Monday, May 01, 2006

Proton Gen-2

Engine and tonic
The 1.6-litre petrol engine is a four-cylinder sixteen-valve unit with a double-overhead camshaft. 110bhp gets produced, but you'll need to get the rev-limiter to 6000rpm to wring that out if it; maximum torque of 109lb ft is reached at 4000rpm. Performance figures are 0-60mph in 12.6sec (14.7 auto) and a top speed of 118mph (114.9mph auto). Fuel economy is a claimed 39.2 mpg (24.7mpg auto).

Spec sheet
Three trim levels are offered on the Gen2: GL, GLS and GSX. Basic GL cars' exterior get edged with nasty black plastic bumpers and mirrors; inside air-con appears, but essential safety gear such as ABS goes missing. GLS-specced models colour-code their bodykit, and pick up the anti-lock stoppers, while GSX models get a ten-disc Blaupunkt CD system, a rather pointless rear spoiler, cruise control (auto models) and automatic air conditioning.

The best bit
Proton's three-year, 60,000-mile full warranty and six-year, 100k-mile powertrain cover is pretty commendable. The Malaysian firm also gives a three-year RAC breakdown package with its new cars.

Service department
There may be a decent warranty on the Gen2's powertrain, but beware, you'll have to bring the car in ever 9000 to have Proton's mechanics have a look under the bonnet. This should be done after the first 1000 miles for the initial check-up. Compare this to most manufacturers' 12-15,000 miles...

Proton GEN-2 is a car made by Proton launched in the third quarter of 2004. It is the first Proton model to use an in-house developed engine, the 1.6 CamPro Engine. The engine is alleged to be sluggish at low revs but Proton claimed that the peak power and torque is well above the 1.6 engines used in other cars. However, later in 2005 the ECU was remapped back to raise the low-end torque, but the maximum power and torque remained unchanged. Lotus Cars which is owned by Proton was instrumental in the development of the car which is evident in the car's ride and handling capability. In Malaysia, the car is rivalled by Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio.

In 2005, a lower-spec version of Proton Gen-2 powered by 1.3L Campro engine was made available in Malaysia with automatic transmission option only.

Trivia

The Proton Gen-2 was one of two models (the other being the Proton Savvy) that MG Rover was looking to rebadge when it entered talks with Proton's parent company in the mid 2000s. Both Auto Express and Autocar published shots of the car with digitally recreacted Rover grills.

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