Super TestCar reviews - Proton - Satria - Neo rangeProton modelsOverviewProton has big hopes for its reborn, Lotus-tuned, light-car class combatant13 Feb 2007 By CHRIS HARRIS THE burgeoning light-car segment has yet another new entry in the shape of the Proton Satria Neo, a surprisingly agile and well-mannered three-door hatch in a sharp suit. Lotus looked after the dynamics, but the Malaysians have overseen everything else with a renewed sense of purpose, as Proton strives to rise above being just a value brand. This new car isn’t cheap, and there are still some areas that need addressing, but the second Satria should not be dismissed. Model release date: 1 February 2007 to 1 August 2012 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 modelPROTON’S bestseller in its dozen years in Australia was a rehashed version of the 1992 to 1996 Mitsubishi CC Lancer-based Mirage that was never sold here. Pleasantly styled, the front-wheel drive three-door Satria was offered in several single-cam four-cylinder engine guises, ranging from a 55kW/108Nm 1.3 (1999—2002 GL, XLS), a 66kW/126Nm 1.5 (1997—1999 GL and GLi 64kW/120Nm from the 2000—2002 XLi and 2002 GLi and XLS), a 70kW/138Nm 1.6 for the 1997—2000 XLi, and a limited volume XLi Son Of A Gun Satria, featuring Lotus-tuned handling and an 83kW/137Nm version of the older XLi’s 1.6. Confused? Then there is the most famous Satria, the GTi ‘hot hatch’, a popular boyracer special that achieved cult status courtesy of its fiery 103kW/164Nm 1.8-litre twin-cam unit and Lotus-honed chassis. A five-speed manual is the only gearbox on the 1.3 and 1.8-litre cars, while the 1.5 also offered a three-speed automatic, with a four-speed auto also available on the short-lived 1.6-litre models. |
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