A few months ago when Tun Dr Mahathir was still Chairman of Proton he and the then CEO flagged off a cargo of Proton Preve cars that were destined for Chile. I was there at that historic (for Proton) event. Now, months later we now receive news of the official launch (and re-launch) of Proton Cars in Chile and the Proton Preve being the first model to be sold over there since 1998.
Andes Motor is the exclusive distributor of the Proton brand over there and they are indeed excited to try promote and sell Proton over there in Chile. The Preve sold over there is left hand drive and is Euro 4 compliant. Three variants are on sale - the Preve Standard, Executive and Premium models with the Premium being the 1.6 turbocharged model.
This basically marks the re-launch of the Proton brand over in Chile. The company last exported Proton Wira cars to Chile back in 1998. So almost two decades have passed since. Well, this is a good start. I do hope the car will be well accepted there. Of course, this is the patriotic me talking here. Who wouldn't want a local brand to succeed elsewhere?
Encik Khalid Yusoff, Proton's Director of Transformation Office and Head International Sales Div.with lucky draw winners
PROTON PREVÉ OFFICIALLY LANDS IN CHILE
Andes Motor is the exclusive representative
Encik Khalid Yusoff, Proton's Director of Transformation Office and Head International Sales Div. and Chief Executive Officer of Andes Motors, Alexander Kohler A
Santiago, 2016 - With the clear objective of leaving an indelible stamp in the local automotive
market, Andes Motor, a subsidiary of the Kaufmann Group together with Malaysia manufacturer
PROTON Holdings Berhad ("PROTON"), the owner of British sport brand, Lotus, launched the Proton
Prevé in Chile.
Prevé (pray-vay) is derived from the archaic English word form of „Prove‟, meaning to prove or
offering proof, which was precisely what PROTON had ambitiously set out to accomplish with its
stylish design and a host of active and passive safety features.
The three variants would entice you from the moment you set foot on the accelerator, thanks to its
1.6-liter engine. The standard and the executive variants both come with 107 HP, 150 Nm and a 5-
speed manual gearbox, whereas the premium variant offers the turbocharged version of a 138 HP,
205 Nm and a 7-speed CVT transmission Protronics mode with performance from 0-100 kilometres in
less than 10 seconds. This becomes more evident, when you drive and feel the Lotus DNA in its
driving dynamics.
"With Andes Motor, Chile‟s leading distributor of buses, trucks and luxury cars, coupled with its vast
dealer network providing sales and after sales services as our partner, we are optimistic that our re-
entry into the Chilean market will be successful,” said Dato‟ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Chief Executive
Officer of PROTON.
Reiterating the same sentiment, the Chief Executive Officer of Andes Motors, Alexander Kohler A,
said, “We are excited to receive Proton cars back in the Chilean market as its last export to our
country was back in 1998. We believe this partnership will further strengthen both brands, paving the
way for Andes Motor to enter the passenger car market enabling PROTON to tap into a huge market
potential. The entry of the Proton Prevé represents a great start for both companies.”
“The Prevé is one of Proton‟s more dynamic sedans offering a complete product which offers
performance, comfort, styling, build quality and convenience with a 5 star rated safety standard. In
addition, we are also looking forward to the arrival of Proton Exora and Proton Saga in Chile in the
near future,” added Alexander Kohler.
In keeping with the more demanding drivers, Proton Prevé also offers the option for changing gear
directly from the steering wheel through its paddle shift controls. The paddle shift is a unique feature
for a vehicle within this range that differentiates itself from the rest of the competition in the same
market segment.
Safety in your hands
Proton Prevé is equipped with active and passive safety features. It has been awarded with a 5-star
rating in the Australasia New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), as well as the 5-star rating in the
Asean New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for Adult Occupant Protection. Features such as
enhanced security structure, active head restraints, collapsible engine, electronic stability control
(ESC) and the airbags system, provide optimum protection to the occupants.
In addition, the disc brakes system gives a remarkable performance, which is accentuated by the
high performance of its anti-lock braking system (ABS), the electronic brake distribution (EBD), brake
assist and steering systems; and traction control.
Proton Prevé utilizes the Hot Press Forming (HPF) technology that provides enhanced protection
through structural rigidity without compromising the overall car bodyweight.
Design, superior comfort and performance
Proton Preve‟s interior is designed for the driver and passengers to enjoy a high level of comfort
which include the 6.2 inches touch screen information and entertainment system as well as the
bluetooth radio controls, cruise control systems and GPS navigation system.
The Proton Prevé offers a manufacturer warranty of 5 years or 150,000 kilometers (whichever comes
first).
-Ends-
About PROTON
PROTON, established in 1983, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad and Malaysia's largest
manufacturer of automobiles, and the only full-fledged OEM car manufacturer in South-East Asia. With
operations from the UK to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia, PROTON produces
cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.
Its offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles such as the Saga and Persona, stylish
executive sedan such as the Prevé and the spacious and affordable multi-purpose vehicles like the Exora.
There are also the sleek sporty Suprima S that is packed with performance, the bold and stylish Iriz that is
packed with safety and convenient features as well as world-renowned sports cars from LOTUS. Most
importantly, PROTON models are developed with LOTUS Engineering, offering customers superior ride and
handling experience in every drive.
PROTON‟s inception as a key driver of national development has seen the brand accelerate its learning curve
through technology transfer with strategic partnerships and technical collaborations. By listening to the needs
of customers, PROTON cars are now steadily on track to achieve the mission for the future, with PROTON set
to become a marque which builds quality and safe cars with passion and soul; cars that are a delight to drive -
and a pleasure to own. For more information, visit http://www.proton.com.
(C) 2016 motoring-malaysia.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment