Proton in talks with VW again

Proton Holdings Bhd is in talks with Volkswagen (VW) that could lead to a strategic partnership and the assembly of vehicles at the national carmaker’s plant in Tanjung Malim.

The partnership was not expected to see the German auto giant taking an equity stake in Proton but a collaboration in platforms and engines was likely being negotiated, said market sources.

The talks between Proton and VW come at a time when DRB-HICOM Bhd is also engaged in discussions with the German company to assemble cars in Pekan.

News that Proton is again in talks with VW is somewhat surprising as both parties have come to, and walked away, from the negotiating table numerous times.

A couple of years ago, Proton came close to inking a deal with VW which would have seen the German company taking a stake in the national carmaker.

A last-minute pitch by the Proton management to build on the company’s own “green shoots” then persuaded the Government from sealing an agreement with VW.

Proton found commercial success following the launch of the Persona but did not escape the global recession caused by the US financial crisis.

Its finances have improved with the launch of the Exora and for its first quarter ended June 30, it reported a net profit of RM54.6mil. The company’s shares closed three sen lower at RM3.71 yesterday.

Now, however, the timing is different.

Proton has maintained it needs a strategic partner but would agree to one on its own terms.

It is also understood that the Government would like Proton to have a strategic partner before the review of the National Automotive Policy is completed.

VW’s interest in Malaysia, too, has grown over the past couple of years after equity stake talks with Proton ended.

It has established its own sales and service business in Malaysia, and as of Sept 7, has seen the number of cars sold reach a total of 2,261 units after 2½ years of operations.

VW is reported to be looking at Malaysia as its sourcing hub for auto components in the region to fulfil its worldwide production and has intimated plans to expand its presence in the country through the local assembly of some of its cars.

Volkswagen Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Andreas Prinz on Wednesday was quoted by Bernama as saying the group was also thinking of making Malaysia its hub for parts distribution in South-East Asia.

VW is also interested in assembling cars in Malaysia and Prinz said the company was in discussion with a number of parties.

Malaysia remains an important market in the region as it is the largest passenger car market in South-East Asia, which is said to be an attractive element for VW.

New Proton SUV car!

NEW!!

Proton have done a clay model of Concept SUV before the launch of Proton Exora which is named as PROTON MSX. Proton MSX is base on Lotus APX. Yes in the future Proton will develop a new Proton SUV base of Proton’s interest to build the clay model of 7 seater Proton MSX.

Proton SUV MSX is to produce a high technology ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ dual image, high performance crossover.It is actually a technology showcase of aluminiun adaptable platform,ride & handling,engine power and crossover functions of suv and sports car.

The target user group of the PROTON MSX is for successful professionals with young-at-heart lifestyle.The typical usage of the mpv is for leisure and work.And to attract all the businessmen, corporate leaders or celebrities,they had emphasize on 6 different aspect of the car which is the style,the engine and performance,the technology behind it,the ride and handling,the quality and also the ride comfort.

With only a Naturally Aspirated 3.0 V6 engine,They had manage to churned out a hefty 224KW of power and 360Nm of torque.With a 0-100 time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 250kmh, the proton already beaten up some of the top notch SUV such as the Porsche Cayenne S,BMW X6 35i and the Nissan Murano.

The Technical Specification Of the PROTON SUV

ENGINE : 3.0L V6
MAX POWER : 224kW
MAX TORQUE : 360Nm
TRANSMISSION : 6 M/T
LENGTH :4,697mm
WIDTH : 1,852mm
HEIGHT : 1,750mm
WHEELBASE : 2700mm
KERB WEIGHT : 1,570kg
0-100km/h : 5.9sec
TOP SPEED : 250km/h

Do you know?

Do you know the comparison between Proton Saga BLM and Perodua New Myvi?? Here it is!

This topic might be very helpfull for those who really needs a comparison between Proton Saga BLM and Perodua New Myvi (Saga Vs Myvi). And here i would like to give details of comparison between saga and myvi because i have the experience using both cars travelling thousands of km. Basically both cars have their pros and cons. Not to say one model can win easily compare to the close competitor. It is all depends on your needs.

I have the experience driving new saga BLM (saga baru) full spec auto m-line, Myvi full spec auto 1.3 litre and myvi manual 1.0 litre. So here i will give my review about saga and myvi.

Exterior Comparison New Saga VS Myvi

Exterior wise, New saga looks better than myvi at each view because it shows a proper sedan looks. I remember when the new saga launched, everyone gave a good feedback about the exterior design and like amazed that Proton can produce this type of affordable good looking car. While Perodua Myvi like a normal compact car, looks shorter but the front looks bigger like an MPV. The rear part is too big design and not so nice. But the new myvi SE puts some sporty style to the rear part and it looks ok. New saga BLM looks like a little bit small because of it is higher compare to other sedan.

Interior Comparison Myvi Vs New Saga BLM

The interior of saga and myvi has not much different. But i personally prefer interior design of Perodua Myvi because you will feel that it is spacious plus the new meter panel with optitron is nice. Center air cond duct design for saga BLM is kind of weird. The interior is too simple. More to savvy looks. But the meter panel is quite nice. The steering of saga BLM feel better to hold and very firm & looks good compare to myvi. The quality of Proton Saga BLM’s interior is better compare to myvi when you try to scratch them and knock them, you will feel the differences. The gear knob, what i realize is that Proton and Perodua have a different style of holding the gear knob. I would prefer the gear knob of Perodua instead of Proton.

Spaciousness Comparison Between New Saga BLM & Myvi

Generally, the interior space (keluasan) of new saga BLM and Myvi quite the same. You will feel spacious and roomy when you enter this two vehicles. But here is some statistic from my own measurement by using measuring tape:

Interior width (a space that can be occupied by human inside from shoulder to shoulder):

Myvi : 134cm

Saga: 134cm

Wira: 137cm

Interior Length ( a space that can be occupied by human from driver’s leg to rear passenger’s headrest):

Myvi: 188cm

Saga: 202cm

Wira: 180cm

Interior widest width that can be measured:

Myvi: 137cm

Saga: 137cm

Wira: 139cm

Interior Head room for passenger:

Myvi: 125cm

Saga: 123cm

Wira: 107cm

Exterior Width (from manufacturer) :

Myvi: 166.5cm

Saga: 168.0cm

Wira: 169.0cm

Boot Space / luggage capacity:

Myvi: 225litre

Saga: 413litre

Wira aeroback: 399litre

Note: i put Proton Wira dimension to easily compare with the Perodua Myvi and Proton New Saga.

Engine Performance & Handling Comparison Between Proton Saga BLM and Perodua Myvi

Here is the specification of both cars:

Total Engine Capacity (cc) : Myvi(1298) vs Saga(1332)

Horsepower(hp) both at 6000RPM : Myvi(85.8) vs Saga(94)

Torque (Nm) : Myvi (116@3200rpm) vs Saga(120@4000rpm)

horsepower/weight ratio (hp/kg): Myvi(0.089) vs Saga(0.088)

My review:

I have tried maximum speed for both auto full spec 1.3 litre car myvi and saga BLM, both have quite same max speed which is 160km/h reaching 170km/h. The different is when reaching 140km/h, the Myvi will start to shake & like swaying because of too light while the saga BLM reaching 160km/h in a very steady run without steering shaking and feel so stable like you can go further and faster.

About the pick up performance, the myvi is slightly better because of the kerb weight is less than Saga BLM. you can feel the DVVT engine in myvi doing its job while pushing the fuel paddle but not much different with Saga BLM with it’s own campro 1.3 dohc iafm engine. The saga BLM 1st auto gear feels quite slow but it will show it’s true performance while entering 2000 rpm and the next gear.

You will feel light while driving a Myvi because it is a city car with DVVT technology while you will feel more stable and have a sharp & nice handling in a saga because it is made more for cruising as a family car and tuned by lotus handling technology. But the new saga also has a characteristic of a city car with the iafm technology that control the air intake and remove the torque dip in the campro engine while driving slowly.

Fuel Consumption ( penggunaan minyak ) Petrol Comparison Between Myvi and Saga BLM:

Between Myvi auto 1.3 and Saga auto 1.3, the fuel consumption have not much different. With RM30, both can travel around 225km which is 13.33cents/km or 13.5km/litre in a constant drive on highway. The worst fuel consumption for both car which i have tried is 20cents/km or 9km/litre with extreme driving habits.

The facts you should know aboout the new Saga

Do you know the facts about the new Saga? You should know!

The Saga comes in 3 different specifications with the choice of manual or auto transmissions starting from the base specced N model to the fully kitted M model. Aichi Kikai supplies the 5-speed manual while Mitsubishi the 4-speed automatic. The basic N model retails from RM31,500 to the RM39,800 high specced M model. The new Saga would be the cheapest Proton once the RM26,999 original is retired. Proton dubs the new Saga as "The People's Car".

The new Saga is powered by the same 1.3-litre Campro engine(which was co-designed with Lotus) that is fitted to entry-level Gen 2s. The engine is rated at at 6,000 rpm and at 4,000 rpm . However, it has a new Integrated Air-Fuel Module (IAFM) which varies the airflow into the engine to improve efficiency, smoothening out the problematic dip in the torque curve in the lower and middle rev ranges. Power delivery characteristics in both cars are remarkably different. The torque could be felt after 2,500 rpm and all the way to 4,000 rpm. The car feels peppy to drive and acceleration to highway speeds is good.

The 5-speed manual from Aichi Kikai is not geared towards the ultimate refinement at cruising speeds, but it does offer a good spread of torque everywhere, not to mention good overtaking power anywhere from 80-120 km/h. Suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar up front with a torsion beam in the rear. Its Lotus designed torsion beam suspension enables it to turn in sharply, hold its stance well through corners, understeering to a sizeable extent. Fuel economy is very good, ranging from approximately for the manual transmission to . for the auto and is considerably less when traveling at in fifth. Top speed is around and 0-100 km/h time is about 13 seconds. The electrical system has also been updated with coil-on-plugs instead of the traditional ignition cable system, eliminating power loss. Drive-by wire throttle however is not available.

Since the official launch of the second generation Proton Saga in January 2008, the car has won 3 major automobile awards. Autocar Asean, the Malaysian edition of the longest running car magazine in history has awarded the new Saga "Winner of the Small Sedan/ Hatchback Category" for 2008. Shortly after that, the car was voted as the "Best People's Car" at the Asian Auto - VCA Auto Industry Award 2008. In November the same year, the new Saga won yet another major Malaysian automobile accolade when it was declared the "Winner of the Entry Level Car Category" under the New Straits Times/ Maybank Car of the Year Awards for 2008.

The new SAGA begins..

This is the history about Proton Saga that i want to share.

The Proton Saga was launched in September 1985 by Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad.Before the production of Proton Saga, a contest was held to choose the name of the first national car, and the name Saga was chosen from the winner of the contest, Ismail Jaafar, a retired military soldier. When asked why he chose this particular name, he replied as "Saga" is a type of soft, fragile but productive seed commonly found in Malaysia, and that the Proton Saga 1.3 litre engine "is as strong as the saga seed".

In 1992, the Saga was given a facelift and its name expanded as Proton Saga Iswara (also known in short as Proton Iswara), after a species of butterfly in Sarawak.Modifications included slimmer headlights, plastic bumpers, side mouldings, coloured door handles, grooved taillight clusters and rear number plate repositioned to the bumper. This particular model is used as taxis in Malaysia and some are converted to NGV.

In 2001, to regain sales and be competitive with Perodua. Proton introduced a special edition of Saga Iswara Sport based on the Aeroback version which included a new bodykit, metallic rear wing, jewel-effect headlights and Altezza lights, among other changes. It was only available in silver, with a manual transmission and a 1.3-litre engine. The original Saga Iswara Aeroback was still available in a 1.5-litre engine.

As a loose successor to the Saga Iswara Sport, Proton gave the Iswara a new facelift and renamed it back to Saga (or know as Saga LMST by local car community) in 2003. The interior has an entirely new dashboard, door panels and an instrument panel with a digital display consisting of an odometer, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. Meanwhile, the exterior received new headlights and taillights and colour-coded bumpers and wing mirrors. Proton retuned the 1.3-litre carburetor engine, and fitted a new exhaust system, increasing its power rating to . It is only available with the 5-speed manual transmission.

On March 5, 2007, Proton launched the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Promotion in Malaysia, where the announced new price of the Proton Saga at that time was RM26,999. Advertising campaigns for the Saga Aeroback used a notable rendition of Justin Timberlake's hit single ''Sexy Back'' while the lyrics changed to "AeroBack". The promotion was made as a support to Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day and also to thank Proton's customers for their support since Proton Saga was first launched, receiving several minor cosmetic changes.That year, the Proton Saga became the second best selling car behind Perodua MyVi and the best selling saloon car in Malaysia, with over 15,000 orders.

On January 18, 2008, Proton unveiled the successor to the 2007 Saga, which was planned to be phased out in June 2008. Retaining the Saga name, the new car is an indigenous design, essentially based on a stretched Proton Savvy platform. The new model is an in-house design developed in collaboration with Korea's LG CNS and Lotus Engineering. This model enables the Malaysian company play to its strength in the home market. As of February 2008, approximately 23,000 customer bookings had been made for the car since its launch and the corresponding waiting time for delivery during that same period stretched up to 5 months.