Proton has just launched their newly revised, Proton Persona Elegance today. Effectively, Proton will cease to offer the Persona SE variant and customers will be introduced to the High-Line model instead.
Although the original model was first conceived to be a family orientated car, it is also recognized as Proton’s second-best selling model, after the Saga. In order to enhance its sales growth and appeal, the new Persona has been driven towards a more spirited and enjoyable driving experience, which is something that Proton has always made sure to provide.
Proton has made available three variants for choice:
i) Base-Line (A/T or M/T)
ii) Medium-Line (A/T or M/T)
iii) High-Line (A/T Only)
The heart of the Elegance will be the Campro IAFM 1.6L engine will only be available on all 3 ranges with either a manual or an auto transmission to choose from.
Both Medium and High-Line models will come with all-round body-kit, fog lights and alloy rims and will also feature a newly designed blacked-out headlights, rear LED combi lights, revised meter combi fascia, chrome door handle finishing and integrated door mirror turn signals. Wheel sizes will remain at 15″ for all variants, however, the High-Line will be the only variant to have disc-brakes all around.
The interior of the High-Line will feature an exclusive leather upholstered interior as well as a Double-DIN radio, CD and MP3 player with USB compatibility, factory-fitted in-built navigation system, steering-wheel audio controls, front airbags for both driver and passenger, seatbelt pre-tensioners, auto cruise, ABS, EBD and an electric remote release for the trunk. The High-Line will be the only variant to have it in Brilliant Red.
The new Persona will offer five colour choices such as Bronze Garnet (new) , Chifon Green (new), Genetic Silver, Tranquility Black and Brilliant Red (Available for High-Line model only)
The new Persona line-up comes with a two-year or 50,000km warranty, plus a three-year or 125,000km extended warranty programme.
To commemorate the launch, PROTON will be organizing Proton 4U customer days to introduce the new edition to customers at all Proton Edar and EON outlets nationwide on 20th and 21st March 2010.
Customers who test drive the Persona during these two days are invited to take part in the “Xperience Persona Elegance Contest”, where 100 winners will stand a chace to win RM200 worth of shopping vouchers. An additional RM500 cash rebate will be handed to winners if they purchase the car within a month after the winners announcement in May 2010. The “Xperience Persona Elegance Contest” runs from 20th March – 20th April 2010.
Pricing for the three variants will be as follows:
Base-Line (OTR):
i) RM 46,499 (Manual)
ii) RM 49,499 (Auto)
Medium-Line (OTR):
i) RM 52,999 (Manual)
ii) RM 55,999 (Auto)
High-Line (OTR):
i) RM 59,499 (Auto)
About the author:
Jay WM Wong Editor
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I like the look of it and I’m sure it will be a best-seller soon. My sister has already decided to book one, ASAP.
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nice look..i’m persona user n i’m very excited to see this new persona on the road..front grill very nice..i wish to change for it for my persona soon..only for the sport rim and rear sirkit,i think not suite with the name elegance..need some improvement…else seems so nice n beautiful…bravo proton persona..we can beat myvi on the road soon..yeah…
Hot debate. What do you think?
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very nice, i already book one
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hebat betul laa persona elegance ni…
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baru nak p tengok dekat showroom.. apa feature yg terbaik?
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very best car persona elegence…proud of malaysian product higher technology n quality care improvement…im order too…compare to other car…better proton….still cheap n save tanks
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Trust cars only if they are crash tested by EURO NCAP or any other safety regulators. It is important that a new car is put through its safety standards before it is made available to the general public. Look at the news most cars that are involved in a FATAL crash are mostly local cars.
For a family person like myself I would rather choose a safe car these days as the lives of my family members are at stake. It does not matter whether you drive fast or slow. Freak accidents can occur, eg. you are driving and minding your own business and suddenly another car ploughs into you.
A Persona costs AUD15,990 = RM48,575 http://www.proton.com.au/special-offers . Why are we paying much more here? It only tells me that we are subsidising cars for international buyers. Don’t forget to add in the shipping costs! We are Malaysians and it is a Malaysian product. Shouldn’t we get the better cars at more competitive prices?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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nice..nice
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So Kenneth Lum, Toyota must crash tested at ENCAP for vios and their others low end car to convince peoples that they’ve provided a safety car… non of their low end car are tested at ENCAP…
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Damn nice..look sporty…I booked edy…
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lalala: Do you realize that Vios’s and City’s are NON-EXISTANT in Japan? Of course they will not test their cars at Euro NCAP.
The higher end cars such as Corolla’s, Latio’s and Civics (cars that exist in Japan) go through JNCAP.
Did you know the Waja was crash tested at euro NCAP? It was under their export model name which is Proton Impian. http://www.euroncap.com/tests/proton_impian_2002/116.aspx
This test was done in 2002. Look at the specs, Driver, Passenger and Side body air bags! What did we get in Malaysia? No air bags, no ABS. I had one when they launched, I know. And mind you they (people in the UK) paid less for the car at that time and I paid RM77000 for mine. I wonder how can they claim it as a Malaysian car when foreigners get better specs and pay less. While you (if you ever owned a proton) and I included got the lower end version.
Think about what I have to say…..Is our lives worth less than theirs in terms of safety. If the answer is NO then why are we subsidising Protons for others to enjoy?
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Waja was tested 3 stars, that was good at that time (2002), better than 2 stars tested on one Korean make. Don’t bluff Mr. Lum, I was in UK…. Impian 1.6 cost about RM72,000 at that time while in Malaysia it was RM60,000 for the same model. A UK magazine said the handling of Waja/Impian was better than VW Golf (2002 model). Actually Waja is the better handling car produce by Proton and I would say on par with Civic and Altis or even better.
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Jack: Give me proof of the selling prices in the UK before calling me a liar. If you can give it to me in Black and White then I will conceed that I am wrong!
Please read the Euro NCAP on the Waja very carefully. They only awarded them the 3 star after Proton ‘promised’ them to do better.
When were you in the UK, what year? Please compare it in year 2002 and with the same specs. I paid RM77,600 for my waja (A) here with leather seats. So if you are saying that it is RM72,000 in the UK at that time how can I be bluffing???????? I paid more for it here!
Why are you comparing with other makes and models? The point that I am trying to make is PROTON IS GIVING US INFERIOR CARS for the price we pay as Malaysians. Sigh…..
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interesting..so how do we know that persona sold here is not less safe than the exported ones?(is it even exported?)
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Nana: Kindly refer to older thread. Yes Protons are exported.
http://www.proton.com.au/special-offers
http: Example of us getting inferior Protons. This comparison is done with the same year model (2002) 1.6
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/proton_impian_2002/116.aspx
UK Spec Waja MY Spec Waja
4 Air bags None (except for a special edition model that had 1)
ABS None (except for the same special edition)
Seat Belt Load limiters None
And after reading the article, do you think Protons would dare to send another one of their cars to be crash tested at EURO NCAP? They may get it approved at SIRIM LOL!!!!
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That was supposed to be a table…OK what I wanted to show is
UK Spec Waja
-4 Air bags
-ABS
-Seat Belt Load limiters
MY Spec
-No Air bags (except for a limited edition which had only 1)
-No ABS (except for the same limited edition)
-No Seat Belt Load limiters
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Which testing body rated them 6 star? SIRIM? If you had half a brain and following this thread…Euro NCAP has NO 6 STAR rating!!!! Please do your homework before posting any comments in the future…… There goes your credibility…out the window.
Let me educate you…..crash tests are done at 60kmh. How fast was the Mercedez travelling at …in excess of 100kmh.
The model Lady Diana was in was a W140 SEL. Production date 1991-1999. They never had 10 air bags then. Maybe Proton Saga’s had it back then.
May I suggest Wikipedia and http://www.euroncap.com for your research before posting and wasting reader’s time reading your crap!
Anyone agrees with me?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
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jts Reply:
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:51 AM
u just wnat to attack proton…why dun just get straight…
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Kenneth Lum Reply:
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:17 PM
jts: Do you work for Proton? What do you mean by ‘get straight’? Maybe you should just take english classes and then comment maybe then you will make more sense.
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I was in UK from 2000 – 2004. My favourite passtime was reading auto magazines at Tesco, Asda or Safeways (student so not enough money). When Impian was introduced, with leather seats it cost 13,000 pounds and without leather seats 12,000 pounds. The exchange rate was about 6 ringgit to 1 pound sterling. The impian also raced in the “British Touring Car Championship” in Petronas colours. Was so proud to see Proton cars on British Roads.
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Kenneth Lum Reply:
September 23rd, 2010 at 6:01 PM
By putting down the price in the UK (assuming it is correct) you still just proved my point friend.
GBP13k X 6 = MYR78k (taking the leather spec because i am comparing it with my waja)
I paid MYR77,600 for the car. So we have a RM400 difference. I am going to put a few questions to you.
1. Consider the shipping to the UK, Q: Who bears that cost ultimately?
We do. ie. we subsidise for foreigners by over-paying for a Proton.
2. I had no air bags and no abs…. nothing just leather. Waja’s over
there came with abs & airbags as standard equipment to meet safety
standards for the EU.
Q: Do our lives as M’sians cost less than foreigners when Proton is a
M’sian product? Why can’t it be the same here? I am sure if they
had put it on as standard equipment they would’ve priced it more
than that of UK. Agreed? I hope you see eye to eye with me now.
I am just dissapointed with Proton giving us sub-standard cars. They can do better if they wanted to. But I have to say they are improving but rather slowly compared to the rest of car manufacturers. At least they have made abs and airbags as standard equipment but still only on their high line cars if I am not mistaken.
On the subject of BTCC. It was purely a branding exercise for Proton and not technically a M’sian product. The waja’s chasis is shared betweeen the Volvo S40 (first gen) and the Mitsubishi Charisma in Japan. That should explain the great handling of the Waja.
The BTCC engine was a highly tuned engine by Mitsubishi of Japan and not the dinky 1.6 that is standard on our cars. Just like our Proton rally cars share the same engine as the evos at one point of time. Gearbox was by Hewland (UK based). They supply racing gearboxes for most car manufacturers for BTCC and WRC.
I feel proud too now that Petronas is sponsoring Mercedes. Better coverage worldwide don’t you think? Especially with Schumacher being back. Do you know Petronas almost had its hand twisted…to sponsor Lotus instead cause it was Malaysian owned. But that’s another story on its own
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Nope, the engine used by Waja/Impian for BTCC was the 1.8 renaulth tuned to 2 litre while Impian sold in UK if I remember reading had 2 airbags for the one with leather and one airbag for the lesser model.
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