After what looks like some serious consideration Malaysian auto major, Proton has finally decided to dive into Indian waters, or should we say drive onto Indian soil. The company will foray into the country as a standalone subsidiary of Proton Holdings, rather than partnering with an Indian manufacturer. Initial assembly of its cars will take place under contract with Argentum Motors, Surajpur Plant. The company also plans to source a diesel engine for its Indian products. Proton has zeroed in on three offerings for India.
Hatchback- Proton Savvy: The 1.2 liter petrol unit pumps 74 BHP, comes embodied in 3710 mm of length. The car is fuel efficient and makes for a good manual and automatic drive. Its a good thing it will be available in both, at least in certain markets. However, even better news is the excise duty cut, which means pricing won’t be as expected from a foreign car.
Sedan- Proton Saga: The Saga Sedan is based on the bodywork of Proton Savvy. Powered by a 1.3 liter petrol engine, the car produces 95 BHP and 120 NM of torque. The car is available in Malaysia & Singapore. Also available is a 114 BHP 1.6 liter petrol engine. The car is 4,257 mm long with a wheelbase of 2465 mm and boot space of 400 + liters. Priced right, the car could be up against the likes of Manza, Dzire & Etios. Notice the rear three-quarter angle – it’s close to the Ford Fiesta.
MUV- Proton Exora: This newbie is powered by a 1.6 liter 125 BHP petrol unit and comes equipped with three rows of seating and wheelbase of 2730 mm. A diesel MUV is a must for the Indian markets, and Proton is working on that front as we speak.
Proton is currently in the process of re-engineering all three offerings cars to suite Indian tastes.
Expect BYF to shadow all ‘Proton-ic’ activities!
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