The third generation Proton Perdana is a four-door mid-size saloon from Malaysian automobile manufacturer, Proton. It was unveiled on 11 December 2013 as the successor to the original Proton Perdana. The third generation Perdana is a badge engineered eighth generation Honda Accord and is currently for exclusive sale to Malaysian civil servants and government officials.
Perdana is the Malay word for Prime.
Video Proton Perdana (second generation)
History
Pre-launch
The Proton Perdana was first introduced in 1995 to serve the niche Malaysian luxury market segment which consisted of vehicles with engine displacement of 2,000cc and above. Proton considered a replacement for the Perdana in 2004 under a tie-up with German automotive conglomerate, Volkswagen and again in 2005 with Mitsubishi Motors Australia for its 380. However, both ventures were unfruitful and the Perdana continued in production up until 2010. Proton signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nissan in 2011 with the intention of rebadging the Nissan Fuga/Infiniti M for exclusive sale to Malaysian government officials, but no further developments occurred and the venture was abandoned.
On 29 October 2012, Proton entered a collaboration with Honda Motor Company, Ltd. Both companies have agreed to explore collaboration opportunities in the areas of technology enhancement, new product line up and the sharing of vehicle platforms and facilities. In April 2013, it was revealed that the Proton Perdana Replacement Model (PRM) would most likely be based on a Honda Accord chassis, and be powered by Proton's newly acquired range of Petronas E01e 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 litre engines. Furthermore, it will not be limited to government officials, and will also serve as an instrument to Honda's expansion into the Malaysian market. Additionally, the name Proton Suprima was filed for trademark status under the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) in January 2013, where the name Suprima has its roots in the English word Supreme, widely speculated and deemed fitting for the Proton PRM's official product name. However, on 14 August 2013, a spyshot of a Proton P3-22A test drive unit confirmed the name Proton Suprima S as the final and official product name of the hatchback complement of the Proton Prevé instead.
On 7 November 2013, spyshots revealed that the PRM would indeed be based on the North American eighth generation Honda Accord. The PRM will launch in two phases, the first in mid-December for sale exclusively to the Malaysian government and the second within the next 2 years for the Malaysian Domestic Market. Around 3,000 units of the PRM will be produced initially to replace the ageing Proton Perdana V6 fleet in use by civil servants. It is not known whether the PRM would be exported to other countries, although such plans are highly unlikely judging from the Proton Inspira's marketing strategy. Unlike the Inspira, which was sold alongside the Mitsubishi Lancer which it was based on, the PRM will present no marketing conflicts to its sister car, as Honda Malaysia has already launched the new ninth generation Honda Accord on 4 September 2013.
Maps Proton Perdana (second generation)
Post-launch
On 11 December 2013, the long anticipated third generation Proton Perdana was unveiled at an official ceremony in Putrajaya. It is officially badged simply as the Proton Perdana, but it has also been dubbed the New-look Proton Perdana by local media. The third generation Perdana has thus become the second Proton car after the Saga to use an existing nameplate.
Three versions of the Perdana were unveiled, namely 2.0 and 2.4 litre models, as well as a custom long-wheelbase edition. Only two long-wheelbase editions have been produced for exclusive use by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak and former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Muhyiddin Yassin. All other third generation Perdanas are standard models powered by Honda's 2.0L R20A3 I4 and 2.4L K24Z2 I4 engines.
On 2 March 2014 at 00:01 MST, a convoy of third generation Proton Perdanas fitted with national and state flags were driven across the Penang Second Bridge during its opening ceremony, cueing the national anthem.
On 18 April 2014, during a two-day bilateral visit to Turkey, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak presented a new Proton Perdana limousine to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an as a celebratory gift marking the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-Turkey relations. Uniquely, this specific Perdana is a left-hand drive (LHD) example, and is thus far the only known all-new Proton Perdana to be exported out of Malaysia. Additionally, Turkey has historically been a strong market for Proton, and the company plans to introduce the new Prevé and Suprima S models in the country by 2014.
2016 Facelift (fourth generation)
A heavily remodeled exterior Proton Perdana based on the 8th Generation Honda Accord was launched to the Malaysian public on the 14th of June 2016. The pricing for the facelifted Proton Perdana was revealed on its launching day to be RM113,888 for the 2.0 litre model, and RM138,888 for the 2.4 litre model (both are "on-the-road prices" for West Malaysia).
References
External links
- Proton Holdings Berhad
Source of article : Wikipedia
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