Proton, one of Malaysia’s leading automaker, is reportedly planning an entry into the lucrative Indian car market actively. In fact they are planning to start local assembly operations through an Indian partner or collaborate with an Indian partner to distribute Proton branded cars in India.
As per a report on Autocar Professional, the company is still in the process of a feasibility study of the Indian car market to find out which car will suit the most. Abdul Rashid Bin Musa, CTO Proton, specifically names their Iriz Global Car which may mark Proton’s Indian debut.
Iriz is a sub 4 meter hatchback and comes with two engine options in Malaysia:
- A 1.3 litre mill producing 95.2 PS of power at 5,750 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It boasts of a top speed of 165 kmph, hitting the ton in 12.2 second.
- A bigger 1.6 litre engine churning out 108.8 PS of power at 5,750 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine helps the car sprint to a ton in 11.1 second and attain a top whack of 170 kmph.
This 5 seater car boasts of a ground clearance of 155 mm, is 3920mm long and gets a 2555mm wheelbase. Iriz has a starting price of 42,438 Malaysian Ringgit which equates to about 7.15 Lakhs in INR.
Proton has a 7 car strong stable which starts from small Saga hatchback to a 7-seater MPV. Iriz may be a good offering but where Proton is skeptical is that India is a diesel loving nation whereas Malaysia, in contrast, is a petrol-centric market.
