Proton Satria News

AUSTRALIAN Formula 1 driver Mark Webber is on cloud nine after Red Bull's one-two finish at last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. "It could have gone either way, but in the end Seb (Sebastian Vettel) did the job at the crucial stage and deserved the victory," he says. "A one-two finish for us as a team is sensational. The cars ran very well and it was a nice come back for us after a tough few races where we didn't finish as we wanted to. I'd like to be one spot further up, but its a great result for the team."V8 Supercars Australia is keeping its options open in the search for alternate engines for the V8 Car of the Future. The category estimates that a current high-end V8 Supercar engine costs a ludicrously high amount to run at almost $40 a kilometre. Mark Skaife, who heads the CoF committee, acknowledges that the biggest point of contention in CoF was the engine program. Under CoF, V8 Supercars plans to overhaul engine systems used from 2012.Today engines cost about $100,000. However CoF wants a lighter and longer-lasting engine for $50,000 with a 10,000km life cycle and the same output as today's cars.HAVING achieved two career milestones in an impressive performance at the recent Clipsal 500, Tony D'Alberto believes next week's Hamilton 400, New Zealand will be a good indicator of whether he can carry the form into the rest of the season. "I would love to think we could do that more often," D'Alberto says. "The car's very good at street circuits so we are looking forward to getting over there and seeing how we go."THE Hamilton 400 will be a big milestone for Steven Johnson. The No17 Jim Beam Racing driver celebrates his 150th ATCC/V8 Supercar event start in New Zealand, becoming just the 13th driver in history to achieve the feat. Since debuting at Oran Park in 1994 Johnson has notched up 337 starts, three wins, two poles, and 11 podiums. Johnson is downplaying the achievement. "It does make me feel old," he says. "I haven't thought about it too much but I'm pretty pleased to have been around for so long."THE International Rally of Queensland has received a huge boost with the signing of world rally star Chris Atkinson to contest the event for the Proton R3 team. Gold Coast-based Atkinson, 30, and fellow World Rally Championship driver Alister McRae, will line up in a pair of Proton Satria Neo S2000 cars for the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. The Queensland rally on July 30 is round four of the championship. Atkinson, McRae and the British-run Mellors Elliot Motorsport Proton team are expected to be strong contenders in Queensland, where Atkinson won in 2004 before joining Subaru for four years in the World Rally Championship.MORE rounds, more drivers in the feature races, the reconfirmation of the television package and a tweaking of the points structure have all been discussed at the first planning meeting for the 2010/11 World Series Sprintcars campaign. The World Series management group met in Adelaide recently to review last season and plan next season, which is says will be the biggest in the history of the national series. WSS group chairman Geoff Kendrick says there have been "a lot of expressions of interests from tracks". "The reaction has been positive with most of the tracks already indicating they will take a WSS round next year" he says.ASTON Martin will tackle this year's Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race in a Rapide. The Rapide endurance racer has very few modifications, apart from the removal of the luxury interior addition of mandatory safety gear and racing slicks. The brand has been quite successful in Le Mans-class racing and has performed well at the Ring in the SP8 category, which it has won the past two years running. Last year a V12 Vantage had a class win and came 21st overall. Apart from the Rapide, Aston is running a V12 Vantage in this year's event.IT has only just had its debut at the Geneva Motor Show but Volvo's new S60 is already track ready. The sedan debuts in the Belgian Touring Car Championship this weekend. The racecar put together by the Chinese-owned Swedish carmaker's Belgian S60 racing team. The liveried racecar shares little with the road-going S60. The Belgian Touring Car Championship is highly-regulated. Each car shares a tube chassis, extensive aerodynamic work and front and rear suspension. The S60 racer gets its power from a rear drive 305kW V6 mated to a six-speed manual

The Malaysian car maker is now export—focussed and with a revitalised pricing strategy, an all—new model, as well as entry—level price point variants of its existing range, in the Australian market. The company has brought forward the introduction of what it claims will be Australia's lowest priced sedan, which will now arrive in October this year instead of early next year. With a sub—$13,000 pricetag Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari says the car's compliance process was completed early and he saw no point in delaying new product. "We're offering a four—door where many are three—door — you'd argue that the buyer, if they can get more for less, might switch to a sedan if the price is right." "Initially we'll get the manual with the 1.6, early next year we'll have other variants in automatic and manual, with the 1.3—litre engine — it's based on the Campro 1.6 engine." Startari says the new—entry level models of Satria Neo, Gen2 and Persona would be introduced here just before the end of the year, a big part of the sales increase strategy. "We're looking to triple our sales over a two—year period, that's on the back of a substantial increase in marketing, the introduction of a more price—competitive range — we see the volume growth at the lower end," he says. Brand awareness and its dealer network have been two of the brand's main issues - something Startari aims to address within the new plan. "Our dealer network has undergone substantial change, we've parted company with 17 of our 41 dealers by mutual consent, we went to them with our plan, with infrastructure that was required, which required some investment on their part, those that didn't want to do it agreed to cease trading." "We've recruited seven new dealers in the last two months, which we have to fast—track now because the car is coming quicker — we need to be at 50 dealers by the end of 2011 nationally. "We've parted company with nearly half our network, we wouldn't have done that ... things needed to change and in the last 18 months there's been some dramatic changes, I'm not saying it's the last throw of the dice but things needed to change." Startari says the brand erred with its buyer—direct strategy and had needed to raise its profile with consumers. "We're dealing with an awareness problem, we should be selling 4000—5000 a year, we've researched this and found out why - there's nothing out of the ordinary — at the end of the day it comes down to awareness … if they don't know us, they shy away because there are other more visible brands out there," he says. "Proton has already recruited a number of new dealers and they have told us that they had considered taking on other low cost brands but did not want to take the risk with brands that do not have an established record in Australia." With a number of Chinese brands coming into the market, as well as existing Japanese and Korean brands increasing small—car numbers, Proton sees its strength in its 15—year presence in the market. Startari says the Australian arm's four—year business plan has factory support. "The factory knows it will be tough in the early stages, the market has changed but the foundations of our business plan is still sound and we believe we can achieve it," he says. "Clearly there will be new low cost brands entering the market in the coming months, however Proton's strength is that it has been in this market for close to 15 years and is a factory owned operation with the full backing of our parent company in Malaysia. "Product, pricing and marketing support have received major boosts from our parent company to ensure that we have the tools to expand our market share in this country," he says. "The next 12 months will tell if we've got it right - or if we've got it horribly wrong.”

The experience will go swimmingly for the brand, or it will backfire and become an embarrassing mistake. So when V8 Supercar driver, Mark Skaife, got behind the wheel of a Proton Satria recently for his stint as a celebrity driver on the local version of the UK hit Top Gear, Proton Australia company executives were justifiably nervous for their car. However managing director, John Startari, says the whole experience was a pleasant surprise. "When you get people like Mark Skaife commenting on how good our car is, that's been beneficial," he says. "We are happy to sign on for the next series." Apart from Skaife, Startari appreciates the feedback from the other celebrity drivers who have completed the track drive. The Top Gear Satria has sailed through its various track challenges without missing a beat, apart from a few minor scrapes. "Again, that's good news," Startari says. Startari says that he was initially sceptical about supplying a 1.6-litre Satria for the show, based on the experience of the UK show, which used a Suzuki Liana and in recent episodes a Chevrolet Lacetti, sold here as the Holden Viva. "I was a bit concerned about how the car would be portrayed, based on how the UK show treats its car," he says. "But the producers reassured me that it would be fairly treated and used appropriately." But the positive exposure has been a good thing and is helping Startari build the case for a GTi version of the Satria. With the aide of Top Gear, Startari is keen to reignite interest in a Satria GTi and get them into showrooms next year. "We also want to leverage our Lotus relationship after we build some market share," Startari says. But Startari says the company needs the right engine, whether it be a four cylinder turbocharged unit or high-performance naturally aspirated engine. The company showed off a tricked up Satria "Desire" concept at the Sydney Motor Show two years ago but until recently progress on the GTi had stalled. The Top Gear exposure may have been just the ticket to kickstart discussions with Malaysia and get the car back on track.  

The Exora has just been unveiled in Malaysia, and will come to Australia, but it's the mechanical package under the family wagon which provides the real breakthrough.It will be spun in a number of directions, including an all-new Persona family car.Talk from Malaysia also points to a potential successor to the Jumbuck ute, which has been a rare success for Proton in Australia, as well as the company's first station wagon.There is no confirmation of the extended model plan, but Proton Cars Australia is already looking at the potential for the Exora down under."The Exora will come. We're evaluating it and seeing how we can get it here, in what form and what pricing," says Proton chief John Startari, who was in Malaysia last week."It would be our first seven seater, so we need to check the positioning. It would need to be under $25,000 and the timing depends on negotiations on pricing and the market study. It would be next year at the earliest."In Australia we don't have the small people movers that work in Aisa.It would be interesting to see if there is an opportunity."The biggest shortcoming in the Exora is the baby 1.6-litre Campro engine which restricts almost everything the Malaysian company makes.It is fine for home sales but barely adequate for export use in countries like Australia.Startari refuses to talk specifics on the Exora's mechanical package but admits Proton is looking at ways it can exploit the latest engineering development."The plan is to rationalise the number of platforms. There are currently six from the Jumbuck to the Exora," he says."The new platform is the first one since the Satria, which came after the Savvy."Proton sales in Australia have been hit badly in recent months but Startari says is developing a plan to give the brand some renewed impact."I have to admit that we're down considerably. But we're preparing to work through the dealer network, moving from 25 back up to 40 in coming weeks," he says."That will give an immediate sales boost. And then we are planning to release a new small five-door model."That car will be coming in August, but I don't want to say too much yet. We have to get everything locked away."It has just been unveiled in Malaysia, and will come to Australia, but it's the mechanical package under the family wagon which provides the real breakthrough.It will be spun in a number of directions, including an all-new Persona family car.Talk from Malaysia also points to a potential successor to the Jumbuck ute, which has been a rare success for Proton in Australia, as well as the company's first station wagon.There is no confirmation of the extended model plan, but Proton Cars Australia is already looking at the potential for the Exora down under."The Exora will come. We're evaluating it and seeing how we can get it here, in what form and what pricing," says Proton chief John Startari, who was in Malaysia last week."It would be our first seven seater, so we need to check the positioning. It would need to be under $25,000 and the timing depends on negotiations on pricing and the market study. It would be next year at the earliest."In Australia we don't have the small people movers that work in Aisa.It would be interesting to see if there is an opportunity."The biggest shortcoming in the Exora is the baby 1.6-litre Campro engine which restricts almost everything the Malaysian company makes.It is fine for home sales but barely adequate for export use in countries like Australia.Startari refuses to talk specifics on the Exora's mechanical package but admits Proton is looking at ways it can exploit the latest engineering development."The plan is to rationalise the number of platforms. There are currently six from the Jumbuck to the Exora," he says."The new platform is the first one since the Satria, which came after the Savvy."Proton sales in Australia have been hit badly in recent months but Startari says is developing a plan to give the brand some renewed impact."I have to admit that we're down considerably. But we're preparing to work through the dealer network, moving from 25 back up to 40 in coming weeks," he says."That will give an immediate sales boost. And then we are planning to release a new small five-door model."That car will be coming in August, but I don't want to say too much yet. We have to get everything locked away."

A move towards large cars is part of Proton's growth plan. After years of concentrating on small vehicles, the Malaysian brand will step up to bigger cars with a people mover and possibly a compact off-roader.Recently speaking at the launch of the new Persona small sedan, Proton Australia managing director John Startari revealed the company's plans for the next two years.Several updated models are coming our way next year, including the new seven-seat MPV.The people mover is a big step for Proton, which has had only compact sedans and hatches.The van will be officially unveiled later this year in Malaysia, but Startari would not reveal details of the new model.He says the company is also considering a move into the competitive compact off-roader market soon, but the deal hinges on the company's expansion.“Proton is starting to seek partners in Russia. That, I think, will help Australia immensely,” Startari says.Startari did confirm that an upgraded version of the GEN.2 hatch is due at the end of this year and will begin a busy period for the brand.The face lifted GEN.2 is expected to use the company's new CAMPRO CPS engine that lifts power from 82kW to 93kW.The Saga and Satria R3 will be introduced early next year. The Saga will replace the Savvy light sedan and be available with either a 1.3-litre or 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The Satria R3 is a performance version of the current hatch.Though the company hasn't said what will power the R3, Startari did say Proton is developing forced-induction engines.The Jumbuck light ute will also receive an update next year and is the “prime target” for Proton's eventual move into diesel powerplants.Since negotiations with Volkswagen for a joint-venture agreement to develop diesel engines broke down, Proton has been looking for a new partner.The Proton could produce a range of hybrid vehicles based on the Lotus-developed hybrid prototype. Lotus built the GEN.2 based EVE hybrid last year, but so far there has been no confirmation it will go into production. 

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe represents a shift in Hyundai’s design strategy with a V6 and rear-wheel drive.

IT has been a long time coming but Proton is set to produce a worthy successor to its Satria GTi. The Malaysian car maker will show off the GTi descendant when it unveils the R3 Satria at the Melbourne Motor Show later this month.The hot hatch version of the Satria is destined for an appearance on local roads inside the next 12 months.While the company is not prepared to divulge any details, the high-performance Satria was developed by the company's special vehicles and motor sport arm R3 - Race, Rally and Research - under the eye of former Lotus engineer and race driver Tengku Djan Ley.“We have very much focused on the Lotus philosophy of performance through light weight, utilising intelligent powerplant solutions while minimising weight and enhancing Satria's already impressive handling,” Mr Ley says. Expect the R3 Satria to have under body upgrades to match the exterior tweaks, with the R3 engineers targeting a “significant” power increase over the standard Proton Satria.The Malaysian hot hatch was thought to be a chance of getting a small-capacity turbocharged powerplant through one of the joint ventures mooted with Peugeot or Volkswagen. But given the lack of progress on that front, Proton looks like it will be keeping the powerplant in house, but forced induction is likely, as is a power figure above 120kW.The R3 Satria will share Proton's stand at the Melbourne show with the company's new Persona sedan, which goes on sale in April.The new Persona, based on the Gen2 Hatch platform, is powered by Proton's 1.6-litre engine with 82kW and 120Nm, using either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari says the presence of the R3 Satria on the Proton stand at Melbourne will be a huge drawcard.“The question we get asked all the time is when will the next Satria GTi be here,” Mr Startari says. “The first-generation GTi carved a real niche for itself and it is a bit of a cult car." 

AS ONE-FIFTH of the upbeat phenomenon Hi-5, Nathan Foley is known around the world. He has sung and danced his way to worldwide acclaim with the multiple Logie and ARIA Award-winning group and children's show. The 28-year-old has been part of the successful Nine Network show, which is aired in 83 countries worldwide, for eight years. And, along with the other four members of Hi-5, he has become a cult star for under-10s. Foley, who has recently written and produced his solo album, Discovery, loves V8 engines, riding motorcycles and karting.What was your first car?I bought a 1983 Mazda RX-7 when I was 16. I started performing when I was 10, so I saved to buy a car when I got my Ls. I bought it secondhand and I still have it. It's bronze-over-brown - sounds disgusting, but it's really funky. I'm trying to sell it.What do you drive now?My main car is a 2003 Ford Explorer. I also have a 2003 Triumph motorcycle, and I've just sold a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang. In 1998 I won a Proton Satria in a singing competition and traded it in for the Mustang. I sold it because I want to renovate my house.Do you have a favourite drive, and who would you take along?I love driving down the south coast of NSW to Coolangatta with my girlfriend Melissa (not Coolangatta in Queensland). It's about a two-hour drive from Sydney.How far would you drive in an average year?Oh boy. We tour a lot and I drive both and in New Zealand. I live on the NSW central coast so I do a lot of driving back and forth to Sydney. I'd average three to four hours a day. What's that over a year? A lot of kilometres.Do you have a favourite motoring memory?I used to visit my dad on weekends at his farm in the central coast area. He bought me a $200 paddock-basher - I think it was a Corona. It was a five-speed manual, so I learned to drive a manual at a young age. I was 10 years old and had my own Dukes of Hazzard course. My mates would come over and we'd go around the paddock-bashing course.What would you buy if money were no object?I'm not a huge fan of new cars - they all look the same to me. But if I had millions of dollars to spend I would buy 50 to 100 classic cars. Get all the muscle cars from the late 1960s and early '70s.What music is playing in your car?I'm a huge Stevie Wonder fan but at the moment I'm really getting into Ben Harper -- Both Sides of the Gun. I always travel with my iPod. I have this huge transmitter that's really strong, so if I'm travelling in convoy with friends in three cars they can all pick up the frequency.How much is too much for a new car?I think car prices are going up ridiculously, especially if it's just to get you from A to B. The only way I would buy an expensive car is if it would hold its value like an investment. That's why I got the Mustang. If you spend $80,000 to $100,000 on a new car - which I haven't, that's way too much money -- in a few years they're down to $40,000. I think $450,000 is too much to pay for a car. If big businessmen have the cash to do it, then do it, but I think it's ridiculous.What should be done to make driving safer?People need to be more aware on the road. I find when I'm on my bike, people just don't look where they're driving. They don't indicate. I think everyone should do a road-rules test and be taken on a course once a year. If they're not up to scratch they should lose their licence. I really believe that. My pet peeve is people going slow in the right-hand lane on the freeway. It bugs the crap out of me.Are you sponsored by a car company?No, but I'm looking.

The show, which opens on Friday, will feature the Australian debut of several models at the affordable end of the car world.Leading the way, Holden is expected to take the "top secret" covers off the Epica, its next lower-priced, mid-size sedan.The Korean-made Epica — tipped by dealers to start at $24,990, with the choice of two six-cylinder engines — replaces the European-made Vectra.The Epica will fit into the Holden line-up alongside the Barina and Viva, budget-priced Korean replacements for models previously designed and built in Europe.Malaysian brand Proton will launch its second-generation Satria Neo three-door hatchback in the city that has been its strongest Australian market.The Satria Neo, with a 1.6 litre engine, looks chunkier than its predecessor and will be $18,990 drive away.Honda will unveil a fresh-design CR-V all-wheel-drive wagon, with prices expected to start near $30,000.Nissan's compact Tiida model, given a $2000 price cut to start at $17,990, is expected to attract budget-minded shoppers. Like the Honda CR-V, production of the Tiida has been moved from Japan to Thailand.Continuing the price-down trend, Suzuki's new face will be the SX4, a 2.0 litre all-wheel-drive wagon that officially goes on sale on Thursday, priced from $24,990. It had been expected to be $26,990.French brand Peugeot will use the show for the Queensland unveiling of its new small car, the near-$20,000 207, about to go on sale with 1.4 litre, 1.6 litre and 1.6 litre turbo petrol engines, and a 1.6 litre diesel.The show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, runs from Friday to February 11. It is open noon-10pm on weekdays, 10am-10pm on Saturdays and 10am- 6pm on Sundays. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children, and $42 for a family (two adults, three children).

Last week government ministers said they were in talks with Volkswagon and French rival Peugeot-Citroen about possible acquisition of the Malaysian government’s 42.7 per cent stake.Peugeot-Citroen last night bowed out of talks and said the company had no plans to buy any part of Proton.Volkswagon is also no longer believed to be interested after the Malaysian government refused to allow the German car maker to have management control.Proton has sold 1628 cars in Australia this year, comprising the light cars Satira and Savvy, plus small cars Persona and Waja.Investment companies including DRB Hicom and the unlisted Naza Group are believed to have expressed interest in the Malaysian Government’s share."We submitted a letter of interest to the Ministry of Finance about two months ago and are awaiting word from them," Naza Group chief executive Nasimuddin Amin was quoted as saying in the Star newspaper.Naza assembles cars in a venture with South Korea's Kia Motors Corp., while DRB Hicom has alliances with Isuzu Motors Ltd., General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co. and is controlled by politically well-connected businessman Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.But Malaysian ministers are understood to be seeking foreign investment for Proton.Proton, established in the 1980s, is an icon of Malaysia's rapid industrialisation.Its fortunes in Southeast Asia's biggest car market have plummeted from about 60 percent three years ago to just 40 percent this year due to improving sales from second national manufacturer Perodua and cheaper foreign models.ASEAN's impending decision to liberalise decades-old protectionist policies in its auto sector also could hurt Proton's bottom line, analysts say.European automakers are attracted to Proton because it gives them a chance to break into the Southeast Asian auto market, historically dominated by their Japanese rivals.Proton has two plants in Malaysia, with a total capacity of 380,000 cars per year that can be raised to 1.2 million units per year if there is sufficient demand. The plants are currently using only half their capacity.-With wires