PROTON SAGA BARU
Consider that the original Proton Saga has been on sale for 23 years. It was the car that kick-started the Malaysian automotive industry, with only two minor facelifts in between. That's astonishing, for something based on a 1982 Mitsubishi Lancer. Amidst staggeringly expensive "CBU" imports where a Mercedes-Benz S350 might cost nearly a million Ringgit Malaysia these days, one could have one of these Lancer-clones for a little less than today's equivalent of RM21,000 (prices adjusted for inflation).
It never had much to offer - a basic 1.3 or 1.5-litre engine, five-speed manual with the option of a three-speed automatic, a rough, noisy ride and great instability above 100km/h. However, it was still very, very cheap and because it sold so well, it became the motoring identity of Malaysia.
It brought mass vehicle ownership to everyone's doorstep, even if they lived in a wooden atap hut somewhere in the forest. This was important, considering the geographical size of Malaysia, and the general lack of public transport that went along with it - something most Singaporeans take for granted even till this day.
Such was the phenomenon then, that you could almost say something like "you're Malaysian, so you must drive a Proton!" and get away with it.
Fast forward to the turn of the 21st century, and things weren't looking too rosy for this national carmaker. Despite their acquisition of British performance carmaker Lotus, government funds and national protectionism meant a lack of innovation amidst increasing car prices. Other locally produced cars licensed from brands such Kia (Naza Sutera, Bestari, etc.) and Daihatsu (Perodua Kancil, Myvi, Kembara and so on) effectively took the lead in sales.
The hammer finally fell not too long ago, when the Malaysian government announced it's withdrawal of funding and protection. This meant that prices had to rise, and Proton was a hundred per cent susceptible to the rigours of competition.
Hence, the significance of the new Proton Saga - this Malaysian icon has no other choice but to return to the fundamentals of what it once was as a Malaysian carmaker. It has to cough up a car that the majority of Malaysians need, and not want - a budget-priced, economical sedan with no frills and spills.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Best price saver vehicle in the market
This new 1.3-litre 4-door family sedan is priced from as low as RM29,999, excluding the road tax, insurance, extended warranty, extended warranty, registration and other administrative fees. Designed, engineered and manufactured based on market feedback collected over the years, the new SAGA is packaged and offered to the consumers in these variants and on-the-road prices:
| - | 1.3-litre (entry) N-line 5-speed manual transmission at the on-the-road price of RM31,500, |
| - | 1.3-litre (base) B-line 5-speed manual transmission at the on-the-road price from RM34,548 to RM34,998, |
| - | 1.3-litre (base) B-line 4-speed automatic transmission at the on-the-road price from RM37,548 and RM37,998, |
| - | 1.3-litre (medium) M-line 5-speed manual transmission at the on-the-road price from RM37,048 to RM37,498, |
| - | 1.3-litre (medium) M-line 4-speed automatic transmission at the on-the-road price from RM39,548 to RM39,998. |
The new SAGA delivers smoother cruising, better drivability, performance and greater fuel efficiency, thanks to the IAFM system that has been added to the Campro powerplant. In addition, the quality level and safety features of the new Saga are also superior for a car in its class. It is also designed to provide the spaciousness and comfort for family needs on the road.
The new SAGA is available in seven colours namely Zircon Green, Metallic Black, Solid White, Mountain Blue, Genetic Silver, Chilli Red and Granite Gray.
PROTON Holdings Berhad Chairman Dato' Mohammed Azlan Hashim said given the popularity of the car that this new model is replacing, PROTON has put in extra effort to ensure the new SAGA will not only meet, but surpass customer expectations - not only in terms of value-for-money, but in terms of product quality and after-sales service.
He added that the renewed confidence of Malaysians in PROTON and its latest addition in its stable is underscored by almost 6,000 bookings received to date.
Azlan said the recognising that it takes two to three years to conceive and develop a new model, it is therefore quite an achievement that a company the size of PROTON has managed to achieve the development of the new SAGA in less than two years, given its resources.
Azlan also added that with the introduction of the new SAGA today and PERSONA in August 2007, PROTON has begun to deliver on some of its promises with regard to product variety and product quality.
Azlan also announced that PROTON is now keenly pursuing to enhance its export performance, on a more accelerated basis given the availability of new models and product refreshers. Apart from its manufactured products, he added, PROTON is also expanding its non-manufacturing business via sale of technology and intellectual property.
He concluded that PROTON is certainly moving in the right direction. PROTON now has the right products, the right strategy and focus to move forward.
Managing Director Dato' Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said encouraged by the enthusiastic initial response, PROTON is targeting sales between 50,000 to 60,000 units per annum.
Syed Zainal added that next to quality, safety was PROTON's utmost concern when developing new models. The new SAGA, , taking similar emphasis on safety as other vehicles designed and engineered by PROTON, comes with a chassis that is 75 per cent made of high tensile steel, thus provides passengers with a basic "protection cage" and eventually minimises the risks of injury in case the vehicle is involved in road accidents.
About the new PROTON SAGA
The new PROTON SAGA is a value-for-money 1.3-litre 4-door family sedan, priced from as low as RM29,999, excluding the road tax, insurance, extended warranty, extended warranty, registration and other administrative fees. Designed, engineered and manufactured based on market feedback collected over the years.
This new 1.3-litre 4-door family sedan, is priced from as low as RM29,999, excluding the road tax, insurance, extended warranty, extended warranty, registration and other administrative fees. Designed, engineered and manufactured based on market feedback collected over the years, the new SAGA is packaged and offered to the consumers in five variants, namely:
| - | 1.3-litre (entry) N-line 5-speed manual transmission, |
| - | 1.3-litre (base) B-line 5-speed manual transmission, |
| - | 1.3-litre (base) B-line 4-speed automatic transmission, |
| - | 1.3-litre (medium) M-line 5-speed manual transmission, |
| - | 1.3-litre (medium) M-line 4-speed automatic transmission. |
Good ride and handling were also taken into consideration when considering the car's safety aspects. The chassis combined with a Lotus-tuned suspension, promises excellent ride and handling that is expected to set a new benchmark in its category.
The safety features of the car are further enhanced with a pair of ventilated front discs while the top-of-the-line version will have a set of 14-inch tyres for added traction, providing the car with strong braking force and better road holding. As an added precaution however, the new SAGA (M-line variant) will also come with the driver's airbag and seat belt pre-tensioner to soften the impact.
These safety features are all combined in a modern, contemporary and stylish design. Consumers will also find that the IAFM system added to the Campro engine will enhance the drivability and competitive performance of the car. The new engine not only improves fuel consumption but also smoothens out the torque curve in the Campro, delivering a more 'responsive' drive. In addition to all these, the new SAGA also has generous cabin space and provides best-in-class luggage space.
"We are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. Our domestic sales have shown vast improvements in the last year and we can see growing customer confidence across all states. I am confident that by continuously improving our products, services and especially customer satisfaction, we can further enhance our position in the market," said Syed Zainal.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Facts you need to know about Proton Saga
The Proton Saga is a subcompact car, formerly a compact car manufactured by Malaysian auto manufacturer Proton since September 1985. The name "Saga" was chosen from the winner of the contest which was held to choose the first car's name, Ismail Jaafar, a retired military soldier. This name was derived from "saga" (Abrus precatorius), which is a type of soft, fragile, oily, highly combustible but productive seed commonly found in Malaysia, and incidentally, the Proton Saga 1.3 litre engine "is as strong as the saga seed".
The Saga and its variants contribute to most of Proton's sales and revenues since its introduction. For nearly 22 years, the first-generation Saga is the longest surviving Proton model to date, ahead of its mid size car, the Proton Perdana. The original Saga model was originally based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore to avoid R&D costs, and retained it throughout its production lifespan. In 2008, a long overdue successor designed in-house by Proton was launched to conceal the aging platform. In August of that year, the 3 millionth car produced by Proton was a second generation Proton Saga.
The Proton Saga was launched in September 1985 by Malaysia's then Prime Minister, Mahathir Bin Mohamed. Before the production of Proton Saga, a contest was held to choose the name of the first national car, and the name Saga was chosen from the winner of the contest, Ismail Jaafar, a retired military soldier. When asked why he chose this particular name, he replied as "saga" (Abrus precatorius) is a type of soft, fragile but productive seed commonly found in Malaysia, and joked that the Proton Saga 1.3 litre engine "is as strong as the saga seed".
The first known Proton Saga to roll off the production line was presented to the Malaysian National Museum
as a symbol of the beginning of the Malaysian automotive industry. Tun Dr. Mahathir also drove a prototype Proton Saga fitted with a 4G63 2.0L engine and a Jalur Gemilang across the Penang Bridge and to Penang Airport during the opening ceremony of the bridge on 14 September 1985.
Early Saga models were powered by SOHC 8-valve 4-cylinder petrol engines sourced from Mitsubishi, available in both 1.3- and 1.5-litre displacements. Both engines were available with a 5-speed manual transmission, but a 3-speed Mitsubishi Tri-matic automatic was available with the 1.5-liter engine in 1987.
The Saga was originally offered as a 4-door saloon, followed by the addition of a hatchback variant, introduced in 1988 as the Proton Knight and was later known as Saga Aeroback. The Proton Knight was designed for the European market as the hatchback was more popular in United Kingdom.
In 1989, Proton sold the Saga in the United Kingdom with the slogan Japanese Technology + Malaysian Style = Proton. Since then, United Kingdom contributes most of Proton's export sales. The Saga name was not used and it was simply known as the Proton 1.3 or 1.5. The UK models reverted to the dashboard used in the Mitsubishi Lancer, complete with HVAC controls not found in the domestic model.
In 1990, the line-up was revised with the introduction of 12-valve Megavalve engines, which increased power ratings to 75 bhp (from the original 70.5 bhp in the former 8-valve (Magma) version) for the 1.3-litre engine, and 90 bhp for the 1.5-litre engine. On domestic models, the Saga also gained the "Megavalve" moniker. Minor exterior modifications included a new grill and wraparound black trim pieces. In addition, rear seat belts and a third brake light were fitted as standard.
In 1992, the Saga was given a facelift and its name expanded as Proton Saga Iswara (also known in short as Proton Iswara), after a species of butterfly in Sarawak. Modifications included slimmer headlights, plastic bumpers, side mouldings, coloured door handles, grooved taillight clusters and rear number plate repositioned to the bumper. In addition, new colors for automatic transmission models were introduced as well. This particular model is used as taxis in Malaysia and some are converted to NGV. Due to the modification, boot space was reduced by half to accommodate the NGV tank and there are only a few petrol stations by Malaysian oil-giant Petronas in the Klang Valley that sell natural gas, although there are plans underway to increase the number of stations selling it at various locations around Kuala Lumpur.
Models exported to Singapore and the United Kingdom were available with multi-point fuel injection and catalytic converters to meet Euro I emissions standards. This model was known as the Proton MPi in the United Kingdom. The introduction of the Proton Persona in 1993 replaced the corresponding models in the Saga range in the United Kingdom and this continued until the entire range was replaced in 1996.
In 2001, to regain sales and be competitive with Perodua, Proton introduced a special edition of Saga Iswara Sport based on the Aeroback version which included a new bodykit, metallic rear wing, jewel-effect headlights and Altezza lights, among other changes. It was only available in silver, with a manual transmission and a 1.3-litre engine. The original Saga Iswara Aeroback was still available in a 1.5-litre engine.
While the Iswara Aeroback underwent further modifications in the domestic market to become the Saga LMST in 2003, the saloon variant remained on sale unchanged.
As a loose successor to the Saga Iswara Sport, Proton gave the Iswara a new facelift and renamed it back to Saga in 2003. This generation is known as Saga LMST. The interior had an entirely new dashboard, door panels and an instrument panel with a digital display consisting of an odometer, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. Meanwhile, the exterior received new headlights and taillights and colour-coded bumpers and wing mirrors. Proton retuned the 1.3-litre carburettor engine, and fitted a new exhaust system and extractors, increasing its power rating to 83 bhp. It was only available with the 5-speed manual transmission.
On March 5, 2007, Proton launched the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Promotion in Malaysia, where they announced new price for the Proton Saga which were sold at RM26,999. Advertising campaigns for the Saga Aeroback used a notable rendition of Justin Timberlake's hit single SexyBack, with the lyrics changed to "AeroBack". The promotion was made as a support to Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day and also to thank Proton's customers for their support since Proton Saga was first launched, receiving several minor cosmetic changes. The move was also an attempt by Proton to steal potential sales from Perodua's then-forthcoming budget supermini, the Viva. That year, the Proton Saga became the second best selling car behind Perodua MyVi and the best selling saloon car in Malaysia, with over 15,000 orders. This version is quite notably the fastest and the lightest version of the Saga series Proton has ever produced. However, many public complaints have been filed to this version including interior quality problems such as broken power window switches and uncontrollable flow of the air-conditioning system due to Proton's carelessness in skipping strict quality test to ship the car quickly from overwhelming demand during promotion time.
On January 18, 2008, Proton unveiled the successor to the 2007 Saga, which was planned to be phased out in June 2008. Retaining the Saga name, the new car is an indigenous design, designed to outperform and outengineer the old Saga compact sedan and aeroback in every way. It's bodywork is essentially based on a stretched Proton Savvy. The new model is an in-house design developed in collaboration with Korea's LG
CNS and Lotus Engineering. This model enables the Malaysian company play to its strength in the home market i.e. three-box sedan. The Proton Saga is not planned for U.S. launch but will be sold throughout Southeast Asia, in China, India and Australia.
As of February 2008, approximately 23,000 customer bookings had been made for the car since its launch and the corresponding waiting time for delivery during that same period stretched up to 5 months.
On July 16, 2009, an electrical version of the Proton Saga was demonstrated at the University Sains Malaysia, Penang.
The Saga comes in 3 different specifications with the choice of manual or auto transmissions starting from the base specced N model to the fully kitted M model. Aichi Kikai supplies the 5-speed manual while Mitsubishi makes the 4-speed automatic. The basic N model retails from RM31,500 to the RM39,800 high specced M model. The new Saga would be the cheapest Proton once the RM26,999 original is retired. Proton dubs the new Saga as "The People's Car".
The new Saga is powered by the same 1.3-litre Campro engine (which was co-designed with Lotus) that is fitted to entry-level Gen-2s. Like other Proton models powered by Proton's own Campro engines, the 1.3-liter engine is rated at 94 hp at 6,000 rpm and 120 newton metre at 4,000 rpm. The engines feature the new Integrated Air-Fuel Module (IAFM) which varies the airflow into the engine to improve efficiency, smoothening out the problematic dip in the torque curve in the lower and middle rev ranges. The ignition system has also been updated with coil-on-plugs instead of the traditional ignition cable system, eliminating power loss. Compared to the (non-IAFM) 1.3-litre in the Satria Neo, power delivery characteristics are remarkably different. Noticeable torque is felt after 2,500 rpm all the way to 4,000 rpm. The acceleration to highway speeds is good. The 5-speed manual from Aichi Kikai is not geared towards the ultimate refinement at cruising speeds, but it does offer a good spread of torque everywhere, not to mention good overtaking power anywhere from 80-120 km/h. Suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar up front with a torsion beam in the rear. Its Lotus designed torsion beam suspension enables it to turn in sharply and hold its stance through corners without much understeering. Fuel economy is even better, approximately 6 L/100 km for the manual transmission.
Besides the 1.3L engine option, the 1.6-liter Campro version is also available as an exclusive engine option for taxi operators. It also features IAFM and produces 114 hp at 6,500 rpm and 148 newton metre at 4,000 rpm. Top-of-the-line versions (currently the M-Line) are fitted with a set of 14-inch rims and 185/65 R14 tyres for added traction, providing the car with strong braking force and better road holding. However, the car is not equipped with ABS.
The new Saga, like its predecessor, is expected to be standard among Malaysian taxicab operators. The car is not designed to accommodate a compressed natural gas tank. A Malaysian Orange Taxi Company, Innovasi Timur Sdn Bhd installed a superior NGV System with a modified NGV Cylinder Bracket, giving larger boot space for luggage. There is ample room for 5 Malaysian adults of average height and bigger than the old Saga. One airbag for the driver is fitted to the M-line models. As the Saga is designed as a city car, the air conditioning system has been made even more powerful and efficient, even at engine idling speeds.
Since the official launch of the second generation Proton Saga in January 2008, the car has won 3 major automobile awards. Autocar Asean, the Malaysian edition of the longest running car magazine in history has awarded the new Saga "Winner of the Small Sedan/ Hatchback Category" for 2008. Shortly after that, the car was voted as the "Best People's Car" at the Asian Auto - VCA Auto Industry Award 2008. In November the same year, the new Saga won yet another major Malaysian automobile accolade when it was declared the "Winner of the Entry Level Car Category" under the New Straits Times/ Maybank Car of the Year Awards for 2008. On 13th May 2010, Frost & Sullivan awarded 'Best Passenger Model Car of the Year' for the Proton Saga for its excellence and reliability.
The Saga and its variants contribute to most of Proton's sales and revenues since its introduction. For nearly 22 years, the first-generation Saga is the longest surviving Proton model to date, ahead of its mid size car, the Proton Perdana. The original Saga model was originally based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore to avoid R&D costs, and retained it throughout its production lifespan. In 2008, a long overdue successor designed in-house by Proton was launched to conceal the aging platform. In August of that year, the 3 millionth car produced by Proton was a second generation Proton Saga.
Saga (1985–1991)
The Proton Saga was launched in September 1985 by Malaysia's then Prime Minister, Mahathir Bin Mohamed. Before the production of Proton Saga, a contest was held to choose the name of the first national car, and the name Saga was chosen from the winner of the contest, Ismail Jaafar, a retired military soldier. When asked why he chose this particular name, he replied as "saga" (Abrus precatorius) is a type of soft, fragile but productive seed commonly found in Malaysia, and joked that the Proton Saga 1.3 litre engine "is as strong as the saga seed".
The first known Proton Saga to roll off the production line was presented to the Malaysian National Museum
as a symbol of the beginning of the Malaysian automotive industry. Tun Dr. Mahathir also drove a prototype Proton Saga fitted with a 4G63 2.0L engine and a Jalur Gemilang across the Penang Bridge and to Penang Airport during the opening ceremony of the bridge on 14 September 1985.
Early Saga models were powered by SOHC 8-valve 4-cylinder petrol engines sourced from Mitsubishi, available in both 1.3- and 1.5-litre displacements. Both engines were available with a 5-speed manual transmission, but a 3-speed Mitsubishi Tri-matic automatic was available with the 1.5-liter engine in 1987.
The Saga was originally offered as a 4-door saloon, followed by the addition of a hatchback variant, introduced in 1988 as the Proton Knight and was later known as Saga Aeroback. The Proton Knight was designed for the European market as the hatchback was more popular in United Kingdom.
In 1989, Proton sold the Saga in the United Kingdom with the slogan Japanese Technology + Malaysian Style = Proton. Since then, United Kingdom contributes most of Proton's export sales. The Saga name was not used and it was simply known as the Proton 1.3 or 1.5. The UK models reverted to the dashboard used in the Mitsubishi Lancer, complete with HVAC controls not found in the domestic model.
In 1990, the line-up was revised with the introduction of 12-valve Megavalve engines, which increased power ratings to 75 bhp (from the original 70.5 bhp in the former 8-valve (Magma) version) for the 1.3-litre engine, and 90 bhp for the 1.5-litre engine. On domestic models, the Saga also gained the "Megavalve" moniker. Minor exterior modifications included a new grill and wraparound black trim pieces. In addition, rear seat belts and a third brake light were fitted as standard.
Saga Iswara (1992–2008)
In 1992, the Saga was given a facelift and its name expanded as Proton Saga Iswara (also known in short as Proton Iswara), after a species of butterfly in Sarawak. Modifications included slimmer headlights, plastic bumpers, side mouldings, coloured door handles, grooved taillight clusters and rear number plate repositioned to the bumper. In addition, new colors for automatic transmission models were introduced as well. This particular model is used as taxis in Malaysia and some are converted to NGV. Due to the modification, boot space was reduced by half to accommodate the NGV tank and there are only a few petrol stations by Malaysian oil-giant Petronas in the Klang Valley that sell natural gas, although there are plans underway to increase the number of stations selling it at various locations around Kuala Lumpur.
Models exported to Singapore and the United Kingdom were available with multi-point fuel injection and catalytic converters to meet Euro I emissions standards. This model was known as the Proton MPi in the United Kingdom. The introduction of the Proton Persona in 1993 replaced the corresponding models in the Saga range in the United Kingdom and this continued until the entire range was replaced in 1996.
In 2001, to regain sales and be competitive with Perodua, Proton introduced a special edition of Saga Iswara Sport based on the Aeroback version which included a new bodykit, metallic rear wing, jewel-effect headlights and Altezza lights, among other changes. It was only available in silver, with a manual transmission and a 1.3-litre engine. The original Saga Iswara Aeroback was still available in a 1.5-litre engine.
While the Iswara Aeroback underwent further modifications in the domestic market to become the Saga LMST in 2003, the saloon variant remained on sale unchanged.
Saga (2003–2008)
As a loose successor to the Saga Iswara Sport, Proton gave the Iswara a new facelift and renamed it back to Saga in 2003. This generation is known as Saga LMST. The interior had an entirely new dashboard, door panels and an instrument panel with a digital display consisting of an odometer, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. Meanwhile, the exterior received new headlights and taillights and colour-coded bumpers and wing mirrors. Proton retuned the 1.3-litre carburettor engine, and fitted a new exhaust system and extractors, increasing its power rating to 83 bhp. It was only available with the 5-speed manual transmission.
On March 5, 2007, Proton launched the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Promotion in Malaysia, where they announced new price for the Proton Saga which were sold at RM26,999. Advertising campaigns for the Saga Aeroback used a notable rendition of Justin Timberlake's hit single SexyBack, with the lyrics changed to "AeroBack". The promotion was made as a support to Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day and also to thank Proton's customers for their support since Proton Saga was first launched, receiving several minor cosmetic changes. The move was also an attempt by Proton to steal potential sales from Perodua's then-forthcoming budget supermini, the Viva. That year, the Proton Saga became the second best selling car behind Perodua MyVi and the best selling saloon car in Malaysia, with over 15,000 orders. This version is quite notably the fastest and the lightest version of the Saga series Proton has ever produced. However, many public complaints have been filed to this version including interior quality problems such as broken power window switches and uncontrollable flow of the air-conditioning system due to Proton's carelessness in skipping strict quality test to ship the car quickly from overwhelming demand during promotion time.
Second generation (2008–present)
On January 18, 2008, Proton unveiled the successor to the 2007 Saga, which was planned to be phased out in June 2008. Retaining the Saga name, the new car is an indigenous design, designed to outperform and outengineer the old Saga compact sedan and aeroback in every way. It's bodywork is essentially based on a stretched Proton Savvy. The new model is an in-house design developed in collaboration with Korea's LG
CNS and Lotus Engineering. This model enables the Malaysian company play to its strength in the home market i.e. three-box sedan. The Proton Saga is not planned for U.S. launch but will be sold throughout Southeast Asia, in China, India and Australia.
As of February 2008, approximately 23,000 customer bookings had been made for the car since its launch and the corresponding waiting time for delivery during that same period stretched up to 5 months.
On July 16, 2009, an electrical version of the Proton Saga was demonstrated at the University Sains Malaysia, Penang.
Specifications
The Saga comes in 3 different specifications with the choice of manual or auto transmissions starting from the base specced N model to the fully kitted M model. Aichi Kikai supplies the 5-speed manual while Mitsubishi makes the 4-speed automatic. The basic N model retails from RM31,500 to the RM39,800 high specced M model. The new Saga would be the cheapest Proton once the RM26,999 original is retired. Proton dubs the new Saga as "The People's Car".
Engine and performance
The new Saga is powered by the same 1.3-litre Campro engine (which was co-designed with Lotus) that is fitted to entry-level Gen-2s. Like other Proton models powered by Proton's own Campro engines, the 1.3-liter engine is rated at 94 hp at 6,000 rpm and 120 newton metre at 4,000 rpm. The engines feature the new Integrated Air-Fuel Module (IAFM) which varies the airflow into the engine to improve efficiency, smoothening out the problematic dip in the torque curve in the lower and middle rev ranges. The ignition system has also been updated with coil-on-plugs instead of the traditional ignition cable system, eliminating power loss. Compared to the (non-IAFM) 1.3-litre in the Satria Neo, power delivery characteristics are remarkably different. Noticeable torque is felt after 2,500 rpm all the way to 4,000 rpm. The acceleration to highway speeds is good. The 5-speed manual from Aichi Kikai is not geared towards the ultimate refinement at cruising speeds, but it does offer a good spread of torque everywhere, not to mention good overtaking power anywhere from 80-120 km/h. Suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts and a stabilizer bar up front with a torsion beam in the rear. Its Lotus designed torsion beam suspension enables it to turn in sharply and hold its stance through corners without much understeering. Fuel economy is even better, approximately 6 L/100 km for the manual transmission.
Besides the 1.3L engine option, the 1.6-liter Campro version is also available as an exclusive engine option for taxi operators. It also features IAFM and produces 114 hp at 6,500 rpm and 148 newton metre at 4,000 rpm. Top-of-the-line versions (currently the M-Line) are fitted with a set of 14-inch rims and 185/65 R14 tyres for added traction, providing the car with strong braking force and better road holding. However, the car is not equipped with ABS.
Cabin and interior
The new Saga, like its predecessor, is expected to be standard among Malaysian taxicab operators. The car is not designed to accommodate a compressed natural gas tank. A Malaysian Orange Taxi Company, Innovasi Timur Sdn Bhd installed a superior NGV System with a modified NGV Cylinder Bracket, giving larger boot space for luggage. There is ample room for 5 Malaysian adults of average height and bigger than the old Saga. One airbag for the driver is fitted to the M-line models. As the Saga is designed as a city car, the air conditioning system has been made even more powerful and efficient, even at engine idling speeds.
Awards
Since the official launch of the second generation Proton Saga in January 2008, the car has won 3 major automobile awards. Autocar Asean, the Malaysian edition of the longest running car magazine in history has awarded the new Saga "Winner of the Small Sedan/ Hatchback Category" for 2008. Shortly after that, the car was voted as the "Best People's Car" at the Asian Auto - VCA Auto Industry Award 2008. In November the same year, the new Saga won yet another major Malaysian automobile accolade when it was declared the "Winner of the Entry Level Car Category" under the New Straits Times/ Maybank Car of the Year Awards for 2008. On 13th May 2010, Frost & Sullivan awarded 'Best Passenger Model Car of the Year' for the Proton Saga for its excellence and reliability.
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