1 Nov 2013
Proton tried to move into a move premium space and lose its bargain basement image with the Suprima S in late 2013, pitching the Malaysian-built hatch well above that of its rivals, including the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.
The strategy didn't work with a just a handful of the cars finding homes in its first couple of years on sale before Proton, wisely, dropped the price.
Based on the Preve sedan, the Suprima S was offered in two specifications – GX and GXL – both powered by the same 103kW/205Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol unit that was used in the Exora and GXR versions of the Preve.
The Suprima S did, however, come with a generous standard features list including front and rear foglights, rear parking sensors, brake assist, Bluetooth, audio controls on the steering wheel and air-conditioning, while the GXL added a 7.0-inch touchscreen, DVD player, paddle shifters, leather steering wheel, cruise control and push button start.
