Facts You Need To Know About Proton Gen2

Here's my thoughts about Proton Gen2.

The Proton Gen-2 is an automobile manufactured by Malaysian carmaker Proton, and was launched in the third quarter of 2004. The Gen-2 uses a platform which is mostly Malaysian-developed. Loosely based on a mid-90s Mitsunishi Chassis, the platform has been extensively developed by Proton and their partner Lotus. The Gen-2 was initially codenamed the Proton Wira Replacement Model, hinting that the car was to replace the Proton Wira. The name Gen-2 is an abbreviation of 'Generation 2', to symbolized the 2nd generation of the very successful Wira as the 1st Generation.

The Gen-2's platform is also used by the Proton Satria Neo (with a shortened wheelbase) and the Proton Persona (with an extended rear hang to form a more sedan-like body). Performance Lotus Cars, which is owned by Proton, was involved in the development of the car. The Gen-2 is the first Proton model to use the new Proton/Lotus developed Campro Engine. The Gen-2 has a competitive 0-100 timing of 10.5 seconds for the 1.6 manual, which makes it a highly spirited drive. Even though the S4PH 1.6L engine, the first capacity fitted to the Gen-2, is contemporary in maximum power output, it suffers from poor mid-range torque. This is due to its torque dip in the crucial 2,000 to 3,000 rpm operating range, where the torque actually decreases slightly before picking up back to its peak torque at 4,000 rpm. This torque characteristic can clearly be seen in manufacturer published engine performance curves and is widely attributed to the missing Camshaft Profiling technical feature that the engine was named after, but which was dropped from production probably for cost reasons. However, this torque dip was corrected by Proton in 2008 with a new Campro CPS engine.

The Gen-2's ECU Engine and Automatic Transmission mapping has been modified several times since the car's launch to improve perceived driving characteristics, but have not resulted in changes to manufacturer's torque and power curves and figures. Competing cars In Malaysia, the car goes head-to-head against the likes of the Hyundai Accent (Verna) and Kia Rio (Pride), but undercut these by about 20 percent. Against the ASEAN-made Honda City and Toyota Vios, the discount is even greater, at about 30 percent. Proton's price advantage in Malaysia can be attributed to a discriminatory tax structure that an ASEAN trade agreement was supposed to disallow by 2005, but which now has January 2008 as its postponed deadline. Changes and facelifts In 2005, a lower-spec version of Proton Gen-2 powered by 1.3L Campro engine was made available in Malaysia with automatic transmission option only at RM46,000.00. The 1.3 version is famous of its underpowered characteristics due to the car's heavy body weight and is made worse with the torque-dip genes of the Campro.