Proton Gen-2 AT
Maxabout Review
Stylish & Chic
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Proton Gen.2 is an attractive little car from the Malaysian maker. The interior styling is as interesting as the body, with good ideas and a real sporting flair. The British sports car maker Lotus was involved in the styling process, which perhaps explains the somewhat bizarre lack of a glovebox in a passenger car. Lotus also helped with the suspension and steering so it comes as no surprise that the Gen.2 is extremely well balanced, being very responsive to steering and throttle input and happy to be moved along close to its dynamic limit in safety.
Two petrol engines are available: a 74bhp 1.3-litre and a 110bhp 1.6-litre. Both come with a five-speed manual ’box as standard; the 1.6 has an option of an automatic gearbox. The manual 1.6 supplies enough pace for most drivers. There’s decent urge at any speed, but it is best at higher revs. The GEN-2’s 1.6 litre Lotus engineered CamPro engine delivers a maximum output of 110bhp and 148Nm of torque. To support this, an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution is standard along with side impact bars, crumple zones and anti-roll bar.
Reverse distance sensors and power assisted steering on all GEN-2 models also help to deliver a stress-free drive. While away from the car, an engine immobiliser, alarm with ignition lock protection and remote central locking will all add to the peace of mind motoring.Entertainment is provided by an integrated Blaupunkt radio/CD player with RDS and a four way speaker system and standard across the range are steering wheel mounted audio controls. A Bluetooth hands-free kit which works through the audio system can also be fitted as an accessory.
There’s decent legroom in both the front and rear, but the steeply sloping roofline compromises headroom. Even those of average height sitting in the back will find their necks craning forward to avoid touching the ceiling. The boot is a decent size and shape, but the Gen-2 does without a glovebox. Although the cabin’s styling is neat and modern, it is well behind the times for quality. The interior is awash with unappealing hard, shiny plastic and in many places the finish is poor.
Overall build quality is similarly disappointing, while many of the controls have a flimsy, insubstantial feel. It’s too early to comment on engine reliability. Proton is planning to enter the Indian automotive market from a long time now and it is expected that it will debut soon with atleast 2-3 models to start with.