Keeping Jumbuck in the mob

Proton Cars Australia chief John Startari, in hosing down speculation it will get all-paw traction, says it was seriously considered but dismissed on cost grounds.

“It would price the car over $20,000 and that's not acceptable,” Startari says.

The Jumbuck entry GLi model costs $16,990 and the upper-spec GLSi $18,990. It has been a consistent hit with rural buyers wanting a no-frills workhorse.

Proton Malaysia is close to signing off on the new Jumbuck's design and will soon start development and engineering work.

Carsguide understands the new Jumbuck will have an extended cab like the new VE Commodore ute, which will allow more storage room inside. However, Startari says it will remain a low-cost vehicle.

An all-wheel-drive Jumbuck would have filled a niche left wide open by Subaru when production of its Brumby ute ceased in 1994.

The just-axed VW and Proton technology tie-up could have given Proton access to VW's 4motion all-wheel-drive systems, making a four-paw Jumbuck more viable.

Apart from the Jumbuck, Proton is looking at a range of vehicles to join its line-up, including a small sedan called the BLM (for base-line model).

The BLM is expected to be launched in Malaysia next year and will arrive here in 2009; with either a 1.3-litre or 1.6-litre four-cylinder Campro engine. It's expected to cost less than $15,000, and Startari says it will be packed with equipment.

The BLM promises spirited performance in 1.6-litre guise. The five-speed manual weighs 1060kg and the four-speed automatic 1080kg. In Malaysia it will replace the long-running Saga model.

The 1.3-litre BLM is expected to cost about $10,000.

The sedan's platform can also support a hatch and wagon, but Proton is yet to decide if additional models will be built.