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Proton X90 makes debut in Bangladesh

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PROTON has announced that the X90 has been launched in Bangladesh on February 29. This is the fourth export market for the automaker’s flagship SUV after Mauritius, South Africa, and Brunei.

Held in the capital city of Dhaka, the event was officiated over by H.E. Haznah Md. Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton and Romo Rouf Chowdhury, Group Managing Director, Rancon Holdings Limited, the exclusive distributor for Proton in Bangladesh.

Two variants of the X90, the six-seat Flagship and seven-seat Premium, are offered to buyers, and to date, 25 units have already been registered in less than two weeks following its unveiling.

In a statement, Proton states that there is optimism for its first New Energy Vehicle (NEV) to carve out a market niche prior to local assembly (CKD) operations starting later in the year.

“Proton is confident Rancon Holdings is the perfect partner for Proton to be successful in Bangladesh. They are already establishing a sales and after sales network and will invest in a manufacturing line to locally assemble Proton vehicles in the future,” said Dr. Li Chunrong.

“With more offerings in the pipeline, as well as our commitment to support all facets of the partnership, we aim to be a the top-3 brand in Bangladesh within three years,” he added.

A critical component to Proton achieving its lofty targets in Bangladesh will be the setting up of an assembly line. Aside from allowing its products to qualify for more favourable tax rates, a new plant also encourages the development of skilled local workers while energizing the vendor ecosystem through technology transfers.

Operations are targeted to begin as early as 2024, with strict production standards enforced to ensure the output matches the quality of vehicles built in Tanjong Malim.

“To ensure product quality in export markets that have local assembly are the same as the vehicles built in Malaysia, Proton is leaning on its experience of using the Volvo Global Quality Standard, which has been instrumental in improving the quality of our products,” said Dr. Li.

NEWS

Proton sold 13,602 cars in February, S70 sales up by 60.5%

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PROTON continued its positive growth trajectory to start the year by reporting 13,602 sales (domestic and export) in February. By doing so, total sales for the first two months grew to 26,484 units, an increase of 3% over the same time period from 2023.

The achievement is particularly noteworthy as automotive sales are traditionally slower at the beginning of the year after the year-end sales push in December.

After the first two months of 2024, total-industry-volume is estimated to have grown by 13.8% year-to-date to 129,353 units as an influx of new brands launching both traditional and EV models generates a lot of buyer interest.

The national carmaker’s market share is forecast to be at 20.5%, placing it comfortably in second position in the overall national automotive sales ranking.

Launched at the end of November 2023, the S70 has unlocked pent up demand and interest from buyers in both domestic and international markets. Sales increased by 60.5% to 2,314 units in February, as production continues to ramp up.

About to enter its 39th year of continuous production, the Saga recorded sales of 6,212 units in February, making it the fifth consecutive month the car has exceeded the 6,000 unit a month barrier.

More impressively, with a total of 12,341 units sold in the first two months of 2024, year-to-date sales for the model are now 10.9% higher than the previous year.

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Apart from the S70, other models also ended February as sales leaders for their respective segments. The Persona and the X90 both continued to reign in their categories respectively with 1,859 and 374 units sold, respectively.

The X50 meanwhile ended February in second place for B-segment SUVs with 1,816 units, while the X70 saw an uptick of 19.6% to 445 units. The Iriz added 3.8% to close at 543 units.

Finally, although production has ended for the Exora, 39 units were sold in February and to date, over 194,250 units of the model have been sold, making it the most successful C-segment MPV in Malaysia’s automotive history.

Notably, its export business leapfrogged by 223% to 346 units in February as compared to January this year while year-to-date export growth stands at 50.5% with 453 units sold to overseas markets this far.

NEWS

Proton sold 12,882 units in January 2024, their best start to year since 2013

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PROTON has announced its sales performance for the month of January 2024, with 12,882 units (domestic and export) sold last month.

According to the national car manufacturer, this marks their best start to a year since 2013. The figure represents a 1.3% increase compared to December 2023 and a gain of 10.3% compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the national automaker’s market share for January is estimated at 19.5%, which is 3.3% higher compared to the previous month.

The Total-Industry-Volume (TIV) is estimated at 66,134 units, which would translate to a decline of 15.6% compared to December that saw the numbers inflated by the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales to close 2023.

On individual models, the Saga maintains its popularity with 6,129 units sold, followed by Malaysia’s most popular SUV, the X50, with 2,002 units, and the B-segment sedan leader, Persona, with 1,846 units.

In fourth place is Proton’s newest model, the S70, which recorded sales of 1,442 units last month. Proton says the sedan now has over 8,000 orders, reflecting the strong and positive response it has received from eager customers.

The S70 also made its way to its first export market in Brunei, as 15 units were delivered ahead of its official launch there in February.

Proton’s flagship model, the X90, also performed well with 365 units sold last month, solidifying its position as the leader in the D-segment SUV market.

TIPS

Owners surprised to find Proton X70’s resale value less than 50% after only 3 years

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The owners of Proton X70 are generally surprised to find that the resale value of their cars is less than 50 percent only after three years of purchase.

Screenshots from the vehicle sales website are being shared on several forums and Facebook groups. A brief survey by Engear also discovered that the 2018 Proton X70 is being resold at prices below RM50,000, approximately RM47,800.

The 2019 model, on the other hand, is advertised at around RM59,000, with a range between 50,000 and 94,000. For us, this depreciation is not too severe, it’s still quite normal. However, only some units of the 2020 Proton X70 are being sold for as low as RM56,700 for the 1.8 Executive AWD variant.

This model was priced at RM115,800 at launch, so indeed its value has depreciated by less than 50 percent over three years. But not all units are the same, as there are still 2020 models priced at over RM80,000.

In reality, the depreciation of a vehicle depends on many factors, including the vehicle’s age, condition, accident records, service history, mileage, and perhaps accessories.

Prices also vary between direct sales from owners and used car dealerships. Another thing to consider is, even if the depreciation value is significant, why? Did you buy the car solely for resale?

If the purchased car serves us well, is enjoyable to drive, and we are satisfied with the purchase, then that should be enough. Not everyone buys a car for resale.

NEWS

Proton sold 154,611 cars in 2023, best performance since 2012

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PROTON ended 2023 with 12,711 units sold in December, bring its year-end total sales figure to 154,611 units for domestic and export markets.

The sales figure represents a 9.3% increase compared to the 141,432 units recorded in 2022.

That being so, Proton has successfully achieved its best sales performance since 2012 and a fifth consecutive year of sales growth.

The company’s overall market share is calculated to be 19.4% of the estimated total industry volume of 794,948 units, approximately 10.3% than the previous year.

This positions Proton in the second place in overall sales for the fifth consecutive year.

According to the company, the the rebound in demand for the PIES models (Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga) powered its sales growth in 2023.

The Saga remains Proton’s best-selling model with 70,184 units sold, its best performance since 2012 and placing it as the fourth best-selling vehicle in Malaysia for 2023.

The Persona saw the most significant growth as sales rose by 48.9% to 24,362 units. The Iriz, which also suffered delays due to last year’s chip shortage, posted a tidy 33.8% increase in sales to 7,639 units in 2023.

The Exora signed off with a sales increase of 4.6%, ending the year with 4,473 units sold. Since its launch in 2009, Proton has sold over 194,000 units of the Exora, making it the most successful C-segment MPV in Malaysia’s automotive history.

Proton’s SUV lineup also ended the year on a positive note. Demand for the X50 remains strong with 31,829 units sold in Malaysia and overseas throughout the past year. Following this is the X70 with 11,200 units and the X90 with 4,815 units sold.

As for the S70, customer deliveries will begin in 2024 and to date, more than 5,000 bookings have been received.

NEWS

Proton Arena ‘GTi’ for sale in the UK, for RM14.7k only!

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THE Proton Arena is among the national car company’s models that didn’t sell well initially, but is now in high demand. The price is still steep, a brief survey on sales websites shows prices are still around RM25,000 to RM35,000.

However, in the United Kingdom (UK), there is a Proton Arena for sale at only £2,500 (RM14,739)! The Arena is known as the Proton Jumbuck in export markets such as the UK and Australia.

Not only is the price quite attractive, but this yellow Proton Jumbuck unit is even ‘copied’ with parts from the Satria GTi!

This can be seen in the front bumper, side fenders, and interior parts such as the dashboard, Recaro seats, pedals, and original GTi carpets. Quite handsome, if I may say so myself…

According to its owner, Paul Atkinson, who advertised the Jumbuck on the Proton gti owners UK page on Facebook, the engine is also from the GTi, a 4G93P 1.8-liter 16-valve unit.

The Proton Jumbuck GTi is painted in a sporty yellow color. It is further given a rally image with items such as WRC side mirrors, mud flaps, 15-inch white Momo rims, and the writer’s favorite, a pair of round spot lights at the front!

According to Atkinson, the Jumbuck is being sold because there have been changes to its design. “Jumbuck’s are getting quite rare now and especially modified ones,” he said.

“It always gets lots of compliments and is pretty quick for what it is (circa 140bhp), early Evo engines do drop straight in.

“MOT until August 2024, 100,000 miles, and the car is in Grantham, Lincolnshire,” Atkinson wrote.

Imagine if this Proton Arena were available in Malaysia, its price would surely easily reach RM55,000. Perhaps even more. This is because its other specifications are also quite tempting.

Below, we list what Atkinson shared:

Modifications:

• Satria GTi engine and gearbox (1.8 16v)
• Hockley exhaust manifold
• Custom stainless exhaust
• Pipercross induction kit
• Satria GTi interior
• Deep dish steering wheel
• Rearview camera
• CB radio
• Satria GTi body kit (front bumper & arches)
• Evo front suspension
• 15” Momo alloys (recently refurbished)
• 195 50 15 Avon ZV7 tires (new)
• WRC-style mirrors
• WRC-style mud flaps
• Rally spot lights
• Truckman cab
• LED rear work lights
• Air horns
• Tow bar
• Rear step

NEWS

Proton S70 officially launched – 4 variants, priced from RM73,800

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IT’S safe to say that many have been waiting for the arrival of the newest sedan from Proton, especially considering that the last time the national car maker brought a sedan to the market was the Persona back in 2016.

The wait ends today with the official launch of the Proton S70, which enters the Malaysian market as the fourth Proton model to be jointly developed with Geely after the X70, X50 dan X90.

As previously reported, the S70 will be available in four variants, namely Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X.

All four variants feature a combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that produces 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque.

Note that this is the same port-injected engine and transmission used in the X50 Standard, Executive, and Premium models. The 1.5-litre TGDi engine with 177 PS and 255 Nm, found in the X50 Flagship and the new X70, is not offered in the S70, at least for the time being.

Built on the B-Segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, the S70 measures 4,602 mm in length, 1,809 mm in width, 1,466 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,637 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Geely Emgrand it is based on.

In terms of equipment, the entry-level Executive variant comes with six airbags, Lane Change Assist, electronic parking brake, 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.

The Premium adds LED headlights, rear light bars, leatherette upholstery, automatic air conditioning, and reverse camera.

The Flagship offers more additional features, including ADAS, tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless charger, and a 360-degree camera with a 3D display.

The range-topping Flagship X only offers one additional feature over the Flagship, which is a sunroof.

Safety-wise, the Flagship and Flagship X variants come with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with 13 safety systems:

  • Autonomous Emergency Braking
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Adaptive Cruise Control dengan Stop & Go
  • Intelligent Cruise Control
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Lane Departure Prevention
  • Lane Centering Control
  • Traffic Sign Information
  • Intelligent High Beam Control
  • Lane Change Assist
  • Door Opening Warning
  • Rear Collision Warning
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert

There are seven colour options available. Snow White and Space Grey are available for all four variants, while Armour Silver and Passion Red are only offered for the Premium and Flagship.

Marine Blue and Teal Bayou Green are exclusive to the Flagship and Flagship X, and Quartz Black is exclusive to the Flagship X.

Selling prices start from RM73,800 for the Executive, RM79,800 for the Premium, RM89,800 for the Flagship, and RM94,800 for the Flagship X.

The standard package for the S70 includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a 1GB per month data package for five years, free labor for six times, financing interest rates from 2.34 percent, and Proton Insurance Program.

Additionally, the first 3,000 owners who register their cars before February 29, 2024, will receive an aero body kit worth RM3,130 (Flagship X only), a RM500 service voucher (Premium and Flagship only), and an upgraded Proton insurance program.

TIPS

Warming up engines: Do you perform it correctly?

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THE issue of engine warm-up has been debated for a long time, from casual conversations at coffee shops, hanging out at TT gatherings, to discussions in internet forums and Facebook groups.

Why is it necessary to warm up the engine? Is it just a fad, or does it serve a real purpose? We will attempt to explain this with an easy-to-understand explanation and relate it to several common situations we encounter.

Warming up the engine has been a practice since 30 to 40 years ago, when carburetor engines used a choke to mix air and petrol for combustion. In cold weather, petrol doesn’t vaporize, and since the carburetor doesn’t have a temperature sensor, it cannot adjust combustion efficiently and effectively. More fuel is used during this time. Therefore, the engine needs to be warmed up before driving.

For most modern cars that we drive today, their engines are equipped with sensors to precisely calculate the air-fuel mixture ratio. This ratio is also adjusted based on the temperature.

Therefore, in cold weather, engines with electronic fuel injection systems will inject more fuel (burning rich) to ensure proper combustion until the engine reaches the ideal temperature. This process is much faster compared to older engines with carburetor systems.

How long should you wait before driving?

The simple answer is to start the engine, wait just a little while, and then drive immediately. You actually don’t need to wait 15 or 20 minutes to warm up the engine. It’s just a waste of fuel.

Do you have deep pockets and don’t care about the cost of fuel? Well, a mechanical engineer from the Argonne National Laboratory reported that fuel is a solvent and can thin the engine oil on the cylinder walls if the engine is left idling for a long period.

As you may understand, if there is less oil on the cylinder walls, there will be more friction, and various components can be damaged or have their lifespan shortened if we warm up the engine for too long.

According to a representative from Volvo who conducted cold weather tests in the Arctic, they stated that new cars do not need to have their engines warmed up. “It’s best to start the engine for a short time to build fuel pressure, and then drive as usual,” they said.

But don’t start the engine and immediately press the accelerator hard. After about 20 or 30 seconds of starting the engine in the morning, you can slowly drive out of the housing estate, then a few turns before accelerating on the main road.

What about a car that’s been left unused for a long time?

There are times when we leave a car unused for a long period, regardless of the reason. This also raises the issue of warming up the engine, which means starting the engine briefly before leaving the car again.

But what is the correct way to warm up the engine, start and let it idle for 10 minutes? The answer is that the above method is not correct. If you have a car that is rarely driven, the best way to warm up the engine occasionally is to start the engine, drive it out of the house, and drive slowly in the surrounding area. There’s no need to do it for a long time. 10 or 15 minutes is enough.

This method is better because not only does the engine components move, but the fluid and oil in the transmission system also move around the entire area, as well as the tires and axles, everything moves. So, the grit and lubricating oil can be spread evenly.

To revisit the initial point of the article, merely warming up the engine by idling in place is less effective and can even jeopardize some components.