Some says that we need to develop our Research and Development programme to value added the production.
PROTON Holdings Bhd is planning to add 200 engineers next year as it expands overseas and develops new models and technology.
The company has 2,000 engineers including 800 engineers working with its sports car subsidiary, Lotus Group International Ltd, said managing director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.
"Compared with any other auto company like Volkswagen and Toyota that have about more than 10,000 engineers, we are still very small," he told reporters after the company signed a deal with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Jabatan Tenaga Manusia (JTM) in Shah Alam today.
Syed Zainal said engineers have to be recruited early to allow them to obtain the necessary skills, experiences and capabilities for the future development of the company.
"Our engineers have demonstrated their capability as shown with the introduction of Persona and Exora models," he said, adding that booking for Exora has exceeded 25,000 units to date.
Earlier, Syed Zainal said the collaboration between Proton and Jabatan Tenaga Manusia was to train its technical staff.
Proton will also cooperate with JTM to establish modules on specialist trainings especially for operators.
He said its executive staff will also be sent to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to pursue manufacturing and process engineering programme.
"The programme is very important for Proton in the next few years in preparing human capital to drive company growth," he said.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
New Stategy To Boost Exora Sales
I think this is a good approach to attract and appreciate its costumers.
PROTON Holdings Berhad’s distribution arm Proton Edar Sdn Bhd (Proton Edar) today announced that it will be holding a customer appreciation event, Proton 4 You, on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 November 2009. Proton Edar would like to invite all Malaysians to spend the first weekend of school holidays at any Proton Edar and EON outlets throughout Malaysia. Proton Edar has planned a variety of family-oriented programs at all outlets such as coloring contests, family quizzes and games with many exciting prizes to be won.
PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir explained that, “We would like to keep our promise of giving back more to our customers. On top of the Drive for Holiday year-end campaign currently running at all Proton Edar and EON outlets, we would like to have a special events for us to show our appreciation, to all Malaysians for their support and trust in us, ecspecially during the recent economic crisis.”
“We hope all Malaysians will take advantage of the first weekend of the year-end school holidays, to come with their family to any of our showrooms and take part in the many activities we have planned and win many exciting prizes.”
Apart from a variety of fun quizzes and exciting games for the whole family, PROTON will also throw in free personal assurance worth RM10,000 for all customers who book a Proton Car on that weekend. The Proton iCare team will also make their appearance at almost all outlets for free 20-point car inspection services.
Concurrent with the Proton 4 You event, PROTON will also be introducing the Exora Basic which will be on sale from that weekend. The Exora Basic is the base-line model of PROTON’s first homegrown multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
On the introduction of the new variant, Dato’ Syed Zainal said, “The Exora Basic is our final offering of affordable MPV for our customers this year. Starting from RM 57,548, the Exora Basic wil be the most affordable 7-seater MPV in the market offering the same passenger and luggage spaciousness and the same 1.6L Campro CPS engine of the Medium and High Line Exoras. This is also in time with the government’s 1Malaysia campaign by taking into consideration customers from the lower middle income group.”
The Exora Basic will be available for viewing from Saturday 21 November at all Proton Edar and EON branches nationwide and customers will be able to book it at a RM500 fee. Available only in Manual Transmission, the Exora Basic comes in three colours, Genetic Silver, Tranquility Black and Solid White. For Solid White colour, it will be selling at RM57,548 in Peninsular Malaysiaa and RM60,148 in East Malaysia (on the road) whereas for the colours Genetic Silver and Tranquility Black (metallic colours), the Exora Basic will be selling at RM57,998 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM60,598 in East Malaysia(on the road).
PROTON Holdings Berhad’s distribution arm Proton Edar Sdn Bhd (Proton Edar) today announced that it will be holding a customer appreciation event, Proton 4 You, on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 November 2009. Proton Edar would like to invite all Malaysians to spend the first weekend of school holidays at any Proton Edar and EON outlets throughout Malaysia. Proton Edar has planned a variety of family-oriented programs at all outlets such as coloring contests, family quizzes and games with many exciting prizes to be won.
PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir explained that, “We would like to keep our promise of giving back more to our customers. On top of the Drive for Holiday year-end campaign currently running at all Proton Edar and EON outlets, we would like to have a special events for us to show our appreciation, to all Malaysians for their support and trust in us, ecspecially during the recent economic crisis.”
“We hope all Malaysians will take advantage of the first weekend of the year-end school holidays, to come with their family to any of our showrooms and take part in the many activities we have planned and win many exciting prizes.”
Apart from a variety of fun quizzes and exciting games for the whole family, PROTON will also throw in free personal assurance worth RM10,000 for all customers who book a Proton Car on that weekend. The Proton iCare team will also make their appearance at almost all outlets for free 20-point car inspection services.
Concurrent with the Proton 4 You event, PROTON will also be introducing the Exora Basic which will be on sale from that weekend. The Exora Basic is the base-line model of PROTON’s first homegrown multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
On the introduction of the new variant, Dato’ Syed Zainal said, “The Exora Basic is our final offering of affordable MPV for our customers this year. Starting from RM 57,548, the Exora Basic wil be the most affordable 7-seater MPV in the market offering the same passenger and luggage spaciousness and the same 1.6L Campro CPS engine of the Medium and High Line Exoras. This is also in time with the government’s 1Malaysia campaign by taking into consideration customers from the lower middle income group.”
The Exora Basic will be available for viewing from Saturday 21 November at all Proton Edar and EON branches nationwide and customers will be able to book it at a RM500 fee. Available only in Manual Transmission, the Exora Basic comes in three colours, Genetic Silver, Tranquility Black and Solid White. For Solid White colour, it will be selling at RM57,548 in Peninsular Malaysiaa and RM60,148 in East Malaysia (on the road) whereas for the colours Genetic Silver and Tranquility Black (metallic colours), the Exora Basic will be selling at RM57,998 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM60,598 in East Malaysia(on the road).
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Facts You Should Know About Proton Exora
The name EXORA is pronounced ‘AE-ZORA'
The Proton Exora is a New Lifestyle Family Mover which combines advanced styling, space and multi usage, high quality design, and good performance without neglecting the value for money factor.
Proton Exora is built with a spacious interior which sits 7 adults comfortably. The dual blower air cond with individual vents for each row adds comfort for all passengers. Its safe cabin features high tensile steel cage coupled with hydro forming sub-frame providing high level of safety.
It also features several intelligent functions such as programmable door lock and programmable front wiper speed which are controlled by an integrated module.
The Proton Exora with dimensions of 4592mm (length) and 1809mm (width) is slightly bigger than Toyota Innova and Nissan Grand Livina.
Proton Exora High Line AT is available at OTR RM 75,998 and Medium Line AT is available at RM69,998.
The manual transmission for Medium Line will be available from July onwards.
There are six (6) body colours offered for Proton Exora:
* Genetic Silver
* Tranquility Black
* Blue Haze
* Solid White
* Gaia Blue (new)
* Pyrite Brown (new)
SALES
The booking fee is RM 1000.
Bookings can be made right now. Delivery is expected to be between 1 to 2 months.
Booking fees paid though transferrable (with proper documentation) to next of kin, and to other Proton models, are non-refundable.
The manufacturer warranty period is 3 years or 100,000km. Extended Warranty Period (EWP) is 2 years or 75,000km. This makes total warranty period of 5-year or 175,000km.
Interest rate is 3.75% up to 9 years with EWP. This is a standard offer to all Proton Exora customers. EWP is NOT an optional feature.
A very reasonable maintenance cost is estimated at RM 1,980.00 for the first 2 years. Service intervals, after the first 3 services, are at 10,000km intervals.
For the time being, Proton Exora is not offered under the Xchange Program.
EON will also be selling the Proton Exora
DEVELOPMENT
The Proton Exora is a product designed and developed by Proton with engineering consultancy from Lotus.
The Proton Exora is the first home grown MPV, using a totally new platform from previous Proton models.
QUALITY
The Proton Exora is the 7th product developed by Proton after Waja, Gen2, Savvy, Satria Neo, Persona and Saga. Proton has been improving its products in terms of quality and reliability each time through its experience and lessons learnt.
A lot of effort has been made to ensure that The Proton EXORA gives maximum driving pleasure, including the application of damping pads and noise suppressors in strategic location within chassis and body panels. Internal test shows that Proton Exora noise level is lower than previous models
PERFORMANCE
The Proton Exora uses a 1.6L Proton CamPro Engine, with CPS (Cam-Profile Switching). CPS benefit aids fuel efficiency as well as enhances uphill driving.
Our Testing team has proven the output of the 1.6L CamPro CPS meets all the criteria set forth. The development team has put great effort to ensure the powertrain meets not only running performance targets but also fuel consumption.
The new hydro-forming material used to reduce its total bodyweight allows for 1.6L CamPro CPS to reach its maximum power of 125hp.
Maximum speed for Proton Exora automatic transmission is 165km/h.
EQUIPMENT
Proton Exora is equipped with lots of features that are not commonly found in cars below RM76,000. The unique feature, BCM, is really making new convenience technology accessible to Proton buyers.
Customers have the choice of fitting additional accessories (e.g. Thule box) to the Proton Exora as long as it is approved by the authorities (JPJ/Puspakom). Any secondary defects caused by these installations will not be covered under warranty.
BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM)
BCM is a module designed to control every basic plus additional functions of the car electronically e.g. central locking, alarm, timer etc
Several additional features which is very useful for customers has been added to the BCM, such as:
1. Programmable Wiper Speed
2. Programmable Door Lock
3. Battery Saver Function
4. Follow Home Function
5. Auto Door Unlock
6. Auto Hazard Lights Function
7. Auto Block Door Lock Function
*Kindly proceed to our showrooms to find out more!
SAFETY
Proton Exora’s body structure is engineered to offer the best crash protection among competitors in its class. ABS and dual airbags, which is specially tuned for the Proton Exora’s extra weight and size, are part of the standard package offered for all variants.
High illumination LED rear combination lights is an extra safety feature.
Proton Exora is developed with the international market in mind, and Proton has adopted European safety standards as guidelines. Proton Exora now meets the strict European safety requirements which are also adaptable to other markets such as Australian Design Rules and GCC Gulf Standards.
Proton Exora - The Interior Design
Interior details of Proton Exora .
Steering audio switches
You may switch stations or play CD's without your fingers leaving the steering wheel
Overhead LCD and Built-in DVD
An entertainment system that plays your favourite DVDs,along with a variety of formats-USB,SD,MMC port.
Flexible Seating Configuration
You can rearrange and fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats in 6 flexible configurations, including completely flat for greater space.
Front/rear Air-conditioning
Individual air-conditioning outlets provide comfort for each and every seat.
Compartments/Holders
Come with 10 cup and bottle holders along with a number of extra compartments to store just about anything.
Full 7 Adult Seater
Comfy leather seats that offer ample and comfortable seating space for 7 adult.
Friday, November 13, 2009
How They Think about Exora
This is some thought on Proton exora,control module and whole body.
* A battery saver for room lamps, luggage and key ring illumination. These turn off after 30 seconds to ensure they do not make your battery flat if for some reason they are left in a situation where they are on all the time.
* Follow-me-home headlamps stay on for a certain period of time to help light up your walkway when you park and want to enter your house.
* The battery level for the remote key is indicated on the car’s instrument panel briefly when you turn the ignition on. The remote key has a range of 20 meters.
* The remote control will not work if your front door is not closed. The vehicle will also remind you if you activate a remote command if the rear door is not closed.
* There is a door open indicator on the instrument panel that indicates exactly which door, engine bay hood or rear hatch is not closed.
* There is a door opening warning when you reach a speed of 7km/h if any doors are open.
* Tap feature for the signal indicator stalk. This is similiar to alot of modern cars – you just
have to tap the indicator stalk (not press fully) for the signal to flash 3 times to indicate a lane change and stop automatically, no need to press fully to turn on and reach for it again to deactivate it.
* Dim-in and dim-out feature for the interior room lamps – Proton says this is better for the eyes at night and it also adds a certain touch of class. The interior room lamps turn off automatically after you lock the car, or they also stay on for 30 seconds and then fade out in 2.8 seconds. When you unlock the car, the room light fade-in in 3.4 seconds.
* Front and rear wiper washer drip wiping – automatically wipe to remove excess water. What happens is when you operate the front washer, it will wipe 4 times and then pause for 5 seconds and then wipe one more time, to remove all the excess water effectively. This is because some of the washer liquid from the top of the windscreen will slowly drip down after the initial wiping, so the last wipe completely removes the washer water.
* Programmable front wiper interval. This can be anything from 1 seconds to 25 seconds. The default is 4 seconds. This is how you program it – you put it into INT and then back to off. Then you wait for the duration you want and turn switch it to INT again. The time duration you waited will become the new interval, up to a max of 25 seconds.
* The rear wiper turns on automatically when you engage reverse gear if your front wipers are on.
* If in SLOW mode, the front wiper changes mode to INT mode when you bring the MPV to a complete stop, let’s say in a traffic jam in the rain.
* The remote unlocks the drivers door only if pushed once – probably push twice to unlock all doors. Apparently you are able to configure this to unlock all doors at once by default.
* There is an alarm activation history kept but I am not sure how to access it, perhaps only at the service center.
* The doors will lock automatically once you reach a speed of 20km/h.
* The doors will unlock automatically once you remove the key from the key barrel.
* All doors unlock automatically upon a crash via a signal coming from the airbag control unit.
* If you perform any sudden braking at speeds of at least 96km/h, the hazard lights will flash automatically.
So there we go, quite an interesting and extensive list of the features that the BCM provides the Proton Exora. It will be easy to add other features such as automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers to the Exora because of the BCM, as all you need to do is add the appropriate sensor and programming so this may be a preview of what might come during the facelifts in a few years time.
* A battery saver for room lamps, luggage and key ring illumination. These turn off after 30 seconds to ensure they do not make your battery flat if for some reason they are left in a situation where they are on all the time.
* Follow-me-home headlamps stay on for a certain period of time to help light up your walkway when you park and want to enter your house.
* The battery level for the remote key is indicated on the car’s instrument panel briefly when you turn the ignition on. The remote key has a range of 20 meters.
* The remote control will not work if your front door is not closed. The vehicle will also remind you if you activate a remote command if the rear door is not closed.
* There is a door open indicator on the instrument panel that indicates exactly which door, engine bay hood or rear hatch is not closed.
* There is a door opening warning when you reach a speed of 7km/h if any doors are open.
* Tap feature for the signal indicator stalk. This is similiar to alot of modern cars – you just
have to tap the indicator stalk (not press fully) for the signal to flash 3 times to indicate a lane change and stop automatically, no need to press fully to turn on and reach for it again to deactivate it.
* Dim-in and dim-out feature for the interior room lamps – Proton says this is better for the eyes at night and it also adds a certain touch of class. The interior room lamps turn off automatically after you lock the car, or they also stay on for 30 seconds and then fade out in 2.8 seconds. When you unlock the car, the room light fade-in in 3.4 seconds.
* Front and rear wiper washer drip wiping – automatically wipe to remove excess water. What happens is when you operate the front washer, it will wipe 4 times and then pause for 5 seconds and then wipe one more time, to remove all the excess water effectively. This is because some of the washer liquid from the top of the windscreen will slowly drip down after the initial wiping, so the last wipe completely removes the washer water.
* Programmable front wiper interval. This can be anything from 1 seconds to 25 seconds. The default is 4 seconds. This is how you program it – you put it into INT and then back to off. Then you wait for the duration you want and turn switch it to INT again. The time duration you waited will become the new interval, up to a max of 25 seconds.
* The rear wiper turns on automatically when you engage reverse gear if your front wipers are on.
* If in SLOW mode, the front wiper changes mode to INT mode when you bring the MPV to a complete stop, let’s say in a traffic jam in the rain.
* The remote unlocks the drivers door only if pushed once – probably push twice to unlock all doors. Apparently you are able to configure this to unlock all doors at once by default.
* There is an alarm activation history kept but I am not sure how to access it, perhaps only at the service center.
* The doors will lock automatically once you reach a speed of 20km/h.
* The doors will unlock automatically once you remove the key from the key barrel.
* All doors unlock automatically upon a crash via a signal coming from the airbag control unit.
* If you perform any sudden braking at speeds of at least 96km/h, the hazard lights will flash automatically.
So there we go, quite an interesting and extensive list of the features that the BCM provides the Proton Exora. It will be easy to add other features such as automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers to the Exora because of the BCM, as all you need to do is add the appropriate sensor and programming so this may be a preview of what might come during the facelifts in a few years time.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Proton Launch A New Promotion
This is how Proton promote its product. What do you think?
Proton Edar launched its Drive For Holidays campaign yesterday as an end of year sales push. At the launch ceremony at the Mutiara showroom, Proton Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Haji Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, accompanied by Proton Edar Chief Executive Officer, Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim, was there to brief the media.
“It has been a fairly good good year for Proton and we want to give back to consumers by offering them this exciting year-end holiday packages with their nee Proton car purchases. We have, for the first time in 36 months, captured the No. 1 position in Malaysian car ales for two consecutive months of June and July, and we have broken our sales records for Saga and Persona in July. Saga has also been awarded the Best Model of the Year 2009 at this year’s Asia Pacific Frost & Sullivan Automotive Award, the 4th award won by Saga since its launch in January 2008. The Exora has also been receiving very positive response from the public with sales exceeding 22,600 units since its launch in April, and has also won the Best Local Assembly MPV award from Asian Auto VCA Auto Industry Award 2009,” said Dato’ Syed Zainal.
“Moving forward, especially in responding to the newly announced revised NAP, Proton will intensify its efforts in producing products that are competitive to both domestic and international markets. We look forward to launching new exciting products that fit our aspiration to build the right car, at the right time and at the right price,” he added.
He continued to explain that the overall approach to this campaign was to encourage family bonding by going for holidays together at local destinations.
The Proton Drive For holidays will commence from 1st November 2009, and will end on 31st December 2009. Under the campaign, customers who purchase a new Exora or Persona registered within the promotional period will instantly get a free three-day-two-night stay at one of 33 participating hotels within Malaysia.
All customers who purchase any Proton model during the promotional period will also be entitled to enter a SMS contest to win one of seven handphones offered daily. The winners will be picked from the fastest to answer three random questions via SMS.
Winners of the SMS contests will go on to participate in an MMS contest; they are to send a picture of the favourite part of their new Proton car and describe it creatively with a caption. Participants stand to win cash prizes coupled with a three-days-two-nights holiday at exciting holiday destinations all over Malaysia.
Proton Edar launched its Drive For Holidays campaign yesterday as an end of year sales push. At the launch ceremony at the Mutiara showroom, Proton Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Dato’ Haji Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, accompanied by Proton Edar Chief Executive Officer, Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim, was there to brief the media.
“It has been a fairly good good year for Proton and we want to give back to consumers by offering them this exciting year-end holiday packages with their nee Proton car purchases. We have, for the first time in 36 months, captured the No. 1 position in Malaysian car ales for two consecutive months of June and July, and we have broken our sales records for Saga and Persona in July. Saga has also been awarded the Best Model of the Year 2009 at this year’s Asia Pacific Frost & Sullivan Automotive Award, the 4th award won by Saga since its launch in January 2008. The Exora has also been receiving very positive response from the public with sales exceeding 22,600 units since its launch in April, and has also won the Best Local Assembly MPV award from Asian Auto VCA Auto Industry Award 2009,” said Dato’ Syed Zainal.
“Moving forward, especially in responding to the newly announced revised NAP, Proton will intensify its efforts in producing products that are competitive to both domestic and international markets. We look forward to launching new exciting products that fit our aspiration to build the right car, at the right time and at the right price,” he added.
He continued to explain that the overall approach to this campaign was to encourage family bonding by going for holidays together at local destinations.
The Proton Drive For holidays will commence from 1st November 2009, and will end on 31st December 2009. Under the campaign, customers who purchase a new Exora or Persona registered within the promotional period will instantly get a free three-day-two-night stay at one of 33 participating hotels within Malaysia.
All customers who purchase any Proton model during the promotional period will also be entitled to enter a SMS contest to win one of seven handphones offered daily. The winners will be picked from the fastest to answer three random questions via SMS.
Winners of the SMS contests will go on to participate in an MMS contest; they are to send a picture of the favourite part of their new Proton car and describe it creatively with a caption. Participants stand to win cash prizes coupled with a three-days-two-nights holiday at exciting holiday destinations all over Malaysia.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
This Is What People Thinks About Exora
The Proton Exora marks a new entry into the MPV segment for the Malaysian brand car company. The Exora is a culmination of several years of meticulous research and developments by Proton.
Exora embodies the efforts by Proton to incorporate space, style, performance and safety elements into the vehicle’s design philosophy.
Just like the Waja, Gen2 and Neo, the Exora shares the same tried-and-tested 1.6-litre CamPro engine, except that for the Exora it is now added with the Cam Profile Switching (CPS) technology.
This engine utilises two ingenious technologies – CPS and Variable Intake Manifold technology (VM) – to give a relatively high power output and rapid response whilst maintaining fuel-efficient delivery.
These two technologies give Exora the best of both worlds, by combining the characteristics of two different engines in one compact package.
As a result, the usual reduction in torque caused by high-lift camshafts is off by the long-intake runner, while short runner works by helping the engine generate more power at higher speeds.
Exora is designed to make those long trips with the family a breeze. The key to this is the Lotus-tuned ride and handling that give the driver a sure-footed, yet comfortable ride on the highway as well as winding countryside roads.
In terms of safety, the driver and front-seat passengers will appreciate Exora’s standard safety features that include twin front airbags and pre-tensioner seatbelts.
Other standard safety features include the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help the vehicle come back to a quick and safe stop – should the need arise.
To top it all, Exora offers an extremely strong passenger cell and computer-aided designed crash structure, which has helped this MPV achieve an equivalent of the Euro-Ncap 4-star safety rating requirements.
Other cutting-edge technologies present in the Exora include a hybrid high-strength “front-end module” and hydro-formed steel components. All these technologies help Exora shed weight without compromising its strength and safety.
On the inside, Proton’s major technological improvements in the Exora are demonstrated by the improved soundproofing technology, which allows driver and passenger to have conversations without having to raise their voices.
The quietness offered by the MPV also means that its occupants can enjoy their favourite music or DVD movie (player available upon request) through its high-quality sound system.
As an added comfort and driving pleasure for long journeys, the Exora offers 10 bottle-holders strategically located to keep drink bottles within easy reach of the driver and passengers.
For luggage, Exora offers ample space, with six different seat-folding mechanisms allowing the second row seat to be tumbled easily, thus providing a wider opening for passengers to hop onto the third row seat.
The rear doors, which can open at a maximum angle of 80 degrees, enhance the loading and offloading of passengers. Exora also offers individual air-conditioning vents on every row, providing maximum and much needed comfort on hot days.
One of the Exora’s outstanding features is an electronic device called the Body Control Module (BMC), which is usually found in more expensive European makes.
Exora is the first Proton vehicle to be equipped with BMC, and it offers a whole new range of options as well as gadgets to enhance its practicality and safety.
BCM in fact offers over 20 different functions – from “follow me home lights” to programmable door-locking configurations as well as wiper speeds, to automatic hazard light activation during emergency braking of above 96km/h, among many others.
The purchase of Proton Exora will entitle customers to an extended warranty of 100,000km or three years (whichever comes first).
Two variants are available – Manual Transmission priced at $27,000 and Automatic Transmission for $28,000. They are available in six different colours – Pyrite Brown, Gaia Blue, Genetic Silver, Tranquillity Black, Haze Blue and Solid White.
Exora embodies the efforts by Proton to incorporate space, style, performance and safety elements into the vehicle’s design philosophy.
Just like the Waja, Gen2 and Neo, the Exora shares the same tried-and-tested 1.6-litre CamPro engine, except that for the Exora it is now added with the Cam Profile Switching (CPS) technology.
This engine utilises two ingenious technologies – CPS and Variable Intake Manifold technology (VM) – to give a relatively high power output and rapid response whilst maintaining fuel-efficient delivery.
These two technologies give Exora the best of both worlds, by combining the characteristics of two different engines in one compact package.
As a result, the usual reduction in torque caused by high-lift camshafts is off by the long-intake runner, while short runner works by helping the engine generate more power at higher speeds.
Exora is designed to make those long trips with the family a breeze. The key to this is the Lotus-tuned ride and handling that give the driver a sure-footed, yet comfortable ride on the highway as well as winding countryside roads.
In terms of safety, the driver and front-seat passengers will appreciate Exora’s standard safety features that include twin front airbags and pre-tensioner seatbelts.
Other standard safety features include the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to help the vehicle come back to a quick and safe stop – should the need arise.
To top it all, Exora offers an extremely strong passenger cell and computer-aided designed crash structure, which has helped this MPV achieve an equivalent of the Euro-Ncap 4-star safety rating requirements.
Other cutting-edge technologies present in the Exora include a hybrid high-strength “front-end module” and hydro-formed steel components. All these technologies help Exora shed weight without compromising its strength and safety.
On the inside, Proton’s major technological improvements in the Exora are demonstrated by the improved soundproofing technology, which allows driver and passenger to have conversations without having to raise their voices.
The quietness offered by the MPV also means that its occupants can enjoy their favourite music or DVD movie (player available upon request) through its high-quality sound system.
As an added comfort and driving pleasure for long journeys, the Exora offers 10 bottle-holders strategically located to keep drink bottles within easy reach of the driver and passengers.
For luggage, Exora offers ample space, with six different seat-folding mechanisms allowing the second row seat to be tumbled easily, thus providing a wider opening for passengers to hop onto the third row seat.
The rear doors, which can open at a maximum angle of 80 degrees, enhance the loading and offloading of passengers. Exora also offers individual air-conditioning vents on every row, providing maximum and much needed comfort on hot days.
One of the Exora’s outstanding features is an electronic device called the Body Control Module (BMC), which is usually found in more expensive European makes.
Exora is the first Proton vehicle to be equipped with BMC, and it offers a whole new range of options as well as gadgets to enhance its practicality and safety.
BCM in fact offers over 20 different functions – from “follow me home lights” to programmable door-locking configurations as well as wiper speeds, to automatic hazard light activation during emergency braking of above 96km/h, among many others.
The purchase of Proton Exora will entitle customers to an extended warranty of 100,000km or three years (whichever comes first).
Two variants are available – Manual Transmission priced at $27,000 and Automatic Transmission for $28,000. They are available in six different colours – Pyrite Brown, Gaia Blue, Genetic Silver, Tranquillity Black, Haze Blue and Solid White.
Growth in Exora Sales
Proton Holdings Bhd expects to sell 155,000 units of cars in its current financial year ending March 31, 2010.
Managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Mohamed Tahir said with another five months to go, sales had been encouraging and the company would not be surprised if the target was exceeded.
"Currently, we are selling 13,000 to 13,500 cars a month. As everyone knows, the last two months of the year will be a difficult one but we are sure that the limit is just below our real achievement," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching Proton Edar's "Proton Drive for Holidays" campaign here yesterday.
Some selected models have experienced a big jump in sales, according to Proton.
Syed Zainal Abidin said the new Proton Saga was launched with a initial target of 4,500 units per month but it was now being booked at the rate of 7,000 units a month.
"Same goes for the Proton Persona which was launched two years ago but now it is getting 4,000 bookings a month. The newly-launched Proton Exora has just entered the market with bookings amounting to 2,200 units a month," he said.
On the industry, Syed Zainal Abidin said the country's total industry volume (TIV) of 500,000 cars this year as projected by the Malaysian Automotive Association was an achievable target.
"Even though the total is five per cent lower than last year's 520,000 cars, Proton is still capturing first place in the market as its TIV is growing from 26 per cent to 29 per cent," he said.
Asked about the revised National Automotive Policy (NAP), Syed Zainal Abidin said Proton was always thankful to the government and would fulfil all 18 elements of the NAP by collaborating with dealers, vendors and stakeholders.
"The policy is not only meant for the main players of the industry but also the minor players who seek opportunities and standards which the government has provided through this policy," he said.
Managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Mohamed Tahir said with another five months to go, sales had been encouraging and the company would not be surprised if the target was exceeded.
"Currently, we are selling 13,000 to 13,500 cars a month. As everyone knows, the last two months of the year will be a difficult one but we are sure that the limit is just below our real achievement," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching Proton Edar's "Proton Drive for Holidays" campaign here yesterday.
Some selected models have experienced a big jump in sales, according to Proton.
Syed Zainal Abidin said the new Proton Saga was launched with a initial target of 4,500 units per month but it was now being booked at the rate of 7,000 units a month.
"Same goes for the Proton Persona which was launched two years ago but now it is getting 4,000 bookings a month. The newly-launched Proton Exora has just entered the market with bookings amounting to 2,200 units a month," he said.
On the industry, Syed Zainal Abidin said the country's total industry volume (TIV) of 500,000 cars this year as projected by the Malaysian Automotive Association was an achievable target.
"Even though the total is five per cent lower than last year's 520,000 cars, Proton is still capturing first place in the market as its TIV is growing from 26 per cent to 29 per cent," he said.
Asked about the revised National Automotive Policy (NAP), Syed Zainal Abidin said Proton was always thankful to the government and would fulfil all 18 elements of the NAP by collaborating with dealers, vendors and stakeholders.
"The policy is not only meant for the main players of the industry but also the minor players who seek opportunities and standards which the government has provided through this policy," he said.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Exora - Social Responsiblility
Proton Holdings Berhad Friday presented a RM50,000 contribution in cash and kind to the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) in support of its mission to help earthquake victims in Padang, Sumatra.
Its group Managing Director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said the contribution will be used by Mercy Malaysia, among other things, to provide medical and hygiene support to the quake victims.
"Proton Edar, through its subsidiary in Indonesia, is also providing three units of its multi-purpose vehicle, the Exora, for Mercy Malaysia's transportation needs to help the victims.
"The Exoras will be used as Mobile Clinics to ferry doctors directly to the victims for immediate medical aid.
"Proton will also support the petrol expenses as well as the drivers for the three vehicles and all other expenses incurred by the vehicles," he told reporters after presenting a mock cheque worth RM50,000 to Mercy Malaysia acting general manager, Mohd Shaharuddin Asmani at a simple ceremony, near here Friday.
Syed Zainal Abidin also said that Proton will be setting up a Relief Fund in both Malaysian and Indonesian offices for collection among its employees.
Meanwhile, he said that Proton's dealer in Padang also suffered losses due to the earthquake and he is looking into ways to assist the dealer concerned to restore his business.
Its group Managing Director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said the contribution will be used by Mercy Malaysia, among other things, to provide medical and hygiene support to the quake victims.
"Proton Edar, through its subsidiary in Indonesia, is also providing three units of its multi-purpose vehicle, the Exora, for Mercy Malaysia's transportation needs to help the victims.
"The Exoras will be used as Mobile Clinics to ferry doctors directly to the victims for immediate medical aid.
"Proton will also support the petrol expenses as well as the drivers for the three vehicles and all other expenses incurred by the vehicles," he told reporters after presenting a mock cheque worth RM50,000 to Mercy Malaysia acting general manager, Mohd Shaharuddin Asmani at a simple ceremony, near here Friday.
Syed Zainal Abidin also said that Proton will be setting up a Relief Fund in both Malaysian and Indonesian offices for collection among its employees.
Meanwhile, he said that Proton's dealer in Padang also suffered losses due to the earthquake and he is looking into ways to assist the dealer concerned to restore his business.
Proton Can Also Provide Good Performance - Value for your money
Proton unveiled a turbocharged 1.6 liter engine to selected press in Norwich, UK earlier today while our King and Queen His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah and Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah were visiting the Lotus headquarters in UK.
The new turbocharged engine is said to have the power capacity of a 2.0 liter engine. No precise figures were given but we can make an educates guess – 2.0 normally aspirated would mean around 140 to 150 horsepower. Usually with a turbocharged engine, a 150 horses figure would probably be accompanied by 220Nm to 240Nm of torque. This should put performance at a similiar level with the turbocharged 1.6 liter in the Peugeot 308 Turbo, which is very nice since the peak torque kicks in at low RPMs.
70 engineers worked on the engine project. According to Proton, the engine was developed in collaboration between Proton and Lotus Engineering, with active involvement of Malaysian engineers and vendors. I actually so happened to meet a few young Proton engineers at a UK visa application center in KL and they were applying for a UK work visa for a certain project, so this must have been it ;)
Producing the engine took 18 months from approval of engineering proof of concept. The proof of concept could have been that turbocharged engine we saw in the Exora. The engine was designed for high torque applications, which will provide good driveability in larger Proton cars such as the Proton Exora. Proton Director of Engineering Tajul Zahari said the engine is RON95 compatible. Apparently the engine will be ready by 2011, so we should see it in Protons by then.
The new turbocharged engine is said to have the power capacity of a 2.0 liter engine. No precise figures were given but we can make an educates guess – 2.0 normally aspirated would mean around 140 to 150 horsepower. Usually with a turbocharged engine, a 150 horses figure would probably be accompanied by 220Nm to 240Nm of torque. This should put performance at a similiar level with the turbocharged 1.6 liter in the Peugeot 308 Turbo, which is very nice since the peak torque kicks in at low RPMs.
70 engineers worked on the engine project. According to Proton, the engine was developed in collaboration between Proton and Lotus Engineering, with active involvement of Malaysian engineers and vendors. I actually so happened to meet a few young Proton engineers at a UK visa application center in KL and they were applying for a UK work visa for a certain project, so this must have been it ;)
Producing the engine took 18 months from approval of engineering proof of concept. The proof of concept could have been that turbocharged engine we saw in the Exora. The engine was designed for high torque applications, which will provide good driveability in larger Proton cars such as the Proton Exora. Proton Director of Engineering Tajul Zahari said the engine is RON95 compatible. Apparently the engine will be ready by 2011, so we should see it in Protons by then.
Exora - Stand High in the World
Hundreds flock to see the unveiling of the first Malaysian multipurpose vehicle (MPV) `Exora' by Malaysian car manufacturer Proton when it made an official debut here in Brunei at a launching ceremony held at the Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.
Present at the launching ceremony were the Brunei-Muara District Officer, Dato Paduka Haji Md Yusof bin Bakar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam, Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari and representatives from proton Holdings Berhad, as well as from Worldwide Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Proton cars in Brunei.
Brunei is the third export market for the Exora after entering the Singapore and Indonesia markets earlier this year. The Exora is also making its way to Thailand and is expected to be launched there in December. This is the 9th Proton model to be exported to Brunei since proton made its presence in 2002.
The Exora marks Proton's foray into MPV segment, a new segment for the 24-year-old company.
"As a relatively young car manufacturer, the Exora is a major achievement for us and it signifies our commitment in developing products that satisfy the current market needs and wants, both domestically and internationally," said Proton Holdings Berhad Chairman Dato' Mohd Nadzmi bin Mohd Salleh.
The Exora encompasses almost 90 per cent of Malaysian parts and components and is the first "Malaysian-made' MPV, with Proton's involvement right from its design and concept to its engineering and manufacturing stages.
The Exora is also an engineering feat for Proton as it was developed in merely 18 months from the time Proton fixed the design (model-fix) right up to its production stage.
Dato' Mohd Nadzmi added, "Brunei is an important MPV market for Proton as the segment is in high demand there.
"Our target market is for those families who are looking for an MPV that is competitively priced but spacious, stylish and up-to-date in terms of technology. We hope to see a positive response from the families in Brunei."-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
Present at the launching ceremony were the Brunei-Muara District Officer, Dato Paduka Haji Md Yusof bin Bakar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam, Dato' Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari and representatives from proton Holdings Berhad, as well as from Worldwide Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Proton cars in Brunei.
Brunei is the third export market for the Exora after entering the Singapore and Indonesia markets earlier this year. The Exora is also making its way to Thailand and is expected to be launched there in December. This is the 9th Proton model to be exported to Brunei since proton made its presence in 2002.
The Exora marks Proton's foray into MPV segment, a new segment for the 24-year-old company.
"As a relatively young car manufacturer, the Exora is a major achievement for us and it signifies our commitment in developing products that satisfy the current market needs and wants, both domestically and internationally," said Proton Holdings Berhad Chairman Dato' Mohd Nadzmi bin Mohd Salleh.
The Exora encompasses almost 90 per cent of Malaysian parts and components and is the first "Malaysian-made' MPV, with Proton's involvement right from its design and concept to its engineering and manufacturing stages.
The Exora is also an engineering feat for Proton as it was developed in merely 18 months from the time Proton fixed the design (model-fix) right up to its production stage.
Dato' Mohd Nadzmi added, "Brunei is an important MPV market for Proton as the segment is in high demand there.
"Our target market is for those families who are looking for an MPV that is competitively priced but spacious, stylish and up-to-date in terms of technology. We hope to see a positive response from the families in Brunei."-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
SHOULD CAR MANUFACTURER USE FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE AND FLICKR TO PROMOTE THEIR CAR?
Many peoples nowadays already addicted with the social media such as Facebook and Twitter.Everyday we always heard about Facebook and Twitter promoted by radio station while driving.These two social media is quickly becoming the new standard in successful marketing.
A new study has found that the effectiveness of traditional advertising has been on the decline for years and a strong social media presence,is quickly becoming successful marketing.From that study, they found that German brands like BMW and Mercedes dominate while Japanese and American brands are largely absent.
From that study, they also have found that luxury automakers are not maximizing the full potential of social media in their communications efforts.The study was run by MH Group Communications and Forum Strategies & Communications, based out of New York.It concluded that the industry has yet to tap the full potential of social media by utilizing an integrated and holistic approach, and are focusing their efforts on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter rather than the full spectrum of social media platforms where benefits could be gained.
It also revealed that social media conversations around luxury automakers focused on four key topics: Admiration of the brand, sales and deals, questions about features, service and availability, and news and vehicle announcements.
Using unique measurement methodologies to determine the size and activity level of communities around specific auto brands across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr, the study was able to rank the brands in terms of their engagement in social networks.
Malaysian car maker should take action to promote their car using the social media so that their brands are known around the world.It is a cheap advertising but really a successful marketing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)