Limited run of Proton Satria Neo supercharged coming?

Together with the Proton Preve R3 kits and the rest of R3 enhancement for Proton range, also on display at Plaza Angsana is the Proton Satria Neo S2000 Concept. Bearing the same shade as the Proton dominant rally machine, S2000 Concept is powered by the supercharged Campro lump, as indicated on the tailgate badging on the car. According to the source close to the company production, there was a plan to offer a limited run of 200 units of the supercharged Neo as a commemorative to the rally success in the recent years. Could this be the preview of such model?

Back in April last year, some media did uncovered the Proton Satria Neo supercharged project. With the Sprintex supercharger unit mounted on the Campro unit, the total tally is 180bhp and 200Nm. Will it ever produced? Such a late enhancement to a model approaching its end of life cycle.....

R3 kit introduced for Proton Preve & other models

Proton has showcased the latest R3 product, mainly for the Proton Preve and Satria Neo at the event of APRC in Johor. The models are being on show at Plaza Angsana. The R3 kit for the Preve is the first in line for this particular model, comprising of a new front bumper extension with lower lip and side duct, side skirting and rear valence. While there is no mentioned about the rims, it looks as if it is at least 17" in diameter.

There's no mentioned about the drivetrain enhancement, so it is very likely this is the cosmetic updates only. As depicted from the product description, the package does not include the rims, suspension or engine tweak and currently limited to the faster-looking body addenda. The indicative pricing is RM3k++.

Also on show at the Plaza Angsana is the ageing Proton Satria Neo with S2000 Concept. While it lacks the flaring wide-body outlook from the successful rally car, the R3 kit does include an aggressively styled front bumper with massive radiator grille intake, side skirt, new rear bumper and big rear spoiler. Larger rims are available too. The indicative pricing is RM4k++. 

R3 kit for the rest of Proton range is available too. There will also be package for Saga BLM that resemble the R3 show car in Thailand Auto Expo back in 2010, priced tentatively for RM3k++. There special price on offer during the APRC event too for selected R3 kits. For Proton Persona, the bodykit package (minus the rims and tyres) is RM3113.60 (normal RM3,892), Satria Neo CPS package for RM1,000 (from RM1,250), Proton Gen2 kit RM2,530 (usual RM3,891), Proton Satria Neo kit at RM2,570 (normal RM3,953) and finally an Inspira kit for RM2,388 instead of usual RM3,674. Please note that the price quoted are all without rims and tyres.

The photos of the Preve R3 and the brochures for the model mentioned above can be seen after the jump.

APRC 2012 New Caledonia - Team MRF scored 1-2, Proton stumbled

Proton had a promising start in the New Caledonia rally when PG Andersson lead Chris Atkinson by 4.3s while team mate Alister McRae suffered from a puncture and retired for that day. With McRae out of the picture, Proton misery continued during the second day when PG Andersson suffered from engine mishap where his Proton Satria Neo S2000 gradually losing power. However, superb job by MEM crew witnesssed them fitting a new cylinder head gasket to the ailing car in a record time, enabling Andersson to salvage third place at the end of Day 2. While Proton stumbled, MRF Team of Chris Atkinson flourished to finish first, ahead of team mate Gaurav Gill. Atkinson lead however was not without problem, as he also suffered a puncture in the final stage, cutting down his lead to 40seconds.

On the Day 3, Andersson engine had died completely, thanks to the Saturday drama. Skoda's Atkinson pace was blistering on Day 3, eclipsing his team mate by almost two minutes. However, his Skoda stopped in the middle of the stage apparently due to the water crossing, same issued that plagued Andersson's Proton. Gaurav Gill in the sister Skoda immediately capitalized on his team mate misfortune. When Atkinson finally get going again, his team mate was 5 minutes in front. They hold station that way, finished ahead of Brian Green EVO IX by 10 minutes. More after the jump.

Proton wins S-WRC category in Rally of Sweden

PROTON rallied to its first ever victory in the 2012 FIA Super World Rally Championship (S-WRC) with Per Gunnar Andersson claiming a dominant drive in the Satria Neo S2000 to finish more than three minutes clear of his nearest rival in Rally Sweden.

Andersson finished the 24 special stages 3 minutes 35 seconds ahead of Ford’s Craig Breen and 4 minutes 49 seconds in front of Skoda’s Pontus Tideman. He was also placed 12th overall ahead of some of the main World Rally Championship (WRC) competitors en route to clinching his third successive win at his Swedish home event.

Andersson and co-driver Emil Axelsson led the S-WRC class from start to finish, making the most of local knowledge, experience and a competitive package to steer the Satria Neo S2000 to victory in the snowy, icy and cold conditions of the Swedish countryside.

“What a phenomenal weekend it has been and a well deserved victory for PROTON after only two rounds of the S-WRC. We knew that we had a very competitive car at the very start of the season in Monte Carlo and we have proven just that in Sweden. The Satria Neo S2000 was dominant throughout the weekend,” said Andersson, who looks back on what could have possibly been two victories in two rounds (of the Championship) for PROTON had it not been for an engine fire three stages to the finish at the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally.

Rally Sweden attracted the participation of 85 entries and covered a competitive distance of 360km over four days. 

“Andersson drove a dominant rally to make an impactful introduction for PROTON in Sweden and the World Rally Championship circuit, underlining both the team and brand’s commitment to excel,” said John D. Chacko, PROTON’s Director of Group Marketing, Branding and Motorsports.

Victory in Sweden promotes PROTON to officially joining not only the ranks of rally’s elite, but is its first in the European hemisphere since the Satria Neo S2000 made its competition debut in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2009. PROTON’s best finish up until now had been second place at the 2009 IRC Rally of Scotland, although the Satria Neo S2000 did go on to dominate and win the 2011 Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) driver’s and manufacturer’s titles. 

“It has been an incredible journey to get here (victory for PROTON). As we celebrate this moment, I assure you that development work continues to ensure that the Satria Neo S2000 enhances its competitiveness throughout the season. It is still too early in the season and there is still plenty to be done to if Andersson is to make a strong bid for this year’s S-WRC title,” said Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood, the Head of Proton Motorsports.

With Monte Carlo and Sweden now over, PROTON is due to compete in another three of the seven S-WRC rounds in 2012.

Source: Proton press release.

Proton rally team retired in Monte-Carlo S-WRC

It could have been a dream start of S-WRC season for Proton rally team to get its maiden win in a debut season in a season opener rally round. After climbing into the overall top 10 in the opening day, the S2000 Satria Neo moved into overall 9th and took the lead of S-WRC in the second day, in the hands of Per Gunnar Andersson after the S-WRC leader, Sebastien Ogeir crashed out in his Skoda Fabia S2000.

Andersson continued to build up his lead against his nearest challenger, Kevin Abbring in his Skoda Fabia S2000. Andersson stretched his S-WRC lead from 23 seconds to 1 minute 40 seconds. Meanwhile, the legendary Sebastian Loeb continue to dominate the rally at the front, comfortably leading by 2 minutes ahead of Dani Sordo in his Mini. More after the jump.

Proton in Global Motorsport Arena - Satria Neo S2000

PROTON is clearly intensified its turnaround plan and strategizing a global attack on automotive arena. Apart from launching a series of credible car recently, the image building activities is buzzing actively too. The highest profile would be the involvement with LRGP F1 team where the F1 theme is used prominently in Proton advertising. Capitalizing the Lotus (other way around actually as Lotus is owned and funded by our national car company) name, Proton is featured is the advertisement and sponsored event. 

Closer to the affordable car, Proton cars are being run in FIA Rally Championship and British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). The participation in FIA APRC was ran by Mellors Elliot Motorsport, while the participation in BTCC was handled by Welch Motorsport where they fielded Proton Persona BTCC. The car is still new and developing and the success is still yet to come. However, the rally effort started much earlier in 2008 and by now already bags the success. For this category, Proton Satria Neo was chosen, and was adapted according to new FIA S2000 classification where the road going-based car is allowed to have either 1.6l forced-fed or a 2.0l NA. 

Last weekend, Proton bags the manufacturer championship for APRC, leaving Mitsubishi and Subaru trailing in its wake. The Satria Neo S2000 has been a dominant force this season, winning four out of six round it participated along the 2011. Proton Satria Neo as chosen as it has the ideal dimensions to be the base car for the rally, as the car body hard-points can't be altered as it violates the regulation. Most modern car today are tall-body to maximise space, not so with Satria Neo. It was designed from the outset to be sporty hatchback in Proton range, hence its low-slung stance. This is perfect for racing as it present the lowest frontal area. Short overhang and cab-rearward stance rewards great weight distribution. These are the criteria that makes Satria Neo such as credible baseline model to rallying. Mellors Elliot Motorsport has modified the car to S2000 regulation, altering the customary bodyshell fit for rallying, modified the Waja-derived 1.8l and massaged the internals to produce a reliable 278bhp and drop-in the 4WD drivetrain and Xtrac 6 speed gearbox. Enjoy the write-up below on the technicalities of Proton Satria Neo S2000.

The Satria Neo S2000 was build around the new S2000 category according to FIA classification. The S2000 is divided into two, the first one is the turbocharged 1.6l while the second one is NA 2.0l. S2000 Satria Neo conformed to the latter. Full classification accepted for FIA rallying is as tabulated. 

Proton Satria Neo S2000 made it rally debut at Rallye Antibes Cote d'Azure in November 2008 where it was piloted by Bryan Bouffier. In that leg, it finished 18th in its debut. First podium for Satria Neo S2000 arrived in December 2009 at IRC Rally of Scotland when Alister McRae was awarded second place. In 2011, Satria Neo S2000 dominates the season by winning four out of six rounds of APRC. Alister McRae took the APRC driver's championship while team mate Chris Atkinson is second in table , making it 1-2 for driver's championship for Proton drivers. Proton also clinches the manufacturer crown ahead of the Mitsubishi and Subaru.

More after the jump.

Proton wins both driver and constructor championship of APRC

Proton sweeps clean the FIA Asia Pasific Rally Championship (APRC) by clinching both driver's title with Alister McRae and constructor championship at season finale in China. For those not in the know, APRC is not a backyard-grown local rally, it is the international, FIA-accredited racing class with entries around the world with various involvement of car manufacturers. This fact make the victory very, very sweet indeed.

While the driver's championship is down to the wire between both Proton drivers, the battle for constructor was still open leading to China's finale. Alister McRae has comfortably leading the Day 1, while teammate Chris Atkinson is 3rd at the end of Day 1. It is McRae forth victory of the season. The Proton drivers were split by Jari Ketomaa in his Mitsubishi Evolution X. For the constructor  crown, Mitsubishi finish second behind Proton, while Subaru is in third place. Such is the dominant of Proton Satria Neo S2000 that it was able to fend off the Japanese legendary rally marques. 

Proton is also the first manufacturer to win all eight categories contested in FIA APRC championship. In addition to the these two sweetest aforementioned victory, Proton also is a victor in FIA APRC Teams Trophy, FIA Asia Cup Driver's title, FIA Pasific Cup Driver's, Manufacturer's title in 2WD category, FIA APRC Rally Cup 2WD category and FIA APRC Junior Cup driver's title.

CONGRATULATION PROTON!!