PERSONA SE

Proton launches something special

Posted by: Andy George

There’s certainly something special for car buyers this coming festive season, what with Proton announcing that a new Persona variant is to grace the streets. It’s called the Persona SE (Special Edition), and the car was unveiled on Tuesday night at Cineleisure in Petaling Jaya, exactly a year after the Persona made its debut.

Here's that something special to all of you

The numerous enhancements should have the young and young at heart drooling, because the Special Edition now packs a more premium and sportier outlook, both interior and exterior-wise.

The interior is now dressed in black leather on all seats, extending to the steering wheel, gear knob, arm rest and door panels. The car also gets a newer meter panel, which was first seen in the facelifted GEN2.

An extra-large GPS system is also included in the SE for the driver’s convenience, and is mounted on the windscreen. There’s also cruise control as standard issue on this one.

On the outside, the Persona SE is a head-turner, and the styling of the car has been refined with a matching body kit that not only offers better aerodynamics but lends the car a unique fashion statement as well.

Luxury in leather

The door handles are finished with silver matte paint, and the same hue can be found on the front grille of the car, which is flanked by new stylish head lamps with black bezels.

As with other Persona variants, the car is equipped with a 1.6l Campro IAFM engine, and you get ABS with EBD, as well as dual front airbags.

Two new colours are being offered on the SE, and they’re called Brilliant Red and Blue Haze.

Attention is what you get on this one

The premium treatment on the Persona SE, however, does not come at a premium price – for RM59,800 (on-the-road, with insurance) you get a car equipped with a high level of luxury and enhancements.


Proton is targeting sales of the Persona SE at 500 units monthly. To date, Persona bookings have totaled 52,112 units since its launch in August 2007, and the car recently won the Frost and Sullivan 2008 Best Model of the Year award.

To see more of what's new in the Persona SE, visit our Gallery.

SOURCE: http://star-motoring.com

PROTON NEEDS TO GO GLOBAL

Proton needs to go global



KUALA LUMPUR: Proton should consider working with a foreign automobile company as the way forward, and to compete globally.


Public Accounts Committee chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the committee felt this was the best way for Proton to expand its market share.


»There used to be 60 automobile companies in the world 20 years ago, but today there are only 12 left after merger exercises« DATUK SERI AZMI KHALID
He said it would be difficult for Proton to be in the competitive motor industry if it did not have a foreign partner.


Azmi said although Proton’s performance had improved, as reflected in its financial report, the company should consider working with an international carmaker.
“There used to be 60 automobile companies in the world 20 years ago, but today there are only 12 left after merger exercises.


“If Proton wants to compete in the world, PAC advises that it finds a strategic partner to expand in the industry,” he told a press conference after a PAC meeting with Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar at the Parliament here yesterday.


Last year, Proton’s plans to collaborate with Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp fell through; the Government felt it needed to give the national carmaker more time to turn around.
Meanwhile, Azmi also said that Khazanah should consider selling off some of its companies that were not giving any returns and had become a burden.


He said such companies had become an obstacle to Khazanah’s growth; Khazanah had to bail out four out of its 11 companies.


He added that Khazanah should invest outside the country and not limit its investment domestically as it could be seen as monopolising the domestic market.
Azmi said the PAC had proposed that the company be transparent in its procurement as well as in awarding contracts.


ARTICLES SOURCE: http://thestar.com.my