to 5%) and steering effort.


Meanwhile, the PCC also sets new benchmarks for safety in its class.

"We want Proton to be known for safety," said Abdul Rashid.    

All PCC variants come standard with ESC (electronic stability control), ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), traction control, brake assist, HHA (hill hold assist), and a SBR (seat belt reminder) system for all seat belts.

There are also ISOFIX attachment points for child safety seats.

Abdul Rashid pointed out the PCC uses HPF (Hot Press Forming) for ultra high strength steel.

"To reduce insurance costs, Thatcham vehicle security standards are applied," he added.

Meanwhile, Proton chief designer Azlan Othman said the PCC was designed at Proton facilities in Shah Alam.

"The design concepts are stylish and sporty. Exterior features can include projector headlamps, dual-function DRLs (day-time running lights), rear LED lights, and an integrated roof spoiler."

Azlan also noted that the PCC has many Proton "firsts", including wing mirrors on the front doors which "gives more space to the glass area and better visibility for the driver".


Executive and Premium units can come with a rear spoiler, diffuser and body kit.   

The Premium variant has 15-inch alloy wheels, DRLs, leather upholstery, keyless entry and six airbags.

Other variants get 14-inch wheels and fabric seats.

On the pilot production cars (close to final production models) previewed by the media, we noticed that tyres are sized 195/55 R15 (Premium variants) and 175/65 R14 (non-Premium variants).

Features which are likely to be exclusive for the Premium variant include Follow Me Home lights, a reverse camera and 6.2-inch touchscreen.     

There are also two additional power ports (1.5A and 2.1A) to charge smartphones and tablets.  

The PCC has front disc brakes and rear drums, while its suspension uses a MacPherson strut front and rear torsion beam.

Features include a 4-door power window system with one-touch auto up/down for the driver's window, as well as bottle holders within the rear door bins.

The PCC comes in seven colours including two new and exclusive colours - Citrus Green and Silver Moon Dust.
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SUBANG JAYA: The Proton Compact Car will be the top lucky draw prize at the national car maker's open day from Sept 27-28.

Proton's latest model is expected to be launched on Sept 25.

Proton is opening its headquarters to the public on Sept 27-28 in a move to highlight its  automotive technology and engineering capabilities.

The Proton open day themed "Alami Proton" (Experience Proton)  will also offer showcase the national car maker's  test rides of Proton cars, R3 and Lotus as well as demo of the cars, and the opportunity to take a tour of the Research and Development (R&D) and Medium Volume Factory (MVF) plant facilities.

The two-day event will also feature shows and concerts by local artistes as well as family activities such as wall-climbing, foosball and face-painting.

The event will be held from Sept 27 (10am till 10pm) to Sept 28 (10am till 6pm) and the open day will feature numerous activities such as wall-climbing, laser tag, karting, foosball, video games and air hockey, to name a few.

The main highlight of the event will be the lucky draw, with the top prize being the Proton Compact Car on the night of Sept 27.

Other lucky draw prizes such as bicycles and motorcycles will also be up for grabs throughout the weekend.

“Our main objective is to open our doors to the public for a lifetime opportunity to view for themselves the engineering advancements and technology used in the making of Proton cars,” said Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah.
SUBANG JAYA: National car manufacturer Proton Holdings Bhd has launched a fund raising effort for the war victims in Gaza.

The effort will run till Sept 25 and is part of Proton’s Corporate Responsibility, which is in collaboration with PGPF (Perdana Global Peace Foundation).

The Founder and president of PGPF and chairman of Proton Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the programme today.

The fund raising exercise is a way for Proton to show its support against war and crimes of war, according to CEO of Proton Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah.

The fundraising drive will involve teams of Proton Suprima S cars with Drive For Gaza liveries and driven by Proton’s Roving Team on Mondays and Thursdays into high traffic areas.

The public may make donations via the donation boxes placed at all 221 Proton sales outlets and 270 service outlets nationwide.

For those who wish to donate via cheque, contributions must be made under the name, Perdana Global Peace Foundation and sent directly to Proton’s Group Communications, at Proton Holdings Berhad, Centre of Excellence, KM33.8 Westbound Shah Alam Expressway, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

For direct contribution to PGPF, donations can be banked in to PGPF's Maybank account no - 5641 0041 5711.
SHAH ALAM, National automotive manufacturer PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today introduced the new executive variant of the best-selling Saga and Persona cars.

The Saga Executive and Persona Executive are enhanced cosmetically which are expected to appeal to the younger market, be it singles or those with a young family. The Persona Executive will also see the introduction of Elegant Brown, a new colour added to its existing collection of six colours as part of its colour options.

Enhancements to the Persona Executive include a new body kit, leather seats, 15" rims, steering with audio switches, 4G wi-fi (subject to 1-year free limited usage*), front fog lamps, rear spoiler, body colour door handles, chrome front and rear decorative wings, and driver seat height adjuster, whereas the Saga Executive receives enhancements with new special edition monotone body kits, satin black center panel console, satin black aircond vent, satin black inner door handle, metallic warm grey front fog lamp garnish, smokey-coloured rear combi light and leather seats.

"In our commitment to continuously improve our range of cars, the enhanced version of both our best-selling cars will provide our customers value-for-money options without compromising on comfort, safety, performance and quality," said Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer.

"We have had tremendous success with the Proton Saga SV and Persona SV, and we hope to create a market demand and entice Malaysians with the enhanced variant. There are some notable upgrade to the Executive variant like audio switches on the steering wheel of the Persona Executive and a 4G wi-fi huddle* while the Saga Executive gets a nice boost to their audio player. The audio player on the Saga Executive has bluetooth capabilities equipped with a microphone to allow drivers to receive calls on their smartphone hands-free thus, ensuring one of the most important safety aspects to the driving experience, " Dato' Abdul Harith added.

The Proton Saga Executive and Persona Executive are now officially open for booking nationwide but display units in the showrooms in Sabah and Sarawak will only be available on 17 July 2014. Six colours are available for the Saga Executive: Tranquility Black, Fire Red, Genetic Silver, Blue Rock, Solid White and Elegant Brown. As for the Persona Executive, there are seven colours to choose from: Tranquility Black, Fire Red, Genetic Silver, Solid White, Elegant Brown (new colour), Bronze Garnet and Chiffon Green. Both the Saga and Persona Executive come in the standard AT and MT. The Saga Executive comes with a three-year or 60,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first) while the Persona Executive comes with a two-year or 50,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

"Apart from the manufacturing warranty, we are also offering three years free service to successful registrations. This would be a good time for you to upgrade and have the chance to balik kampung in style for Raya with a new vehicle,“ he added further.

For more information, customers are invited to visit any PROTON Showroom nationwide.

*The 4G wi-fi huddle is a pre-paid service subject to a 12-month package with a service provider. Coverage of service and data package applies.


On the road prices – comparison between the price of Saga Executive and Saga SV



On the road prices – comparison between the price of Persona Executive and Persona SV

 
SUBANG JAYA, 23 June 2014 - PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today launched the “PROTON Design Competition 2014", inviting Malaysian youths around the country to come up with car designs with the theme #PROTONCITYCAR2020. The competition will take place from 24 June 2014 to 4 August 2014.

Malaysians aged between 13 to 25 are eligible to enter the competition which seeks to expose Malaysian youths to the world of car design and provide a platform for them to showcase their talent. Attractive prizes await the winners which includes cash reward, MacBook complete with design software and an internship at PROTON's R&D Creative Design Centre.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah, the Competition is one of the ways that the Company is looking at to creatively interact with the younger generation.

“We believe that there are a lot of talented Malaysians, so we would like to provide a channel for them to illustrate their ability in car design and hope to encourage aspiring future car designers. This Competition will also give PROTON the opportunity to connect with the youth, and as we build the cars for the future, we want young Malaysians to be part of the journey".

"The automotive industry is continuously evolving, the same goes for car design. That is why we are looking for those designs that not only takes into account the basic aspects of vehicle design, but also creatively integrate imaginative and innovative future concepts based on the given theme #PROTONCITYCAR2020” he added.

Only Malaysians with a valid Malaysian identity card are eligible to participate in the Competition. The Competition will be divided into two categories; Category 1, for individuals within the age of 13-17 and Category 2, for individuals within the age of 18-25. Group entries are not allowed.

All participants are required to design rendering sketches of exterior outlook of the car in an A3 size paper inclusive of 3/4 front view, side view and rear view perspectives. In addition for the Category 2 participants, they are also required to design the interior outlook of the car.

For the entry to qualify, participants must also provide a Design Brief in an A4 size paper containing the title of the design, the design concept, unique selling proposition of the car and the proposed engine system (e.g. petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric, etc.).

Participants can submit a maximum of three (3) designs, either via mail, or online at the Competition website, citycar2020@proton.com. Entry forms for the competition is available on the website and at selected PROTON outlets nationwide.
KUALA LUMPUR: Proton's immediate plan would be to change its strategy from being a maker of cheap cars to become a world-standard car manufacturer, said newly appointed chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The fourth prime minister said Proton has always been labelled as a cheap or poor quality car maker.

"Now Proton wants to produce cars which are of world standard, but you have to pay a higher price.

"You can't have a good car and pay a bad car price," he told reporters when asked about his immediate plan for Proton.

Earlier on Monday, Dr Mahathir, who is Human Life Advancement Foundation (HLAF) chairman, delivered the keynote address and launched the HLAF Annual Award and Workshop at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

He said when Proton produced the Preve and Suprima car models, which are of good quality but sell for RM80,000, people claimed the price was too high for Proton.

"The next car of the same quality is RM120,000. You (consumers) want to have cheap cars ok, Proton can produce cheap cars," Dr Mahathir said.

Asked if Proton would continue to produce cheap cars, Dr Mahathir replied: "Proton have to make a living. If consumers want cheap cars Proton will make cheap cars, they run three miles and break down."

Responding to a question if Proton has approached the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Petronas for any funds, he said the car maker had never asked for funding.

Asked if he himself as Proton chairman would approach either for funding, Dr Mahathir replied: "No way, because Proton is a private company now and it is able to make progress in research and development."

Dr Mahathir also said the government was now encouraging importation of cars rather than encouraging local industries.

"When you import cars, money flows out and you don't get any technology from them," he added.

Asked if Proton needs government aid, he said former South Korean President Park Chung Hee during his tenure called up 12 individuals and told them they must go into industry and he would provide the loans and funds.

These companies, like Hyundai, LG and Daewoo, were private companies and their government fully helped them, and because of that today they do not need government help anymore, he added. - Bernama

SHAH ALAM: Proton is having a promotion this month ahead of Ramadan and Raya.

It is dangling cash rebates of up to RM8,000 on selected models.

In addition, it is offering 3 years free service and interest rates from as low as 2.70%.

The nationwide promotion ends on June 30.
PETALING JAYA: Proton Holdings Bhd is in for challenging times ahead as it critically needs to develop new technology to remain competitive and win back lost market share, says CIMB Research.

The research house highlighted in a report that the national carmaker’s market share had fallen to 21.2% in 2012 from 26% in 2011.

“Year-to-date April 2014, Proton’s market share slid even further to 19%. Proton needs to address this problem fast,” it said, adding that the company’s upcoming global small car, slated for launch in the fourth quarter of this year, was key to Proton’s “long-term survival”.

“If the model is successful, it will enable Proton to regain some of its market share, buy time for its long-term business plan, and underpin (parent company) DRB-Hicom’s commitment to seriously turn Proton around. Proton just cannot fail with this model.” pro-for-main00.jpg

The research house added that developing new technology on a continuous and consistent basis was also a challenge for Proton.

“Its lack of economies of scale is a major hindrance, as it is not able to bring down the unit price of its vehicles as its development costs are spread across a smaller number of units compared with its foreign competitors, thus resulting in uncompetitive pricing for its vehicles.

“We believe the best way forward is to collaborate with a credible foreign partner to develop its new models,” CIMB Research said.

One industry observer pointed out that Proton needed to further develop its sales network to become more successful.

“A strong sales network is crucial, especially within the automotive industry. Whether the model is good or not, if you don’t have a strong network, you’ll have difficulty selling that product.”

All eyes are also on the carmaker following the appointment of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its chairman last month. The 88-year-old Mahathir has been Proton’s group adviser since the late 2003.

CIMB Research said it was neutral on Mahathir’s appointment as company chairman.

“With his influence and connections, we believe he will be able to help Proton especially in negotiations with policymakers and possible foreign partners.

“However, we believe the problems with Proton are structural problems that go way beyond the top-level management issues.

“As the automotive industry is basically a volume game, Proton is in desperate need to come up with a line of new models with competitive quality and pricing to enable it to regain its domestic market share and penetrate the export markets profitably,” it said.

BEIJING: Proton will work together with China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd to expand its market in the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the national carmaker and Geely were now discussing the matter after agreeing to explore the idea last month.

"The areas of cooperation could include vehicle design, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, import and distribution for Asean and the China markets,” Najib told  reporters here on Thursday.

The prime minister said if Proton and Geely were to work together, the Malaysian car maker would produce cars based on Geely designs.

Geely cars are mostly sold in China.

As of April 4 last year, the company's total market capitalisation was US$3.9 billion. - Bernama

TOKYO: Proton Holdings Bhd, the national carmaker, is negotiating with several Japanese car manufacturers on the prospects of future collaborations, Proton Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday.

However, any strategic collaboration was unlikely to include Mitsubishi, one of the leading japanese car makers, said the former prime minister.

"We are looking at other Japanese automotive makers. Right now we are cooperating with Honda," said Dr Mahathir when responding to a question from a Japanese journalist on whether Proton would continue its collaboration with Mitsubishi.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir, who is also Proton founder, delivered a keynote address at the seminar themed "Investment and Trade Opportunity in Kedah."

"Proton's performance can be improved and we will look closely at how we can continue to export our cars," he said.

In October 2012, Proton entered a collaboration with Honda Motor Company Ltd to explore collaborative opportunities in technology enhancement, new product line-up and sharing of vehicle platforms and facilities.

Following the collaboration, the second generation Proton Perdana was unveiled in December 2013 as the successor to the original Proton Perdana.

Dr Mahathir also said the Malaysian automotive market was small and in order to expand, Proton would have to concentrate on exports.

"We are going to look closely at the countries that we can export our cars so that the production can be increased as we have a big production capacity, which is not utilised," he said.

He said Proton would like to invite Japanese automotive companies to come to Malaysia as Proton itself could offer quite a big part of its production plant to any investors who would like to produce cars in Malaysia.

Earlier, in his keynote address, Dr Mahathir said Japanese car makers could look at Kedah where an automotive hub was being planned.

"In Kedah, Japanese investors can benefit from the good labour force and the supply of rubber materials from both Malaysia and (neighbour) Thailand," he added. - Bernama
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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that he will be appointed Chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd.
The official announcement is expected to be made tomorrow.

"My plan is to work with Proton, and make it (Proton) a success," he told reporters before the Asian Banker Annual Leadership Achievement Awards Dinner 2014 here tonight.

A news report on Tuesday said that Dr Mahathir will be appointed Proton Chairman, which was seen as DRB-Hicom Bhd's boldest move in its effort to transform Proton's sliding fortunes since it took the company private in 2012.

Since going private, DRB-Hicom has been trying to address it's slide by focusing on radical transformation measures for Proton's management and the appointment of Dr Mahathir is seen as a coup, given the former Prime Minister's deep knowledge and influence in the industry
and  government.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the current advisor to the country's pioneer carmaker since retiring as Prime Minister in 2003, however, did not comment on whether the current executive Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil would withdraw from his post.

The news report also said that Dr Mahathir will also be appointed as Chairman of Proton's wholly-owned subsidiary, Lotus Plc, and was understood to have accepted both appointments.

At its peak, Proton, which had produced more than 3.5 million vehicles from its plants in Shah Alam, Selangor, and Tanjung Malim, Perak, held up to 85 per cent of the domestic car market.

However, a combination of factors including liberalisation ?of the domestic market with the influx of cheap foreign imports, competition from Perodua and the revised National Automotive Policy, among others, contributed towards Proton's slide.

Currently, Proton's domestic market share stood at about 22 per cent while export was relatively negligible.

Meanwhile, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd Head of the Shariah Division Mohd Nazri Chik was the winner of the Asian Banker Promising Young Banker Awards among seven other winners from regional countries.

The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards is widely acknowledged by the financial services industry as the highest possible accolade available to professionals and banks in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. -- BERNAMA
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KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Preve and Suprima S has been awarded a five-star ratings in the Asean New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP).

The announcement of the awards was made by Asean NCAP at the Phase III Result Launch 2014 in Malacca, which was also held in conjunction with the 2014 Global NCAP Forum in Melbourne, said Proton in a statement.

Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said Proton's drive to change the public perception about the brand and quality of Proton cars was reinforced by the latest achievement.

 "As we have reiterated time and time again, our models are not just affordable but more importantly we want our customers to know that our products are of international quality and standards," he said.

Abdul Harith also said out of the 12 cars tested for Asean NCAP safety standards during Phase III, Proton came in a close second in the results.

 "The well-being, comfort and safety of our customers when driving Proton cars has always been, and continue to be our top priority. So when the Proton Preve and Proton Suprima S were developed, we challenged ourselves to produce a car with high safety standards." - Bernama 
PROTON Holdings Berhad (“PROTON”) today announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as the new Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, effective 1 May 2014. Lotus is a wholly owned subsidiary of PROTON and a member of the DRB-HICOM Group.

A known industry player, Gales has held several significant positions with numerous global automotive manufacturers. Prior to his new appointment at Lotus, Gales was Chief Executive Officer of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (“CLEPA”) since 2012, where he played a key role in turning around the association through various strategic initiatives, including streamlining the working processes and increasing corporate members from 82 to 112. Gales also established a lobbying strategy with the European Parliament and European Commission, and helped define the Industry Research & Innovation Strategy and Roadmap for 2025.

Before joining CLEPA, Gales was the President of Automobiles Citroen and Automobiles Peugeot between 2009 to 2012, where he restructured the entire sales value chain and implemented a new brand strategy for the DS Line and introduced the Citroen DS in major markets around the world. During his tenure there, the Company delivered record retail sales in 2009 and 2010.

Gales' other previous appointments include several senior positions in Daimler AG, General Motors and Volkswagen AG.

Aslam Farikullah, current Chief Operating Officer of Group Lotus plc, remains as Member of the Board of Lotus Cars Limited and will continue to contribute to the growth of the business in the future.

PROTON Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah is pleased to welcome Gales to the Group. "This is an exciting time for Lotus, and Jean-Marc's appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, especially taking into account our plans for Lotus. We believe that with his strong technical and managerial expertise and leadership, Jean-Marc will be able to drive the Lotus transformation plan and further enhance Lotus' business and capabilities.”

Jean-Marc Gales is married and has one daughter.

Jean-Marc Gales

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Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah
PETALING JAYA: Proton, which confirmed Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah as its chief executive officer, will be overhauled.

“We want to make cars people want,” said Proton chairman Tan Sri Khamil Mohd Jamil.

In speaking broadly about Proton, Khamil hinted that part of the revamp would continue to focus on improving car quality and safety.

Khamil said that over the past two years since DRB-Hicom Bhd took control of beleagured Proton, much effort had been spent on lifting the quality of the cars it made by cutting down on defects and improving safety.

Since then, car buyers have voiced fewer complaints about Proton cars, said Khamil.

He said because of the longstanding negative public perception, Proton is open to suggestions from the public on how it should improve itself.

“We will be working towards changing the perception of Proton to one where Proton is a good car and, change the minds and hearts of the public towards our cars.”

Khamil said the management team would review products, quality, cost, delivery and safety.

He said Proton would continue to export its cars amid a landscape that is seeing increasing competition.

Khamil said Proton had no choice but to make the cars it sells affordable and competitive.

“It will be a holistic plan that will look at products and markets. We ... also cannot ignore China,” he said.

“Proton needs to prove it can compete with international OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” he said after a ceremony to send two graduates from its International College of Automotive (ICAM) to a Volkswagen plant in Portugal for training.

Khamil said future ICAM graduates would also be sent for overseas training at plants of its other partners in Japan and Europe.

He said the company hoped the graduates would return with the knowledge and experience and share them with other workers in DRB-Hicom’s plant in Pekan.

“It’s a good milestone for students at ICAM and they will be exposed to international standards,” he said.

ICAM is working towards achieveing university status by the end of the year.

Khamil, in response to backlash over a report that questioned why Malaysians were not supportive of Proton, said the company was appreciative of public support and would strive to make cars that Malaysians actually wanted.

“Those comments were taken out of context. We are appreciative of support from the public, without which Proton will not be where it is now,” he said.  
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed delivering his speech during the opening of the Lotus 4S Centre, Beijing.
PETALING JAYA: Lotus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Proton Holdings Berhad (Proton), opened its first 4S Centre in Beijing, China in an event officiated by Proton advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Also present were Tan Sri Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Khamil Jamil, the executive chairman of Proton and chairman of Group Lotus, as well as Aslam Farikullah, chief officer of Group Lotus.

According to Aslam, China has been at the forefront of global economic development and consequently there has been a growing trend of international car brands taking an interest in China by opening factories and dealerships, “China’s growth has not only opened the eyes of the international business community, but it has also inspired us to open this new Lotus 4S Centre.”

The Centre sits on a foot-print of approximately 1,000 sq m over four floors at the Golden Port Motor Park in Beijing.

The Centre is set to offer a complete Lotus experience with a showroom and a comprehensive service centre, where owners will be able to service, and obtain spare parts for their Lotus cars.

The one stop centre also houses an administrative office, merchandise retail corner, customers lounge and a training centre.

The building also comes with a complete customer service experience as it houses a club house for Lotus owners with a member’s lounge, and other amenities.

Lotus currently has eight dealerships in China, including in major parts of the country like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Dalian among others. Lotus models that are currently made available to the China market are the Evora S IPS, the Exige S240 and S260 as well as the Elise CR.

Khamil (left), chairman of DRB-HICOM presenting a gift to Mahathir.
From Centre-Left: Datuk Hj Mukhriz and chief operating officer of property and services of DRB-HICOM Datuk Mohamed Razeek while accompanied by Exco members of the State Government of Kedah and management of DRB-HICOM and PROTON.
KUALA LUMPUR: The state governments of Kedah and Perak have each received a fleet of Proton Perdanas, in support of the national carmaker’s turnaround plan.

Receiving the vehicles at the respective state government offices were Chief Minister of Kedah Datuk Paduka Mukhriz Bin Tun Dr. Mahathir and Chief Minister of Perak Datuk Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir from DRB-HICOM Berhad while representatives from PROTON Holdings Berhad representatives looked on.

Prior to the handing over of the fleets, the new Perdana was also presented to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

From Centre-Left: Chief Minister of Perak Datuk DiRaja Dr Zambry and chief operating officer of property and services of DRB-HICOM Datuk Mohd Razeek, while accompanied by Exco members of the State Government of Perak and management of DRB-HICOM and PROTON.
Several other government officials, including the Chief Secretary of Government and the Minister of Education II received the new Perdana.

Proton expressed its appreciation shown by the Prime Minister and the Malaysian Government for the opportunity to be the official provider of vehicles for the Government. 

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Trade and Industry Minister has confirmed that Proton has approached the Government for funding, adding that the request is being studied.

“They have submitted (their request) and it is still a work in progress,” said Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed after a dialogue on Malaysia and the Asean Economic Community (AEC) here yesterday.

Mustapa did not divulge the nature of Proton’s request, and skirted disclosing the specifics of the request from Proton by saying “it’s not our practice to reveal details”.

StarBiz had reported yesterday that Proton was seeking up to RM3bil in funding from the Government and Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), but has been futile in its attempts so far.

Proton, which is a unit of DRB-Hicom Bhd, is seeking fresh funding to execute its transformation plan that will see new models being developed, including an electric car.

It has been reported that Proton has committed RM3.8bil in investments until 2017 and needs more capital to be competitive and achieve its turnaround plan.

Mustapa said companies in general were eligible for three types of incentives from the Government - pioneer status, which gives companies tax incentives, a research and development grant and incentives for training.

He said the request from Proton was not unusual and that companies did approach the Government for tailored incentives and that the Government reciprocated by dangling certain carrots and benefits if deemed worthy.

The minister, however, said there were limitations as to whether incentives would be given. “These incentives are available depending on the Government’s financial situation,” he explained.

Mustapa said there were a number of considerations his ministry looked at when determining whether to grant funding. “We want to know if it fits into the country’s strategic direction. We also look at the merits of the case, the availability of funds at that point in time and we will do a thorough due diligence and cost-benefit analysis,” he said.

The report yesterday revealed that the national carmaker had first approached the International Trade and Industry Ministry last year for funding, but its request was turned down. The reason was that Proton couldn’t fully justify why it needed such funding from the Government.

It later approached Petronas, but Proton was not successful in raising the much-needed cash from the national oil company either.

Its difficulty in raising funds also comes at a time when the position of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Petronas adviser is a talking point.

On Dec 2 last year, Dr Mahathir announced that he was quitting as adviser to Petronas. Subsequently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged him to reconsider his decision.

Dr Mahathir’s role as adviser to Petronas is still up in the air. The former Prime Minister remains as adviser to Proton.

Meanwhile, Mustapa said Malaysia had implemented 88% of the measures needed for the regional integration under the AEC, while the overall implementation for Asean was at 72%.

He noted that one of the challenges for the AEC was non-tariff barriers. “We have abolished several non-tariff barriers,” he said, adding that Asean economic ministers had made reducing non-tariff barriers a priority for the AEC.

The AEC is the goal of regional economic integration among all 10 members of Asean by 2015. The objective is to remove barriers to trade in goods, services investments, capital and skilled workers to create a single duty-free market of over 600 million people and US$2.3 trillion in gross domestic product.
KUALA TERENGGANU, PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today introduced its latest addition to Team Proton R3 for the 2014 Malaysian Super Series (MSS), the Proton R3 Suprima S Malaysian Touring Car. Team Proton R3 will be defending their title at the Malaysian Touring Car Championship of the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) 2014 that is set to begin on 28 March 2014 at the Sepang International Circuit, coinciding with the Malaysian leg of the F1 Race weekend.

The Proton R3 Suprima S was introduced to the public by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, Dato’ Lukman Ibrahim at the PROTON Sales Carnival in Dataran Pantai Batu Burok, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. Also present during the launch were Chief Operating Officer (Commercial) of PROTON, Dato' Hisham Othman, PROTON's senior management members and Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel, Team Principal for Team Proton R3.

The Proton R3 Suprima S will make its debut at the championship with the target of maintaining Team Proton R3's strong record in the competition having won it the past three consecutive years. Also starting the championship this season will be a new look Proton R3 Satria Neo and Proton R3 Prevé race cars, the same line-up for the 2013 season.

According to Dato' Lukman, PROTON's participation in motorsports continues to be a significant thrust in the development of high performance technology for Proton cars. "PROTON is committed towards creating a strong brand, so our involvement in MSS gives us a platform to demonstrate our capabilities especially in a technical and engineering perspective. Another strong showing at the MSS would set a new standard of excellence for us, and we aim to keep going in that direction," he added.

Remarking on the new car and the upcoming MSS season, Tengku Djan said, "The Proton R3 Suprima S race car is a culmination of development work carried out over the course of the 2013 season. Our commitment has always been to excel and build on what we have achieved in the past, we want to continue with that winning mentality. The team has worked hard at identifying the relevant aspects of the cars that will enhance our race performance, and hopefully this coming season the team will be able to prove themselves yet again."

The MSS will conclude in a season-ending grand finale with the Sepang 1000 KM Race at the end of the year; an endurance race format specially catered for "Touring Car" category race cars. Team Proton R3 were overall champions in 2012, and 5th overall in 2013.

The Proton R3 Suprima S took centre stage at the PROTON Sales Carnival event held from 6-8 February 2014. The Sales Carnival is aimed to provide a unique opportunity for the public to test drive PROTON cars and to purchase them at attractive discounts, as well as to learn more about the unique features of Proton cars, including PROTON's safety technology.

Commenting on the PROTON Sales Carnival, Dato' Lukman said, "When we initially started the Sales Carnival late last year, our intentions were clear; that we wanted get down to the ground, meet the people, showcase our quality as well as give everyone an opportunity to know our products and services better,"

"We are truly heartened by the growing support shown so far, exemplified by the increasing number of visitors to each carnival and the number of bookings we have been able to secure; the Melaka carnival saw an 83.6% increase in bookings from the first carnival with 727 number of bookings made in three days from 396 in Shah Alam, while the Penang carnival also saw a 21% increase in bookings with 879 cars being booked, making it a total of 2002 bookings from the three carnivals" he added.

Visitors to the carnival can also enjoy great deals, with discounts of up to RM5,388 and special finance packages, including the unique "Take Now Pay Later" financial scheme, special interest rates and step-up financing which prospective buyers could opt for when purchasing a Proton car at the Sales Carnival.

In addition to that, there are numerous fun family activities and games, appearance by T-Team FC players, entertaining performances by local artists, and thrilling displays of motorsports prowess by the PROTON R3 team and LOTUS Cars Malaysia.

Proton R3 Suprima S

Engine Type - R3 Campro CPS 1597cc 16 valve

Engine Transmission - F41 5 MT Close Ration Gearbox

Power (bhp/ppm) - 178/7500

Torque (Nm/rpm) - 224/4000

Bodyshells - R3 Lightweight Bodyshell + 6 Point Rollcage

Wheels - R3 Lightweight 15 x 7 ET25 5H PCD 114.3

Tyres - Hankook Ventus Z221 195/55R15 Semi Slick

Bodykit - R3 Front Splitter & Side Skirt; R3 Custom Brake Cooling Ducts


PENANG: Hot on the heels of launching the Suprima S Super Premium in Melaka, PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today introduced new variants of the Inspira and Satria Neo, giving customers greater options that meet their driving needs.

The Proton Satria Neo Standard 4AT and Inspira Super Premium were launched by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, Dato’ Lukman Ibrahim at the PROTON Sales Carnival in Juru Auto-City, Penang. Also present during the launch were Chief Operating Officer (Commercial) of PROTON, Dato’ Hisham Othman, and PROTON’s senior management members.

Proton Satria Neo Standard 4AT

The Satria Neo Standard 4AT has been introduced with the view of opening up the model to wider market segments, as well as offering an affordable, value-for-money variant of the model.

At the launch, Dato’ Lukman stated, “The Satria is such an iconic model in the Malaysian automotive scene, from the earliest model launched in 1994 to the Neo R3 model which was launched in 2008, it has always been a favorite amongst Malaysians.”

“The Satria Neo Standard 4AT offers affordability and comfort to the stylish hatchback. This variant not only looks good, best of all, the automatic transmission coupled with the Lotus Ride and Handling guarantees consumers an exciting driving experience,” he added.

The Proton Satria Neo Standard 4AT is an improved version of the Satria Neo Standard MT model, and is priced from an affordable RM54,513.50 (solid colour) and RM54,963.50 (metallic). The variant is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheel rims, R3 Body Kit with Side Skirt and Rear Spoiler, R3 Wheel Arches and Front Fog Lamp as well as Side and Sill Moulding.

Proton Inspira Super Premium

At the same time, akin to the Suprima S Super Premium, the Inspira Super Premium was launched to cater to customers who give priority to car specifications. According to Dato’ Lukman, “Since the launch of the Inspira in 2010, this model has received widespread interest across a wide section of car buyers. The Super Premium variant gives the already elegant Inspira an updated look with a sportier edge, and is sure to capture the attention of car enthusiasts everywhere.”

The Proton Inspira Super Premium is the highest priced variant of the Inspira at RM102,000. The variant is equipped with R3 18-inch lightweight rims and tyres, R3 Body Kit with Front Splitters, Side Skirts, Rear Tailgate Spoilers and Rear Apron, R3 Sport Spring as well as the R3 Blood Stripe Sticker.

The launch of the two variants was the highlight of the PROTON Sales Carnival event held from 24-26 January 2014 at Juru Auto-City in Penang. The Sales Carnival is aimed to provide a unique opportunity for the public to test drive PROTON cars and to purchase them at attractive discounts, as well as to learn more about the unique features of Proton cars, in particular PROTON's safety technology.

Visitors to the carnival can also enjoy great deals, with discounts of up to RM5,388 and special finance packages, including a unique scheme called “Take Now Pay Later”, special interest rates and step-up financing which prospective buyers could opt for when purchasing a Proton car at the Sales Carnival. In addition to that, there are numerous fun family activities and games, appearance by Kedah FA players, entertaining performances by local artists, and thrilling displays of motorsports prowess by the PROTON R3 team and LOTUS Cars Malaysia.

Dato’ Lukman added, “The response we received at the PROTON Sales Carnival in Melaka was extremely encouraging - so much so that we even surpassed our sales target by approximately 130%. Looking at the encouraging response and the opportunity to bring our products closer to the mass public, we decided to hold the Sales Carnival in Juru Auto-City over the course of three days, as we know the consumers in the Northern Region are just as eager to grab the fantastic offers from PROTON.”

For those in the East Coast, PROTON is set to organise another round of the carnival in Kuala Terengganu from 7-8 February 2014.

The Proton Neo Standard 4AT and Proton Inspira Super Premium are now officially open for booking. The Proton Neo Standard 4AT has four colour options: GTi Silver, Tranquillity Black, Solid White and Fire Red, and comes with a two-year warranty or 50,000 (whichever comes first). The Proton Inspira Super Premium is only available in Solid White, and comes with a three-year warranty or 100,000km (whichever comes first). For more information, customers are invited to visit any PROTON Showroom nationwide.





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