Ertiga based Proton-Suzuki car will be launched in October this year, confirms the CEO of Proton
First Proton Suzuki Car will be launched in Oct, 2016 confirms Proton CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali. While speaking about the launch of the new Proton Perdana in Putrajaya, he said that we would soon be seeing the first ever Proton Suzuki model developed from the joint venture. The model that the company will rebadge is the Suzuki Ertiga MPV. The prototype Ertiga with the Proton trade plate has been seen testing in Malaysia for quite a few times now.
Based on the information received, Ertiga will be exported from Indonesia as knocked down units. Around 1,500 units a month will be exported and these knocked down units are reaching Malaysia at Cikarang where Suzuki has its factory. This first Proton Suzuki car was announced in the beginning of January this year and it will enter production before the end of the year.
The Proton Suzuki prototype that has been spotted seems to have the bumper that was seen in the 2012 model of Ertiga. The 15-inch wheels are paired with GT radial tyres that are taken from the present variant. Since the car has been so heavily clad that one hasn’t been able to make out many changes, we expect quite a few that will give it a Proton touch.
Ertiga by Suzuki is based on the Swift platform and was developed jointly with Maruti. This cross between a MPV and hatchback is powered by 1.4-litre petrol as well as 1.3-litre diesel engines that deliver 93bhp and 88bhp respectively. With this Ertiga model being redeveloped, Proton also gets something new and this vehicle will help the company enter into a new segment where it does not have a presence currently.
For a benefit of few, Proton is a Malaysian car manufacturer and in the 1985 to the 2000s, they were largely manufacturing badge engineered vehicles from Mitsubishi and today it has got a hold in about 26 countries that are predominantly in Asia.
Source: Paultan.org
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