2011 Proton Inspira launched and based on Mitsubishi Lancer

Article
Gallery

By Brett Davis | October 21st, 2010

Proton has just released the 2011 Proton Inspira in Malaysia which replaces the since-ceased Proton Waja. Proton will launch the car on an international scale next month.

It’s not hard to tell that yes, the Inspira is based on the current Mitsubishi Lancer. The car will come in three different variants, two of which will use a 1.8-litre engine available in either auto or manual form, and also a 2.0-litre version which will only be available in automatic form.

Proton has released a kind of teaser video to get the global market speculating which also includes a press conference outlining some of the other details. Pricing is expected to be lower than the equivalent Mitsubishi Lancer.

No word yet as to definite Australian market details but we’ll keep you posted as soon as we can.

Shak

I dont get it. Mitsu and Proton share a lot of things every now and then, but i dont seem to recall an alliance or either of the companies owning a share of the other. Does anyone know if Mitsu or proton, or even lotus for that Matter have some sort of ownership agreement, or technology sharing agreement.

http://CarAdvice La Mercator

Proton and Mitsubishi have had a product development alliance for many years. This is not the first time a Proton has resembled a product we know as Mitsubishi in Australia. Look up the Proton M21. (You will find it looks exactly like a lancer Coupe) Most often the Proton is a little more tricked up in the chassis and suspension due to protons ownership of Lotus (including my favorite, passive rear steering) that you won’t see in the Australian Mitsubishi.
The M21 had Ricardo seats, blaupunkt? ( I don’t know how to spell it) stereo systems and (at the time) the more advanced 1.8 ltr motor.

Shak

I owned one of them at one point, thats sort of why i asked.
And yes you spelt it correct.

http://CarAdvice La Mercator

I just got word from Proton Australia. The Inspira is the replacment for the Waja in the local market only. It is not comming to Australia!

zx

maybe it is not coming to Aus.. but Proton CEO said they would export the car . search on you tube keyword inspira ..

Eric

Will the fit ‘n’ finsh be up the level of Mitsubishi?

Is it a rebadged Lancer?

Eric

Baddass

I’ll take a wild guess here and say, yes it is a rebadged Lancer.
I remember a few years back Proton and Mitsubishi were in talks about selling a rebadged 380 in Malaysia to replace their aging Proton Perdana, however the deal never eventuated. I know that Mitsu Oz was in some pretty serious debt at that point, but one can’t help but wonder how it would have turned out with those extra 1000 or so sales a month.
Alexis Denisof

Yes, it is a rebadged Lancer. From the news available in Malaysia so far, Mitsubishi stressed that Proton is not allowed to touch the engine and ECU, & the first batch will only be 26% local parts (everything else exactly as the Lancer would have it) though it’s expected to rise to 70% within a year.

Dennis

Is there a new Lancer due soon?

Proton normally sell the previous version Mitsu’s.

prolever

IDK..
but who knows..
Only Mitsu and proton knows about that,,

Krish

Was about to say exactly that! But I think this all started from Mitsubishi and Proton striking a deal a couple of years ago. The deal was supposed allow Proton to expand its product range with minimal cost, and for Mitsubishi to move more units. Cant be sure, but thats what I have read. In my eyes, this cant be a good move for Mitsubishi with a competitor selling essentially the same car for a lower cost..

Krish

My previous comment was a reply to Shak…
Johndoe

Actually, it’s good for Mitsu…they can’t sell much Lancer in Malaysia due to the high import tax…and they can’t compete with T&H since Malaysians are suckers for crappy T&H cars…letting Proton OEM is a winning formula for them…they still sell at the same price…to PROTON, instead of to Malaysians at the inflated price with import duty…Just like Toyota/Daihatsu with the Perodua kei cars. Instant Winrar.

Fenno

At least other manufacturers who share platforms or buy
old tooling are putting in the effort to change the styling. This will be a flop.
THe Claytons Lancer.

Andrew M

Wind back a few years and when a car was shared, bugger all was changed like in this instance.

Probably best they didnt mess with it, I doubt Proton could improve its looks

JEKYL & HYDE

wow,i thought that china was the place to get cheap knock off copies.what were mits thinking they could gain from this(maybe a takeover offer)???

Dennis

This isn’t the first this has happened between them.

What i’m thinking is that Mitsu will not allow Proton to sell it here…

Unknown

Actually they had an agreement,which Proton will rebadge Lancer and Mitsubishi will rebadge the Persona and Exora of Proton.
Mitsubishi will not allow Proton to export the Inspira to overseas unless they totally change the design.
Unknown

I heard that this Inspira will have better handling than the current Lancer,and Proton changed the air intake of the Lancer too.
This car has different front bumper and a two-tone rear bumper.

Limit

where did u get this info from?

zx

There is already test drive for journalist .
“Using their 10+ years of experience in injecting Lotus DNA into Proton’s models, the engineers have given the P3-09A a different feel to the car. To some, this may be superior to the Lancer’s and these will be people who are more oriented towards sporty driving. There will also be some who like the Lancer’s feel which now seems to be more oriented towards comfort. But this is not to say the P3-09A is uncomfortable because the Lotus DNA still retains a reasonable level of ride comfort and for most people, this will be fine.
On the twisty old Bentong road (the section between the Bentong junction and the tunnel) and on the Genting road, it was very clear that the suspension settings are almost spot-on. There’s very good control and body-roll is kept in check, giving the driver a lot of confidence. There is only one standard tyre brand which Proton has chosen and it is said to have a special compound that improves wet grip.”
Alexis Denisof

I heard the same news here in Malaysia as well. Apparently when the Lancer first arrived here there was a small issue with the engine running hot, so Proton tweaked the cooling a bit so as to prevent the Inspira from having the same problem. As for suspension, from what I’ve heard it will offer a more comfort-oriented ride compared to the Lancer. You’ll notice a smoother ride but with slightly more body roll (if you bring it to the track)

Kalzo

For Proton this is Inspira, but for me this is Extortiona. Here are two models: Inspira and Lancer, both essentially the same, except one is being sold by a state-owned company, and the other imported with a 100% tax.

Alexis Denisof

I agree to a certain extent. I’m currently in Malaysia looking to buy a new car, but that insane import tax is limiting my options. It will limit the number of Lancers sold, but at least Mitisubishi gets some dough selling Lancers to Proton.

PROJET – L

Wonder if it will have more than 10Nm unlike the current crop of Protons.

A schoolboy has more pull than Proton.

croozza

Your a Joke PROJET-L,
I have a Proton Persona, and just the other day I blew a Holden Cruze Away at the lights, and yes he was trying very hard, he hit the rev limiter a few times, and the Holden has a bigger engine.

So go back school boy and pull yourself.

zx

The engine setting remains same as lancer Gt because MMC didnt allow proton to touch it.

Price in Malaysia.
Lancer GT 2.0 = RM 122,980

PROTON INSPIRA 1.8 MANUAL EXECUTIVE
RM 79,999 (SOLID)
RM 80,499 (METALLIC)

PROTON INSPIRA 1.8 AUTO CVT EXECUTIVE
RM 87,000 (SOLID)
RM 87,450 (METALLIC)

PROTON INSPIRA 2.0 AUTO CVT PREMIUM
RM 94,000 (SOLID)
RM 94,450 (METALLIC)
Hi Undies Forever

At launch, the Inspira will have about 26% local content at launch, with the aim of raising it to 40% within the next few months and straight up to 65% within a year from the launch date once the local vendors have been fully prepped. It is built at Proton’s MVF plant.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1435885244 Yani Hendriawan

looks like a lancer with a VW body kit to me
http://www.jans.com.au Drive safe

Will Australia get this as a Proton? I have a lancer and if it handles better that would be great and cheaper price to boot.

zx

yes it really handles better than Lancer GT. Officially launched yesterday . google the reviews.

mkamal

but all and all, i think mitsu and proton is a good partnership for the sake of proton. Not sure why they discontinued the alliance before
Save It for the track

I remember that I thought the old Proton Satria’s looked better than the Mitsubishi Mirage, and at least Proton had a ‘sport’ model available in the form of a Gti model. I also recall the M21 seeming to perform better than the Lancer Coupe of the time as well. And I believe it had Recaros, not ‘ricardo’s'…
.
And Alexis, why would you be looking to buy a car in Malaysia, when you live in Santa Monica USA, with your more successful actress wife and one year old daughter?? Off hunting ‘rogue demons’ or something ??
wankamarudin

Agreed with Kalzo 200%! Proton knows very well that Malaysians are easy prey for them to sell their products, even without any products to show! Look at the bookings! During Tengku Mahalil’s time, he boosted that Proton’s R&D were spending like hell on producing new cars, but by end of the day rebadging is the norm! Wanna know more, ask Proton!
Al Juraj

Anti-spam word: PROTON

Are Proton helping Mitsu in debt? Because it’s simply a big ask to rebadge a current model to represent a lesser brand. It would be alright to share chassis components, but not the entire car.