17 Things You Didn't Know About Proton Cars
We thought we knew Proton like the back of our hands, until we found out that...
By Mei Mei Chu — 15 Aug 2013, 12:10 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
1. Proton succeeded extreme heat and cold tests in Oman deserts and the North and South Poles!
Proton has conducted extreme hot and cold tests in Oman deserts and the North and South Poles!
Image via rian.ru2. Discovery Channel featured Proton's Tanjung Malim plant, calling it the "most advanced modern car plant"
A state-of-the-art assembly plant was constructed at Tanjung Malim in 2005. This area has been named Proton City and is spread out over 1,280 acres, producing a quarter of a million cars a year.
3. Proton Preve and Suprima S are the only ASEAN cars to achieve full 5-star Australian ANCAP rating
Proton Exora awarded 4-star ANCAP safety rating – Proton Suprima 5-star ANCAP rating becomes official
Image via paultan.org
Proton is the only Asian car maker to pass Australian ANCAP with full 5-star rating.
Image via amazonaws.comAnother crash test results announcement, following on the recent ASEAN NCAP second phase testing results – Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) earlier tonight released official safety rating results for two Proton vehicles, the Proton Suprima S and Exora.
paultan.orgThe Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) provides consumers with independent and transparent advice and information on the level of occupant protection provided by vehicles in serious front and side crashes.
4. Proton cars are imported by 25 different countries around the world
Proton has produced several indigenously designed vehicles and operates in at least 26 countries.
Image via paultan.orgPROTON is Malaysias leading automotive manufacturer with over 25 years of innovation and exports to over 25 countries worldwide. Key export markets include Australia, Singapore, the Far East and the UK; where during 2009 it celebrated 20 years in the market place
5. Egypt has the largest Proton Persona fan club
The Persona was launched by PROTON Holdings Berhad Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 22 November 2008 and in Egypt on 24 November 2008.
Image via wordpress.com
Al Akhbar Newspaper - Saturday, 7th of July, 2012: Proton wins Thailand rally.
Image via akamaihd.net
6. Miss Universe Australia 2013 is the ambassador of Proton
Miss Olivia Wells has just been crowned with the Miss Universe Australia 2013 title. She will also be driving home Malaysian’s latest automotive pride, the Proton Preve as Proton Australia is the gold sponsor for the Miss Universe Australia competition.
hanzoautobuzz.comPROTON Cars Australia: “We are thrilled to support Miss Universe Australia for the fifth consecutive year. We congratulate all the contestants and look forward to working with Olivia as an ambassador for PROTON over the next 12 months."
7. In 2013, Proton Preve R3 clocked the fastest time in history for a Malaysian Touring Class race car, overtaking Mazda, Toyota & Ford in under 2:39 minutes
8. Proton Satria Neo S2000 won 7 awards championships, and finished top 3 in all 6 tours at the Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2012
Rally Longyou in China – the sixth and final round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) – saw the Proton team finishing with two crews on the podium
motortrader.com.my
The rally was, as usual, one of the toughest rounds of the Asia-Pacific season across some of the most technically challenging concrete surfaces. But the Protons dealt with the terrain faster and more precisely than any other manufacturer.
yahoo.comThis marks the third successive APRC victory in China for Proton with the Satria Neo S2000 rallycar. The win also meant that Proton finished the 2012 season in 2nd position in the APRC overall Manufacturers Championship with Skoda taking first, Mitsubishi third and Subaru in fourth position.
motortrader.com.my
9. The Proton Impian is used by the UK police in Humberside, next to the Lexus IS-F cruiser
The Proton Impian is used by the UK police in Humberside, next to the Lexus IS-F cruiser.
Image via imgur.com
Proton cars are used for general patrol and by IRT (Incident Response Teams). Humberside Police won the top award in the National Energy Efficiency Awards by running the vast majority of its fleet on Liquified Petroleum Gas. Most Protons are dual fuel, running both LPG and unleaded petrol.
Image via wikimedia.org10. Proton adopts various technologies from LOTUS' vehicle dynamics. All new Proton car models use Lotus engineering and handling
11. Proton is the only Muslim country manufacturer, and the only 'full-fledged' manufacturer in South East Asia that designs, develops and manufactures their own cars
Proton is the only Muslim country manufacturer, and the only 'full-fledged' manufacturer in South East Asia that designs, develops and manufactures their own cars.
Image via blogspot.comProton is the only full-fledged original equipment manufacturer car manufacturer in South-East Asia with operations in key markets from the UK to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia.
12. Proton car prices around the world are determined by the respective country's vehicle import taxes
Proton cars are more affordable overseas due to less hefty vehicle import taxes in other countries.
Image via themalaysianinsider.comCiting Malaysian Automative Association (MAA) president Aisha Ahmad, REFSA said Malaysians were paying more for their Protons because of painfully high taxes: “The burden comes from excise duty and sales tax, which are a minimum of 65% and 10% respectively"
13. Proton Satria Neo R3 and Preve R3 won both 1st and 2nd place in the 1000km Endurance Race in Sepang
Proton is the only team to win both first and second place in the 1000km Sepang race
Image via zerotohundred.comThe 2012 edition of the annual Sepang 1000km Endurance Race that happened last weekend was won by Proton R3 Motorsports Racing Team, which dominated proceedings and clinched a 1-2 finish at the Sepang International Circuit.
paultan.org
motortrader.com.my
14. Proton uses the German technology of “Hot Press Forming” which enhances structure integrity to the strength of its car by 3 times
All Proton Prevé units produced for domestic and export markets utilizes Hot Press Forming (HPF), which helps to provide better protection and higher body and structural rigidity without compromising the overall bodyweight of the car.
15. Proton's Turbo engine of 205 NM torque can accelerate from 0-100kmh in less than 10 seconds. Nice!
PROTON acquired all engine technologies and knowledge developed by PERTONAS since 1997. With the acquisition, PROTON now have ownership of a more powerful yet fuel efficient family of naturally aspirated and turbo charged 2.0L engines to complement its existing CAMPRO engine lineup.
16. Proton and Honda are in collaboration to share technology enhancement, new product line-up, platform and facilities.
Proton and Honda are in collaboration to share technology enhancement, new product line-up, platform and facilities.
Image via drb-hicom.comHonda Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director and chief executive officer Yoichiro Ueno said this is Honda's first collaborative agreement with another original equipment manufacturer
17. Proton R3 Waja, driven by Tengku Djan, the 'Prince of Drift', won the first ever Goodyear Formula Drift Malaysia
Tengku Djan (right) and Sak Nana Kiki in a close tussle for overall winner in the final duel
Image via motortrader.com.my
17. Tengku Djan won the first ever Indonesian International Drift in a rear wheel drive Proton Waja
Image via zerotohundred.comMalaysia’s Tengku Djan outdrifted 54 others from across Asia-Pacific to be the inaugural Goodyear Formula Drift Malaysia champion!
paultan.orgEven local favourite Ariff Johanis failed to shine but there was one Malaysian other than Tengku Djan who really stole the hearts of the crowd – car #9 – the RWD R3 Waja drift car.
You should also read:
Car enthusiasts have been waiting with bated breath after hearing rumours of Proton making a hatchback version of the Proton Prevé. Now they can sleep well as the Proton Prevé Hatchback has been spotted on the streets. [CLICK TO SEE]
bit.ly
Proton released its new entry level car on 17 June 2013 - the Proton Saga SV. Priced at between RM33,438 to RM36,888, fresh graduates might finally be able to afford a car. [CLICK FOR FULL STORY]
bit.ly