DRIFTING IN MALAYSIA: 9/7/08

Proton MPV contest: It is time to put your talent to the test. Take a break and put on your thinking cap. Malaysia's first ever national multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) by PROTON is almost ready. And PROTON is giving you a once-in-a-lifetime chance to create history, by giving a name to the MPV.
Think of a name for our newest family member. The best name submitted could win you a brand new Proton MPV. There are other prizes to be won as well.

Sponsor & Eligibility The sponsor of this Proton MPV Naming Contest ("Contest") is Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd. ("PROTON").
This Contest is open to all Malaysian residents older than 18 years of age as of 08/09/2008. Each contestant represents and warrants to PROTON that he/she has the right, authority and power to enter into the Contest in accordance with Contest Terms and Conditions and shall provide such proof as PROTON requires.

Proton MPV first batch to roll out mid-Sept 2008

The Proton MPV will begin on-road testing from the 12th of September 2008 onwards, so we'll be able to spot it on our local roads and hopefully get some nice clear photos possibly from mid-September onwards. It will be launched to the public in March 2009.

Proton sources have confirmed that the Proton MPV will initially come with the 125 horsepower Campro CPS found in the highline GEN2 CPS facelift. The car will ride on 15 inch wheels which should be easy on the fuel consumption as well as tyre change bills as smaller tyres are cheaper. 125hp is far from sprinty on a heavy vehicle especially with all 7 seats occupied, but it is still more powerful than the 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6 liter engines that almost all B-segment Japanese MPVs have to make do with. A turbocharged Campro engine is said to be in the works but according to inside sources if any other engine options other than the CPS engine are to be available for the Proton MPV, next in line is more likely to be a turbodiesel engine. In fact, Proton may have played a part in (successfully) lobbying for the recent drop of diesel road tax rates to the same level as petrol road tax rates.