Here's my thoughts about kereta persona.
With the introduction of its Persona sedan today, Proton is hoping to quietly go about winning over Malaysian consumers again with the latest addition to its family. In many ways, the vehicle is arguably the most important card the company has played, and represents, in its own words, a manifestation of the changes and transformation that have taken place at the company.
Rather personable, even in basic form. Proton is positioning the Persona – which bases its workings around the GEN.2 hatch platform, with 70% commonisation of parts – as an entry-level sedan, but is targeting a wide spectrum of buyers for the vehicle, the direct replacement for the ageing Wira, of which production has finally ceased.
Blueberry tea, anyone? The Persona is available in Base, Medium and High Line model form, with a choice of F5M41 five-speed manual or F4A41 four-speed automatic transmission versions. The Base and Medium Line offers both manual and auto variants, with the High Line version only available in auto.
Tail hangs together quite well, actually. The 110bhp and 148Nm 1.6l Campro engine continues to hold court, but revisions to the transmission control unit means that the behavioral patterns of the auto version are different. Benefits include a smoother low to mid-speed operation, and quicker response to acceleration as well as faster instantaneous kickdown.
Purple is the base tone for blueberry tea. As ever, close attention continues to be paid to ride and handling, and the claim is that the Persona is, over a nine-area spread of vehicle dynamics, not just naturally ahead of the antiquated Wira, but modern equivalents such as the Honda City and Toyota Vios as well, bettered only in areas of lane change stability and cornering stability by the Gen.2.
Inside, the cabin continues on the familiarity, but there are differences in how the form is sculpted; besides the noticeable extra storage areas, it is in the area of material composition – texture, feel, coordination – and fitment in which the biggest improvements have been made.
Looks somewhat the same, but it's all tighter and textured better. The two-tone grey interior features newly designed front seats and headrests, as well as fabric-lined door panels. Both medium and high line models come with a three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio switches, and the base line model is equipped with a two-speaker, double DIN CD receiver, while the medium and high line versions come shod with a CD/MP3 receiver, four-speaker system.
Speaking of storage space, there’s plenty to be had aside from revised storage compartments, cubbyholes and – yes, finally – a glove box. As is, the boot area is pretty large, with 430l of storage capacity, but in both medium and high line models, the rear seats can be folded flat to further increase volumetric scope to accommodate bulky items.
Let's cluster around each other, said one dial to the other. If it’s dual SRS front airbags with seatbelt pretensioners, ABS and EBD you’re looking for, then the High Line version is it - it also gets four disc brakes. The medium line gets a driver’s airbag and seatbelt pretensioner.
Proton gave the media a preview session with the car earlier in the week, and up close in the flesh, the exterior design can be termed cleanly efficient. There is undoubtedly a strong resemblance to the GEN.2 in how the overall styling lines shape up, and the wrap-around rear lamp cluster looks more than a sight familiar, but the boot extension does flow through nicely and the lines are proportionate.
A name from the past, but now symbolising a new beginning. A brief drive session with the variants around the Proton test track in Shah Alam returned a favourable initial drive impression. On the whole, the Persona has a no-nonsense appeal about it – it is softer in its approach to ride and handling, no surprise given that it has to appeal to a wider spectrum of buyers, but even with this compliance offers good balance and poise. Linear would best describe it in areas of stability and tracking, and quick directional shifts – to the point of outright provocation – are carried out with a reassuring efficiency.
Block soldiers on, but tranny control unit gets some positive revisions. As for the workings of the powertrain/drivetrain, it does have more zip about it at low-level operation, though the action still really only begins once the revs are up. The auto tranny feels surprisingly good though in other areas of operation, especially in terms of smoothness and transition, and the performance gap between it and the manual is not that marked, at least not in outright feel. A more in-depth performance report is on the cards, soon.
Wheel you grow to appreciate this one, in time? There’s a choice of seven colours for the Persona; six of these – Solid Red, Light Gold, Metal Grey, Tranquility Black, Iridescent White and Blueberry Tea – are available with the launch. The seventh, solid white, will be available from September.
A moving sight ... The company hopes to achieve a monthly sales target of 4,000 units for the newest addition to its line-up. With 2,000 pre-launch bookings, and 2,600 cars off the assembly line by the launch date, this should mean relatively quick deliveries for the initial order.
In fact, 350 vehicles will be delivered to buyers today, with the idea of getting the car on the road and visible from day one, surely a step in the right direction for a company hoping to project to consumers its new values and commitment it is subscribing to. Now, all that remains is for time to tell if these efforts pay off.
Pricing for the Persona is as follows (all on-the-road, with insurance):
Peninsular Malaysia
Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM44,999 (solid), RM45,449 (metallic)
Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM47,999 (solid), RM48,449 (metallic).
Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM49,800 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM52,800 (metallic)
High Line 1.6AT - RM55,800 (metallic).
East Malaysia
Base Line 1.6MT manual - RM47,559.10 (solid), RM48,009.10 (metallic)
Base Line 1.6AT auto - RM50,542 (solid), RM50,992 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6MT manual - RM52,331.60 (metallic)
Medium Line 1.6AT auto - RM55,314.50 (metallic)
High Line 1.6AT auto - RM57,241.10 (metallic)
