Friday, August 17, 2007

Proton Persona Details



Proton has posted more information on it’s teaser page’s FAQ section. They’ve revealed the exterior dimensions of the new sedan. Let’s compare it to the GEN2 and the Waja.


New Sedan GEN2 Waja
Overall Length 4477mm 4310mm 4465mm
Overall Width 1725mm 1725mm 1740mm
Overall Height 1438mm 1435mm 1420mm
Fuel Capacity 50 L 50 L 60 L
Luggage Volume 430 L 415 L 415 L
Weight 1180 - 1210kg 1175 - 1195kg 1175 - 1205kg*

*Not sure about the Waja’s weight range

Engine

As for the Campro engine, it is pretty much the same as previous units. Still the same 110 (82kW) horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. There is still a general lethargy with the throttle at low to mid engine speeds, but the engine shines at high revs. This engine still does not have the Bosch Variable Intake Manifold system yet, but the automatic model does have an improved TCU. The improved TCU or Transmission Control Unit seems more intelligent now, making up for the Campro’s unfortunately torque curve shape by having no qualms about downshifting when needed with reduced delay, and the shifts are rather smooth.

There is nothing new about the Campro engine in this car really in terms of performance; it’s just that improved sound dampening have managed to make the car in a whole appear more refined. But there are some design enhancements over the original GEN2 Campro engines that have served to make the engine more reliable.

For one, the oil pan has been redesigned to be more crack-resistant. The drain plug has been moved to the side instead of it’s previous position at the bottom, and large ribs have been added on the bottom for protection. The oil pan in general has been moved higher up in the engine bay, but the volume remains the same.

Interior


I can see what Proton is trying to do with the new Proton Persona sedan. Families want refinement and general quietness in their drive. They don’t want anything trashy or noisy. That explains the choice of tyres. The NVH is also significantly improved over the Satria Neo especially - and better than the GEN2 of course. There is minimal loud and boomy engine noise towards the redline. It sounds rather refined really. The Campro engine had an appealing sound in the manual transmission car. It had a pleasant growl that was not overpowered by vibration or metallic notes, and despite going way over the 6,500rpm redline it felt like it could still go – rev cut off was a little more than 7,000rpm.

We drove two automatic transmission cars, and one of it had a little irritating zingy noise towards the redline, while the other was as aurally smooth as the manual. Upon checking with Proton later, they took note of it and said the noise could be coming from the headshield – so if you buy this car and get this problem, you can give the service center guys a hint on where to look for the source.

Pricing
Pricing for the Persona is as follows (all on-the-road, with insurance):

Peninsular Malaysia

Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM44,999 (solid), RM45,449 (metallic)
Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM47,999 (solid), RM48,449 (metallic).
Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM49,800 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM52,800 (metallic)
High Line 1.6AT - RM55,800 (metallic).

East Malaysia

Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM47,559.10 (solid), RM48,009.10 (metallic)
Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM50,542 (solid), RM50,992 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM52,331.60 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM55,314.50 (metallic)
High Line 1.6AT auto - RM57,241.10 (metallic)

All prices are on the road with insurance for Peninsular Malaysia. The prices have changed slightly since the teaser prices were announced last month – the Base-Line models are now slightly cheaper. While it won’t really reflect much in your monthly instalment amount, breaching the RM45,000 barrier by RM1 ringgit serves as a psychological encouragement to buy the car. Proton has negotiated with all banks for them to offer an interest rate of 3.88% for the Proton Persona.

Proton To Export New Persona To Reap Economies Of Scale

SHAH ALAM, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd, which launched its latest Proton Persona sedan Wednesday, plans to export the 1,600cc car to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Australia to reap economies of scale as the domestic market is limited.

"You cannot concentrate on the domestic market alone as it is getting smaller and smaller. That's why export is going to be the approach," said managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

"As for today, Proton does not enjoy economies of scale," he said, adding that the company was pushing for export to gain lower production cost and better margins.

"We can still work alone and be profitable, but we want to grow big in a much more rapid manner," he told reporters recently at a media test drive of the new Persona.

Asked about his expectation on exports, Syed Zainal said though it is too early to tell, he expects the demand to be good.

"Persona" means "vision of beauty", and the new model is designed to replace the 14-year-old Proton Wira. It is expected to push up Proton's sales, positioning itself in competition with models in the sub-B and B segments category.

"We are confident of selling more than 4,000 units a month as the entire packaging of the car is very attractive," Syed Zainal said.

Also, attractive pricing strategy and right timing could help Proton to meet its targeted monthly sales, he said.

Available in both manual and auto versions, the Persona is considered the most competitively priced 1,600cc car as its indicative price ranges from RM44,999 to RM55,000.

The car is designed to fulfil key criteria like style, safety, spaciousness, practicality, quality, comfort and performance.

It comes in iridescent white, metal gray, tranquillity black, solid white, solid red, light gold and blueberry tea.

Proton's pride and joy, Persona, was unveiled today by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

Syed Zainal said the new sedan has already received bookings for 2,000 units and 350 cars will be delivered to customers after the launch.

On Proton's plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak, he said the company has carried out a lot of training, re-educate the staff and review the manufacturing processes and other activities.

"All these have been based on lessons learned from the past and how to improve, and we are happy in terms of optimising our investment," he added.

Asked whether the new Persona will affect Proton Waja's sales, Syed Zainal said the Waja is already seven to eight years old car and due to change.

"It is not something that we going to be concerned about as we are also pushing 5,000 units of the Waja for the Iran market. The production will start October," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Proton Persona launched

Launch of Proton Persona

Sneak preview of the Proton Persona

Virtual 360º interior
Virtual 360º exterior

With the introduction of its Persona sedan today, Proton is hoping to quietly go about winning over Malaysian consumers again with the latest addition to its family. In many ways, the vehicle is arguably the most important card the company has played, and represents, in its own words, a manifestation of the changes and transformation that have taken place at the company.

Rather personable, even in basic form.
Proton is positioning the Persona – which bases its workings around the GEN.2 hatch platform, with 70% commonisation of parts – as an entry-level sedan, but is targeting a wide spectrum of buyers for the vehicle, the direct replacement for the ageing Wira, of which production has finally ceased.

Blueberry tea, anyone?
The Persona is available in Base, Medium and High Line model form, with a choice of F5M41 five-speed manual or F4A41 four-speed automatic transmission versions. The Base and Medium Line offers both manual and auto variants, with the High Line version only available in auto.

Tail hangs together quite well, actually.
The 110bhp and 148Nm 1.6l Campro engine continues to hold court, but revisions to the transmission control unit means that the behavioral patterns of the auto version are different. Benefits include a smoother low to mid-speed operation, and quicker response to acceleration as well as faster instantaneous kickdown.

Purple is the base tone for blueberry tea.
As ever, close attention continues to be paid to ride and handling, and the claim is that the Persona is, over a nine-area spread of vehicle dynamics, not just naturally ahead of the antiquated Wira, but modern equivalents such as the Honda City and Toyota Vios as well, bettered only in areas of lane change stability and cornering stability by the Gen.2.

Inside, the cabin continues on the familiarity, but there are differences in how the form is sculpted; besides the noticeable extra storage areas, it is in the area of material composition – texture, feel, coordination – and fitment in which the biggest improvements have been made.

Looks somewhat the same, but it's all tighter and textured better.
The two-tone grey interior features newly designed front seats and headrests, as well as fabric-lined door panels. Both medium and high line models come with a three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio switches, and the base line model is equipped with a two-speaker, double DIN CD receiver, while the medium and high line versions come shod with a CD/MP3 receiver, four-speaker system.

Speaking of storage space, there’s plenty to be had aside from revised storage compartments, cubbyholes and – yes, finally – a glove box. As is, the boot area is pretty large, with 430l of storage capacity, but in both medium and high line models, the rear seats can be folded flat to further increase volumetric scope to accommodate bulky items.

Let's cluster around each other, said one dial to the other.
If it’s dual SRS front airbags with seatbelt pretensioners, ABS and EBD you’re looking for, then the High Line version is it - it also gets four disc brakes. The medium line gets a driver’s airbag and seatbelt pretensioner.

Proton gave the media a preview session with the car earlier in the week, and up close in the flesh, the exterior design can be termed cleanly efficient. There is undoubtedly a strong resemblance to the GEN.2 in how the overall styling lines shape up, and the wrap-around rear lamp cluster looks more than a sight familiar, but the boot extension does flow through nicely and the lines are proportionate.

A name from the past, but now symbolising a new beginning.
A brief drive session with the variants around the Proton test track in Shah Alam returned a favourable initial drive impression. On the whole, the Persona has a no-nonsense appeal about it – it is softer in its approach to ride and handling, no surprise given that it has to appeal to a wider spectrum of buyers, but even with this compliance offers good balance and poise. Linear would best describe it in areas of stability and tracking, and quick directional shifts – to the point of outright provocation – are carried out with a reassuring efficiency.

Block soldiers on, but tranny control unit gets some positive revisions.
As for the workings of the powertrain/drivetrain, it does have more zip about it at low-level operation, though the action still really only begins once the revs are up. The auto tranny feels surprisingly good though in other areas of operation, especially in terms of smoothness and transition, and the performance gap between it and the manual is not that marked, at least not in outright feel. A more in-depth performance report is on the cards, soon.

Wheel you grow to appreciate this one, in time?
There’s a choice of seven colours for the Persona; six of these – Solid Red, Light Gold, Metal Grey, Tranquility Black, Iridescent White and Blueberry Tea – are available with the launch. The seventh, solid white, will be available from September.

A moving sight ...
The company hopes to achieve a monthly sales target of 4,000 units for the newest addition to its line-up. With 2,000 pre-launch bookings, and 2,600 cars off the assembly line by the launch date, this should mean relatively quick deliveries for the initial order.

In fact, 350 vehicles will be delivered to buyers today, with the idea of getting the car on the road and visible from day one, surely a step in the right direction for a company hoping to project to consumers its new values and commitment it is subscribing to. Now, all that remains is for time to tell if these efforts pay off.

Pricing for the Persona is as follows (all on-the-road, with insurance):

Peninsular Malaysia

Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM44,999 (solid), RM45,449 (metallic)

Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM47,999 (solid), RM48,449 (metallic).

Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM49,800 (metallic)

Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM52,800 (metallic)

High Line 1.6AT - RM55,800 (metallic).

East Malaysia

Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM47,559.10 (solid), RM48,009.10 (metallic)

Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM50,542 (solid), RM50,992 (metallic)

Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM52,331.60 (metallic)

Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM55,314.50 (metallic)

High Line 1.6AT auto - RM57,241.10 (metallic)

Credits to http://star-motoring.com