Road TestCar reviews - Proton - Persona - sedanProton modelsOverviewProton resurrects Persona via Gen.2 with ultra-keen pricing and features galore12 Dec 2008 PROTON has finally replaced its original Persona, a car that was based on an ancient Mitsubishi platform. In line with its fast-paced evolution, the emerging Malaysian brand has introduced a new Persona built on an all-new base with a new Proton developed and built engine. The Persona competes against light cars such as the Holden Barina sedan and Toyota Yaris sedan on price, but is a full size larger. It runs a 1.6-litre engine with 82kW and comes standard with some features you don’t expect at this end of the market - including alloy wheels, rear parking sensors and anti-skid brakes. Model release date: 1 May 2008 to 1 November 2013 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelBased on the 1992 Mitsubishi CC Lancer sedan, the Proton Wira (renamed Persona from November 1996) had some bespoke body panels (such as the five-door liftback silhouette that was exclusive to the Malaysians) as well as the four-door sedan shape common with the Japanese car. The commonality extended to four-cylinder petrol engines - we saw a 55kW/108Nm 1.3 with five-speed manual from 1999 to 2001 in the GLi – replacing the 66kW/126Nm 1.5 with five-speed manual or three-speed automatic, only to see the latter return from 2002 in 64kW/120Nm guise. A 83kW/137Nm 1.6 with five-speed manual or four-speed auto was also marketed in the XLi until late 2000. Unexciting, but economical and dependable, the Persona competed with light-cars like the Hyundai Excel/Accent, until the in-house Proton-designed Gen.2 usurped it in late 2004. The Persona badge returned on the sedan version of that car in 2008 (tested here), before replacing the Gen.2 badge itself. |
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