MALACCA: Proton has been busy over the weekend, unveiling its sportiest Suprima S yet - the Suprima S Super Premium.

Proton said the car was its most fully-equipped model in terms of performance, styling, safety, driving dynamics and sophistication. It is aimed at prospective customers who give priority to car specifications, it added.

As such, it comes with 17-inch lightweight rims, an R3 body kit with a revised rear bumper finishing, and front and side skirt, as well as the R3 Emblem on its side skirt.

Powered by Proton's 1.6-litre turbo engine and mated with its 7-speed ProTronic CVT, the new Suprima S variant delivers power and torque equivalent to a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine.

The 1.6L power plant produces 140 PS at 5000rpm, and with a maximum torque of 205Nm from 2,000 to 4,000rpm. Its driving dynamics has also been said to be improved with "Lotus Ride and Handling".

Proton said the car comes with high levels of safety as before, allowing it to earn a 5-Star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program. Such rating is the result of the car having a stiff chassis, six airbags, Hill-Hold Assist, ESC with brake assist, Traction control and ABS brakes with EBD.

The Suprima S Premium also includes full leather seats, reverse camera, Push Start Button, paddle shifts, and auto cruise.

The RM87,929.45 Suprima S Super Premium - in two colour choices of  Fire Red or Solid White - is open for booking now. It is backed by a five-year or 150,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

The launch of the latest variant was the highlight of the Proton Sales Carnival held from Jan 17-19.

The carnival gave the public a chance to test drive various Proton models and the opportunity to buy them at attractive discounts.

The next round of the carnival will be held in Juru Auto-City Penang from Jan 25-26.

KOTA KINABALU: With more affordable vehicles to be launched in the first half of this year, Proton is confident of achieving higher sales in 2014, compared with 141,000 vehicles sold last year, said deputy group chief executive officer Datuk Lukman Ibrahim.

He said the national carmaker was working on a plan to maximise the features of the present models without compromising on the quality, and to be sold at affordable prices.

"We are trying to make the car more advance in terms of safety and sophistication.

Lukman
"It is not necessary to come out with new models, but expanding on what we have currently and giving more variants is more important to us," he told reporters on the sidelines of the three-day DRB-Hicom "Ke Bawah Bayu" programme, here.

Lukman said the company had previously come out with the new Saga SV and Persona SV and it would continue with the exercise and "it's just a matter of delivering them at the right time to the market".

He also said that Proton aimed to give the best after-sales services to its customers.

Recently, Proton had eliminated the 5,000-kilometre (km) service as it said a new car can actually last until 10,000km.

"Having customers with the right maintenance mentality is more important, and we want to continue educating them and not overcharge them for something that is unnecessary," he added.

He also said that Proton would come up with a campaign, covering states like Melaka, Pahang, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, to promote its affordable cars, besides giving good financing packages on parts and so on.

The promotion will also include Lotus.

Meanwhile, commenting on the speculation that it had received a RM200 million grant from the government for its research and development (R&D) programme, Lukman denied it.

"Proton is the only original equipment manufacturer (OEM) that has a R&D centre in the country and we have been receiving some grant from the government for many years but it never reached that amount," he said.

He said the company spent more than that amount using its internal funds for the research facility, products and even to train the staff. - Bernama
PROTON Holdings Berhad (PROTON) today played host to the finalists of the 2013 Miss Tourism International pageant at the PROTON Centre of Excellence. PROTON is also the official car provider and Golden Sponsor of the 2013 Miss Tourism International pageant.

The 60 finalists arrived chauffeured-driven in 22 Proton cars comprising the Suprima S and Prevé, and led by a Lotus Evora, before being taken on a tour of the PROTON Shah Alam plant, and given an exclusive driving experience at the PROTON test track in the latest Lotus and Proton models, including R3 editions of the Inspira and Satria Neo.

During the visit, the beauty queens also participated in entertaining activities with their "little sisters" - 60 young girls who are the children of PROTON staff. These activities organised for the beauty queens were also part of an evaluation process, where the most outstanding participant of the day will stand a chance to be crowned Miss PROTON Elegant during the Miss Tourism International Finals on 31 December 2013.

According to PROTON Chief Operating Officer (Project Management & Strategic Initiatives), En Abdul Rashid Musa, PROTON's involvement in the pageant allows the Brand to not only reach out to an international audience, but also to introduce them to the world of PROTON; and more than that, to showcase the variety of Proton and Lotus products and services available. "We are delighted to host such global beauties - ambassadors representing 60 countries across five continents here at the PROTON headquarters. In a way we see this as an opportunity to bring the world to Malaysia, the home of PROTON and PROTON to the world. Our range of cars cater to customers from all walks of life, and there certainly is something for everybody - be it a Lotus model or a Proton."

"We also applaud the organiser's efforts in promoting tourism through this very unique way - what a perfect platform for rich and diverse cultural exchange, at the same time fostering the spirit of friendship and camaraderie amongst the contestants. This really could not come at a better time as Visit Malaysia Year 2014 is just around the corner. And on behalf of PROTON, I would also like to extend our appreciation to President and franchise owner, Datuk Danny Ooi for all his dedication and hard work over the years in making this pageant a successful world-class event it is now."










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