SUPRIMA TOPPING ADDS SPICE TO BLAND BASE

It may sound like a pizza but there is more to the Proton Suprima S than rolled-out dough, tomato stuff, cheese, and assorted toppings. It’s a tasty looking small-medium five-door hatchback. Now, the hatchback served up by the Malaysian automobile maker has a new topping and a fresh name, the Suprima S Super Premium. A name like this holds hopes of great expectations. Alas the Suprima S Super Premium does not entirely deliver. Proton puts much store in its product quality with five years or 75,000 km free scheduled servicing,… Read more

2014 PROTON EXORA REVIEW

Proton Exora, priced from $25,990, drive away, is quite simply the most affordable seven-seater in Australia. The Malaysian-made compact people mover also carries a large carrot in the form of free servicing for the first five years or 75,000 kilometres. And there is no skimping on equipment, with reverse parking alarm, DVD for rear-seat residents, stylish twin five-spoke alloy wheels and a full-size spare on the base model GX. The up-specced Proton GXR test vehicle also added reversing camera, cruise control, daytime running lights, roof-mounted rear spoiler and leather seat… Read more

PROTON PREVE GXR TURBO

When we road tested the all-new Proton Preve sedan at its introduction early in 2013 we were impressed by its ride and handling, but felt it needed more power to match the chassis dynamics. Late in the year the importers added the option of a turbocharged engine in a new model called Preve GXR Turbo. ENGINE / TRANSMISSION While it still has a capacity of just 1.6 litres, in a class where 2.0 litres is more common, the Proton engine with a turbocharger now develops 103 kilowatts of power and… Read more

PROTON ADDS A SPORTIER SUPRIMA S

Proton has introduced an additional model to the Suprima S hatchback range in its home market of Malaysia and plans to send some downunder to us in Australia. The standard Proton Suprima S was launched in Australia in January 2014 and those who enjoy the driving pleasure provided by Lotus tuned suspension in that model will welcome the sporty new variant, the Suprima S Premium. However, the Suprima S Premium model doesn’t provide added performance, rather it’s aimed at those wanting a sportier look. This is provided by 17-inch alloy… Read more

2013 PROTON EXORA REVIEW

Stylish in a practical sort of a way, the new Proton Exora is spacious and comfortable

Proton Australia makes no bones about it; the new Proton Exora is quite simply the cheapest seven-seat vehicle on the market. During the launch out of Sydney, the marketing people did talk about style and luxury and all the usual things that excite buyers, but made it clear that value for money is by far Exora’s biggest feature. Which is smart thinking; those who need extra seats are likely to be in the early stages of their lives, with small children, a big mortgage and a modest income. Offer them… Read more

2013 PROTON PREVE AND SUPRIMA S REVIEW

Proton Suprima S

When we tested the new Proton Preve we were impressed by its chassis dynamics, but felt it needed more engine. Our wish has been realised and the Preve is now available with the option of a turbocharged engine, resulting in a variant tagged as the Preve GXR. ENGINE While it still has a capacity of 1.6 litres the Campro engine now develops 103 kilowatts of power and 205 Nm of torque, well up on the 80 kW and 150 Nm of the non-turbo unit. This gives it a much livelier… Read more

PROTON SUPRIMA S

Proton Suprima S has excellent styling that takes a different look to current mainstream shapes

Proton’s newest model, the Suprima S hatchback has been revealed to the motoring media at a special event in Sydney, though it doesn’t go on sale until January 1, 2014. Though it’s a five-door hatchback variant of the Proton Preve sedan that was launched midway through 2013, the Malaysian car makers likes to regard the Proton Suprima S as a model in its own right. STYLING Though the major body panels from the B-pillar forward are the same as the Proton Preve, the bumper, radiator grille and lights of the… Read more

2013 PROTON PREVE REVIEW

Proton Preve is now in Australia and the Malaysian car maker has high hopes for its renewed attack on our market

A compact family sedan from Malaysian manufacturer Proton, the Preve, comes downunder in two variants. The Preve GX five-speed manual and Preve GX six-speed continuously variable automatic. Incidentally, Proton would like us to pronounce Preve to rhyme with cafe so as to give the new car a European flavour. Proton Preve offers excellent value for money as it has a drive-away price of $15,990 for the five-speed manual transmission and $17,990 for the six-speed continuously variable transmission. These prices are $3000 under the launch prices announced earlier this year. Proton… Read more

PROTON PLANS MAJOR EXPANSION IN AUSTRALIA

Proton Preve range has been expanded to include a sporty GXR variant.

  Malaysian car maker Proton has been very quiet in Australia in recent times, but is planning to make more noise on the market in the coming few months. The company made some weird decisions on pricing in years gone by, asking big dollars for some models with the result that sales were all but non-existent at times. The lesson appears to have been learned and Proton is now proudly telling us its cars are amongst the cheapest on the market. Proton launched a model called Preve in four-door sedan… Read more

2010 PROTON S16 REVIEW

Proton’s new S16 sedan has a shape is out of the ordinary without being overly different

Quite simply, this is Australia’s cheapest car; the Proton S16 sedan is priced at a mere $11,990 which includes on-road costs. That makes it the equivalent of about four month’s average income. A truly stunning price. Value for money is obviously the biggest appeal in this Malaysian car and to achieve this some corners have been cut in the levels of equipment, although not to the extent you might have imagined. You get air conditioning, power windows on the front doors (but not on the back ones), a reasonably good… Read more