Proton Saga could make it Down Under

The Saga would become a sub-$15,000 price leader in showrooms here and instantly turn Proton from a 2500-cars-a-year tiddler into a 10,000-plus powerhouse.

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The new car is the replacement for a 20-year-old howler that was so far past its use-by date that it was never considered for Australia. The starting price in Malaysia is 31,000 ringgit, (about $10,500). But it is not confirmed for Australia and there is little likelihood because of a huge order backlog at home.

“The final decision has not been made, but we're fighting the battle,” the managing director of Proton Cars Australian, John Startari, says. He highlights two roadblocks for Saga — Malaysian and Asian sales and the need to get it here at the right price.

“Everything is done on a business case and we have to justify taking the car,” Startari says. “There would be additional investment, for compliance and things. And it is a raging success over there."

“They have about 12,000 orders and the car isn't on the road yet.”

The car shares the same basic mechanical package as the baby Savvy hatch, but the design is a conservative four-door sedan.

It has a 1.3-litre Campro engine developed by Proton, though there is no mechanical reason why it could not be upgraded to a 1.6 for Australia because the powerplants are externally identical.

The Saga was known as the BLM — basic local model — during its development, which was completed in only 17 months at a cost of $171 million.

That's a bargain basement deal considering cars such as the VE Commodore cost $1 billion.

The mechanical package is predictable, with five-speed manual and four-speed automatic gearboxes, three trim levels in Malaysia and twin airbags as standard. But the big changes from the previous car, developed using a Mitsubishi mechanical package, are in the fundamentals such as quality, comfort, quietness and improved cabin space.

Startari has been watching the BLM program closely and can see potential for Australia.

But price in Australia will depend on specification.

The battle for the Saga will shift into top gear next month at the Melbourne Motor Show.