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Bolehland is luanching Proton Inspire (lancer EX) i think soon will hit proton singapore showroom

Proton Inspira

I think the Inspira will sure be popular one. Then the Satria R3 is abt the best car Proton has ever made. Sad that they are not here in SG. :(

[extract] Proton have come up with so large a display at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show that I believe a short write up is in order on the brand. As soon as you enter the first exhibition hall you can see that it is basically made up of Perodua and Proton. Perodua had a smaller display with only 2 actual cars

November 10th marked a day where Proton officially launched their Waja replacement model called the Inspira. As mentioned earlier,the Inspira is a badge engineered version of the Mitsubishi Lancer EX. It comes in 1.8liter manual and CVT models as well as a range topping 2.0 CVT premium version with cruise control, rain sensing wipers and automatic light sensors. Now having seen one, actually two units (a 1.8 manual & the 2.0CVT Premium) in the flesh at a Proton Showroom in Kuala Lumpur, I have to report that the Inspira is indeed a Mitsubishi Lancer with a slightly different dress. It has new bumpers front and rear (the front bumper slightly aping the BMW 3series' bumper), a new engine/inlet manifold cover with a Proton badge, a steering with a Proton badge and Proton badging at the rear in place of the Mitsubishi diamonds. The interior of the 2.0CVT also has Nappa leather. The same kind you find in the GT version of the Lancer. The 2.0 variant comes with a body kit to differentiate it from the base 1.8manual and CVT versions. The wheels are 16inches running 205/60series tires with Proton specific dampers and spring rates. The cars have good build quality. The shut lines as well as fittings are sound and even the door panels feel slightly better made than the Lancer was when it was first launched. Actually the quality shouldn't even be suspect as upon closer inspection, lots of items still had the Mistubishi logo on it. I suppose the first batch of the Inspira was assembled in Japan and partly knocked down for transport over to Malaysia. The only non-Mitsubishi parts that is in the engine bay is the battery and maybe the engine/manifold cover. This is as I would say good badge engineering for a competitive and over taxed (and therefore over priced) Malaysian market. Even though some Malaysians are disappointed that Proton has basically gone full circle by running back to Mitsubishi for a new model (like the original Proton Saga and Wira models), it is actually the most profitable way to sell cars. It is a no brainer actually. If you benched marked business practices of Proton's local rival, Perodua, you'd know that slightly re-engineering a Japanese model is a good thing. Take a look at the Perodua Myvi. Toyota sells a one called the Passo, Daihatsu sells it as the Sirion and the Boon and Subaru sells it as the Justy. Everyone buys one as decent transport. So what's a Mitsubishi Lancer dressed up as a Proton then? Normal industry stuff I guess. Anyway, the high specced 2.0P costs only RM91,999. The base 1.8 manual costs RM78,999. Compare this with the Lancer 2.0GT which costs in the region of RM120,000 and it is sure to be a best seller over in Malaysia. And what about those that bought the Lancer? Worried about losing some individuality? I suppose you could upgrade to the Lancer Sportback then. Unless, Proton decides to come up with a 'Aeroback' version like they did with the Wira some time ago that is! -the red car above is the 2.0CVT and the one in silver below is the 1.8manual, note the different steering wheel (without cruise control switches on the right side of the steering and the difference in trim (cloth seats, silver carbon look trim instead of dark 'wood'- -and now for the original recipe..in case you've forgotten how it looks like-

Proton had recently previewed its latest model, the Inspira, over in Malaysia. The Inspira is basically the current model Mitsubishi Lancer EX (also known as the Galant Fortis in Japan) with some cosmetic changes, mainly to the front bumper and the rear bumper as well as some Lotus sourced suspension tuning (absorber settings and the hardness of the bushes are Proton specific). It comes with Mitsubishi's 4B10 1.8 liter and 4B11 2.0liter engines with a 5 speed manual for the 1.8 and the 6speed CVT for both the 1.8liter and 2.0liter engine. Mitsubishi is supplying these and Proton will use them without any special tuning differences. The first few Proton Inspira badged Lancers will have about 26% local content, and when things get up to full swing, local content should go up to 40% within the next few months and straight up to 65% within a year of the official launch. We now know that with this slightly cheaper, albeit re-badged Lancer is now on sale in Malaysia soon. The prices have been set from RM79,888otr for the base 1.8 manual, the mid-RM80k for the 1.8 CVT Auto and not more than RM95,000 for the 2.0CVT. This means a big drop in price if you bought a Mitsubishi Lancer GT or GLS (at RM124,000 and RM118,000 respectively) in Malaysia. I suppose the Inspira is indeed an inspired badge engineering exercise that would benefit both Proton and Mitsubishi in the long run. Why so? Proton saves on development costs while Mitsubishi gets to sell more Lancers, albeit badged otherwise in Malaysia. Proton reports that badge engineering saves at least a few hundred million Ringgit as well as cutting development period from 24 months to around 17months. With target sales of 2,000 units per month, Mitsubishi benefits from selling more Lancers, both the GT and GTS in Malaysia (and maybe some overseas markets too). At time moment, Lancer sales have basically stagnated, due to the eminent launch of this Proton and the fact that it has been on the market for more than 2 years already. Sales hovering around the hundreds and not thousands like what Honda and Toyota are achieving in Malaysia for the Civic and Corolla Altis respectively. Since Proton estimates to sell 1,600 units of the Inspira per month, Mitsubishi would surely benefit from the royalty and CKD kits it supplies to Proton. The downside of this is that those that bought the 'original' Lancer would now be reeling in shock if they want to sell their car. The second hand market for the Lancer has collapsed as 5 or 6 months ago, a friend sold his almost 2 year old Lancer GT for close to RM100,000, now used car dealers are taking it for about RM75,000. The other painful aspect to this is that there will be more 'Protonlutions' out there. There used to be lots of 'Wiralutions', or Proton Wiras dressed up at the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III around. Now there will be a whole lot more 'Inspiralutions' over in Malaysia very soon. Sigh. Check out the spy photos sent by a friend a few days prior to the launch and the comparison to an actual launch preview photo right above (via Paultan.org) taken recently. There are no official photos as yet as Proton have not officially launched the car and most local journalists have adhered to Proton's request of a photo blackout. Spoilsports. This is only a preview of it as the official launch date has been set for Novermber 10th. Very Lancer isn't it? Regardless of that slightly different nose the Inspira has. Anyway, my condolences to Malaysian Lancer owners. IF they intend to sell their car now that is.