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Mitsubishi teams up with Proton

By Alborz Fallah |

Mitsubishi and Proton have previously worked in the past with Proton using Mitsubishi engines to power its cars, but last week the two companies signed another deal which will license Malaysia’s major automobile manufacturer, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PONSB) access to Mitsubishi technology and expertise for the development of an all new PROTON vehicle.

Mitsubishi teams up with Proton

Furthermore Proton will be allowed to manufacture a new Mitsubishi vehicle “based” product.

The deal is a win win for both companies as Proton gains access to Mitsubishi technology while the Japanese can further expand sales inside Malaysia to  beyond the current export shipments of built-up cars from Japan.


 
  • Frontman

    Does this mean Proton will go back to using 10 year old Mitsubishi product?? Persona, M21, Satria etc??

  • Stevo the Devo

    Watch out for the new Proton Sigma!!!

  • Reckless1

    Is Mitsubishi looking to Proton to improve its interiors…..err, no, but the other way around doesn’t cut it either.

    Mitsu must want that Lotus chassis tuning expertise that makes the Protons such desirable vehicles.

  • Gavin

    The satria was a great looking little hatch. still holds up today imo

  • Wheelnut

    Gavin – the basic GL-i Satria was as inspiring as a Daewoo Lanos…. The Lotus Enhanced GT-i however; with its Eibach Springs; Premium Brakes; Recaro Seats and “Torana
    A9-X” Flares etc was a great looking hot-hatch

    I could only imagine what the Jumbuck ute would look like not to mention how its performance and handling would improve if they only let the boys from Lotus weae their magic on it – as they dod tith the GT-i.

  • http://skyline The Salesman

    Wheelnut,
    Great idea, a GTI Jumbuck would be special. It might start a trend :)

  • Wheelnut

    Salesman – I think that if they made a the GT-i Jumbuck they’d have to have it with a SST gearbox [out of the Evo X] and a Bodykit similar to the one on the HSV HRT/LE 427 VU Maloo Ute Concept.

    It would end up looking like a Lotus Exige with a tray – and the performance to match

  • SamR

    The worst Japanese maker teams up with the worst Malaysian maker. Scratch that, all the Malaysian makers are crap.

    I wonder if two wrongs make a right?

  • Wheelnut

    Just because Mitsubishi aren’t as popular in the majority of market sectors as say Nissan or Toyota doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the worst.

    Mitsubishi have built a few iconic “perfromance” cars just like Nissan and Toyota such as the 3000GT [AWD 0-100Km/h in under 4 seconds] and of course the EVO Lancer [I > X].

    Not to mention their success in both WRC and Dakar

  • SamR

    Yes Mitsubishi have built a few iconic “performance” cars but they have also built some of the most unreliable cars out of Japan.

    They have had legendary engine and transmission failures in Australia over the years.

    I bought one a long time ago new, worst car I ever had. Quality was appalling.

  • Erien_88

    The new Joint Venture Mitsubishi – Proton project is strongly rumored to be a replacement of the 14 year old Proton Perdana (Basically a Camry/ Cefiro/ Accord/ 406-sized competitor when launched at the time.). Rumoured to be based off the current Mitsubishi Lancer’s platform, with design unique to Proton. Also, seeing that the Licensing Agreement is non-exclusive, it also means that the said car could be adapted & sold in other markets as a Mitsubishi.

    Proton did explore the use of the 380 as its replacement before, but then Mitsubishi Australia no longer manufacture it, plus a 3.8 V6 engine is too big for the Malaysian market (Engine capacity-based road tax + anything above 3.5L= Expensive for the average Proton Perdana buyer.).

    Big engined cars aren’t that popular back in my home country, unless it is something like a Mercedes, BMW, Porsche or a brand/ model of similar prestige.

    Source: Malaysian Motor Trader

    PS: Off-topic, Proton is going to launch a compact minivan (No, it’s nothing like that abomination we call the Juara 8 years ago.). As this project is started by the new management, there are high hopes & expectations on the soon to be launched model.
    There are spy shots of it on the net.

  • http://www.yahoo.com Josh

    SamR Says:
    December 9th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    The worst Japanese maker teams up with the worst Malaysian maker. Scratch that, all the Malaysian makers are crap.

    I wonder if two wrongs make a right?

    SamR U EDIOT FAG .. when ppl kept saying proton sucks i didnt have any complains at all cause they kindda do suck.. but when u go around saying MITSU sucks .. thats just wayyyy OVER LINE… i think mitsubishi has done some of the best cars EVER !!!! lancer ,eclipse , pajero , montero , grandis , STORM and triton .. etc ….

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y0eVoz2aGA <—- shows u what MITSUBISHI has been over the last years … !

  • petronasracingfan

    in Malaysia.. the PROTON-MITSUBISHI cars we called it WAJALUTION!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHvnGXEblWk

  • Ziro

    @petronasracingfan
    That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of.