First Looks on the New Proton Inspira

Proton has always been the interest of many Malaysians as it is our national car, and also the pride of our nation. There comes a time when one has to take the hard knocks in order to survive for the long haul. Much have been said on the arrival of this new ‘inspiring’ car as it was coined to create this nameplate and this is our first glimpse of the new Proton Inspira.

The new Proton Inspira is collaboration between Proton and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. There is no denying of that fact, and the car is indeed the same base model Lancer. However some distinctive features have been changed to increase the technological exchange between the two, and it is not just a badge change.

Collaborations are the joint partnerships or commonizing of technologies. Same as how other car companies share chassis platforms or exchange of engine developments. It is the same as how General Motors and Ford acquired Toyota’s hybrid system, or when Sony worked with Ericsson to do mobile phones. So what and how is this different for Proton and Mitsubishi?

In aspects of the business, it was a good decision for Proton to work with Mitsubishi’s long term partner that has been working with them for the last 20 years. Proton’s systems , engineering divisions, manufacturing process are all replicated and taught by Mitsubishi engineers anyway. When it was time to build a global car or world car, that could give Proton an advantage in terms of manufacturing and also reduce complexity, why not Mitsubishi? PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said it was a business decision to go with Mitsubishi. I reckon a known ally is better than an unknown ally when it comes to looking ahead into the crystal ball.

The Inspira is not entirely the same as the Lancer, the suspension has been tweaked by Proton engineers, engine enhancements were also added for the cooling systems of the CVT gearboxes with changes in displacements and gearing options as well. Setup of the car, has been researched and developed to suit local conditions. The car comes in 2 different displacements, 1800cc and 2000cc, with both variants having CVT gearboxes, except for the manual transmission version that is only available in the 1800cc engine.

So what does this all transpire? When Ford, Mazda and Volvo were owned by Ford Motor Company, their C segment cars were all sharing the same platform, chassis and technological advancements. Some of their components were bought from other manufacturers, but they all looked different totally. When Proton did the Wira back then, everyone asked why didn’t Proton take the rear end of the Lancer as well? If they did, then owners today would be proudly driving ‘Evolutions’ around instead. Now when Proton takes a lot of it in terms of the front and back, there are a lot of doubts surrounding the same scenario back then. There are a few things going for it, Proton would be able to get a car faster to the global market, and possibly re-selling this car back to Mitsubishi or share platforms with their other models, or even exchanging technology from Proton’s small car segment or the exclusive Exora models. The Lancer is a current global car, and with Proton developing it now for local markets, there could also be a chance for Mitsubishi to leverage on Proton’s distribution channel to various countries that Proton has a strong hold in.

The chance for Proton to collaborate with a key industry player globally has probably taken its turn for the better. I am a car fan, and also from my experience working with various car manufacturers, it is sometimes crucial to work with good partners to leverage further ahead than trying to learn it themselves. Every single unit being produced now is being audited by Mitsubishi engineers for every single unit on the line. Followed closely behind are Proton engineers adopting new processes, and this symbiotic collaboration will bring Proton to being a stronger global car maker.

The New Proton Inspira handles better and has the option of a manual transmission, which I love. The car is made affordable for the Malaysian market and bookings for the car are now open, starting from RM79,888 onwards. If one were to go and hunt for a manual transmission car at this price, it would be hard, as there is none out there that are current. The new Proton Inspira is the latest model offered currently and also runs on the ever famous Mitsubishi MIVEC engine. Drop by to your latest Proton showroom to find out more on this inspiring car or log onto www.proton.com.my to find out more. - iK