Aussie push for Proton in 2006

Struggling Malaysian carmaker Proton will attempt to reinvigorate its presence in the local market with the addition of two new models aimed at bargain buyers and an expansion of its dealer network.

The two new models -- the small five-door Savvy hatch and larger three-door new generation Satria -- are due to arrive in Australia dealers in February and April respectively.

The Savvy (pictured) will be unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show in February and is set to hit the market priced from under $14,000. It uses a 60kW 1.2-litre engine to drive the front wheels and sits on a chassis with design input from Lotus -- which Proton owns.

The car was launched in its home market this month and according to Proton, its Aussie launch has been delayed to "ensure optimum quality from the Proton production facility at Tajung Malim and indications are that Savvy is exceeding all benchmarks."

Two trim levels will be offered with a base model including dual airbags, power windows and mirrors and CD audio with the upspec model gaining ABS and alloy wheels.

The Satria is due to be shown first at the Brisbane Motor Show in March before going on sale the following month with prices expected to start around $15,000. Unlike the previous generation that was based on a 10-year old Mitsubishi design, this car is an all-new in-house Proton product.

Under the bonnet, it shares the Gen 2's 82kW/148Nm 1.6-litre twin cam engine that drives through either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission.

A turbo GTi version is being investigated but if it goes ahead, it probably wouldn’t get here until at least the end of 2006.

Both these new models join the five-door Gen2 hatch that recently benefited from some minor upgrades largely aimed at improving quality.

Quality has been a big issue for the Malaysian maker and in order to help improve its products for a global market, it recently enlisted the help of German quality auditing authority, TUV. The company has been through Proton's manufacturing facilities and component suppliers and instituted a raft of measures to help lift quality.

In addition to the new models Proton is also planning to increase its dealers, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

Proton currently has 35 dealers nationally and hopes to lift this to 45 by the end of next year. For a tiny player, it has a reasonably strong representation in regional areas, a fact borne out by the strength of sales of its Jumbuck ute, which with 1123 year to date is the company's biggest seller accounting for more than 50 per cent of sales.

With the new models and increased dealers, Proton is hoping to lift sales from the expected 2400 this year to around 4000 in 2006.