Proton Exora
The Proton Exora has been launched and it won’t be long until the car is handed out to members of the media. An MPV is quite a different animal from a regular car.
People buy it for different reasons, and most rational people just want a big box to move people or stuff around. I don’t have a bunch of kids to lug around as of yet so perhaps it is better if you guys share with me, what would you like me to check out in a write-up of the Proton Exora? Please do share your questions in the comments section of this story and I will try my best to answer all of them in a future test drive story.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
PROTON EXORA – IMPRESSIONS AFTER A 300KM DRIVE
The performance of Proton Exora after 300KM Drive
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After half a day of trying to drive the wheels off Proton's MPV, I am left with no doubts that the demands of the family will be well catered for as the Exora offers space, practicality, safety, performance and economy. And also style and trendiness. Space is very definitely best in class, comparable to the Innova which is one class larger. This is a full 7-seater, with commendable legroom way at the back, as well as space for luggage in the ‘boot’, even with the rearmost seat in place. The amount of head room will win anyone over. The Exora gives new meaning to the word: Roominess. Thanks to its balanced proportions, its size and height are not obvious. While not as low and streamlined as the Honda Stream and Toyota Wish, the Exora looks more like a luxury MPV than the Innova does. It also looks more ‘stable’ as it has a more favourable footprint – ratio of wheelbase and tracks in relations to the body. Body integrity is solid. The Proton MPV looks and feels well engineered and constructed. Noise and vibration dampening is far superior to anything else in this segment, or the one above. The chassis is outstanding. It has a commanding stance at high speed on the highways, and a prowess and agility on fast curving roads that will astound even those used to tackling such challenges in well sorted out sedans. The performance is highly commendable, considering that the engine is only a 1.6L petrol, and that the weight of the vehicle is close to 1400kg. Both the Auto and the Manual will easily pass the ‘drive-round-the-block’ test, even with a full load of seven adults, and with a slope or two thrown in. The drivetrain does not show signs of struggling; the engine does not run out of breath, the auto gearbox is not constantly ‘hunting’, the manual easily goes through its five speeds even with change-up done at below 3000rpm. The engine does not sound harsh, even when revved near to the redline, which is set at 7000rpm. In fact, the atmosphere in this vehicle can be judged truly impressive if you were to jump in from any of its rivals, driving it the same manner. This is even more so when you pick the pace up. I was maintaining the speed at about 150kph, with seven guys on board, with the tachometer reading about 4300rpm, and we could converse in normal tones, even between me and the two rearmost guys. But it was the Manual that bowled me over. I drove it for about 160km, a lot of that with the fun pedal nailed to the floor, and at the end of it I did not experience the usual attack of nerves – a tingling sensation in the hands, a buzzing in the ears, a feeling of being dehydrated, and the onset of a headache – which I would get driving most cars on the limit.
"Look, Ma, no hands!" - Check out the speedo reading. We were on a slight decline. The Exora Manual can sustain very high speeds.
I would not consider driving over that Karak stretch in most MPVs. I recently did it with the Mazda5 and the Kia Rondo because I needed their carrying capacity. The Mazda showed its bulk, comfort-oriented chassis and a lack of grunt, while the Rondo fared better, except that it was let down by its over-assisted steering. Both of these have 2.0L engines, with the Kia being a 5+2 seater. I went through most of the bends cutting through the lanes in order to minimise body roll, or slowing down when it was not possible to do that. I did not feel confident enough to commit these cars to the bends at the speed I was going. The Exora is leagues ahead under such circumstances. With three adults on board, it could be kept on the fast lane in the most sweeping of turns, going at 140kph, and even overtaking large vehicles taking up the middle lane. There was no nervousness in the passage, the steering remaining wonderfully balanced and communicative; the sizeable MPV moved as one unit, able to handle mid-corner corrections without drama. It was both confidence- and awe-inspiring. This is a 7seater with real driving dynamics. The only other one I can think of is the X5, and even then you can feel the mass under load. Yes, I am referring to the engineered-to-the-nth-degree SAV from BMW, the price of which can buy seven of this Proton MPV. The steering feel is exceptional – a nice balance of heft and assistance, very linear and consistent, regardless of load. At dead centre on the straight, the vehicle felt planted and yet I could easily get it to change direction. I was barreling through the sweeping bends holding the wheel with thumb and forefinger. At parking speed, it did not feel weighty or assisted to the point of me hitting full-lock easily. The ride quality of the Exora reminded me of that of the Honda Odyssey, which is one of the best riding Japanese vehicles. Another easily appreciated feature is the turning circle; due to the compactness of the engine, the front wheels of the Exora can be turned so much that anyone can execute a neat turn in any tight spot. And a most crucial point for most people considering a full 7-seater is the fuel consumption. I can report that after some 260km of very hard driving with a heavy load, the Auto returned a figure of 11.4L/100km, while the Manual registered 10.7. The worst figure I saw on the trip computer was 16.9, right next to the speedo reading more than 170kph. I would think that with normal driving the figures should average 9.0 and 8.3. With the 55L tank, the range can easily extend over 600km. This is quite the Super MPV, with an amazingly pleasing balance of space, performance and efficiency. It is what many of us need, and it is long overdue. If you familiar with the Toyota Avanza 1.5 and feel that its performance is adequate, you will find the Exora Auto spacious, solid and spritely. The Manual will change your perception of MPVs.
In full camouflage glory, and the constant need for secrecy. Proton is aiming to price the base Exora below RM80K. |
The Japanese Ergonomic Seat , A New Twist On An Old Success
Even if the Japanese manufacturers have a reputation for copying of the original products from the West, but also numerous innovations introduced in the earth over the years. Ergonomic products are those required for the maximization of the people at work in the construction of human physiology. Well developed that for the first time in Scandinavia, ergonomic office chairs have the culture of the company by the storm, and the Japanese ergonomic seat is an alternative to the prices which the manufacturers from the West.
The success of the Japanese Design
If you are interested to come with its own ergonomic product, you can choose from the Scandinavian tradition or to the Japanese ergonomic seat for the orientation. When the Japanese and Koreans developed a unique ergonomic seat, the Japanese ergonomic seat is still known for its comfortable ergonomic seats Manufacture of American or European.
So, if you are developing an inexpensive, comfortable and well built product that is on the development of the Japanese ergonomic seat is a great way to start. If you do not believe that the Japanese ergonomic seat may be the amount of reputation, it must be remembered that most Japanese, no later than the Second World War, usually sitting on their bottoms during meals, and now that seven out of ten Japanese with an ergonomic seat Japanese comfort.
The Mazda MPV
the Japanese manufacturer has a variety of Japanese ergonomic seat, Super Relax Seat, for the series from the center of the seats in the Mazda MPV. The Japanese ergonomic seat in the NPV Mazda is equipped with a seat switch function. In other seats, an ergonomic seat in Japan’s Mazda MPV evenly distributes the passengers, "so that the weight of his muscles, experience less stress and fatigue on longer trips. The Japanese ergonomic seat improves circulation, and it is never easy in the amount of offer comfort.
The Japanese ergonomic seat in the Mazda is an excellent example of how a passenger in a car, but may also be that the van with three rows of seats should not be confused with little experience and uncomfortable. The Japanese are the ergonomic seat MPV relaxing walk for passengers in the middle and underlines the possibility of integrating the ergonomics of the seats in every situation possible.
The Japanese ergonomic seat is just one example of how the science of ergonomics, with the alignment of his spine, the correction of body posture advantages, can stress and chronic pain and fatigue, to sit during an extended period of time in zones.
You can also find more information about the office and ergonomic office chair mesh. Knowergonomic.com is a comprehensive knowledge of the ergonomic chairs.
The success of the Japanese Design
If you are interested to come with its own ergonomic product, you can choose from the Scandinavian tradition or to the Japanese ergonomic seat for the orientation. When the Japanese and Koreans developed a unique ergonomic seat, the Japanese ergonomic seat is still known for its comfortable ergonomic seats Manufacture of American or European.
So, if you are developing an inexpensive, comfortable and well built product that is on the development of the Japanese ergonomic seat is a great way to start. If you do not believe that the Japanese ergonomic seat may be the amount of reputation, it must be remembered that most Japanese, no later than the Second World War, usually sitting on their bottoms during meals, and now that seven out of ten Japanese with an ergonomic seat Japanese comfort.
The Mazda MPV
the Japanese manufacturer has a variety of Japanese ergonomic seat, Super Relax Seat, for the series from the center of the seats in the Mazda MPV. The Japanese ergonomic seat in the NPV Mazda is equipped with a seat switch function. In other seats, an ergonomic seat in Japan’s Mazda MPV evenly distributes the passengers, "so that the weight of his muscles, experience less stress and fatigue on longer trips. The Japanese ergonomic seat improves circulation, and it is never easy in the amount of offer comfort.
The Japanese ergonomic seat in the Mazda is an excellent example of how a passenger in a car, but may also be that the van with three rows of seats should not be confused with little experience and uncomfortable. The Japanese are the ergonomic seat MPV relaxing walk for passengers in the middle and underlines the possibility of integrating the ergonomics of the seats in every situation possible.
The Japanese ergonomic seat is just one example of how the science of ergonomics, with the alignment of his spine, the correction of body posture advantages, can stress and chronic pain and fatigue, to sit during an extended period of time in zones.
You can also find more information about the office and ergonomic office chair mesh. Knowergonomic.com is a comprehensive knowledge of the ergonomic chairs.
New update on Proton Exora
Update to Proton Exora
Say hello then to the Proton Exora, the country’s first fully homegrown MPV. As the third part of the great comeback, following on the successes of the Persona and Saga, the vehicle - developed from design to completion in 18 months and at a cost of RM450mil - is quite a sterling showpiece, and essentially completes the circle of reinvention for the brand.
As a platform, there’s nothing radical about it - a seven-seater MPV isn’t exactly a new type. But for what it is, it’s a very clever offering, rolls in at an excellent price point and incorporates enough winsome features that there surely must be little to complain about, and there really isn’t, but more as we go along.
At the point of launch, two versions of the Exora go on sale - the 1.6l AT Medium-line and 1.6l AT High-line, and both only come with a four-speed automatic gearbox, which features a retuned transmission control unit and a revised final drive. There’s a manual variant, though this is only slated for launch later in the year.
Visually, the Exora is best described as elegant; shades of the Toyota Wish and Honda Stream, benchmarks in the development of the vehicle, as well as the Mitsubishi Grandis, can be traced in the exterior lines and general flow, but the Exora has enough of its own identity, helped by a prominent enough looking front end and a tail that has one of the best looking tail-lamp clusters in recent memory.
The sleek vehicle, which has a coefficient drag of 0.33Cd, looks sizeable, and once you get inside, you’ll find it is indeed quite the spacious offering it promises to be. The dashboard is unfettered, there’s plenty of space, and the legroom on the second row is rather good, with the third adequate for short hauls. The rear doors open to a maximum angle of 80 degrees, making for easier ingress and egress for passengers.
As for seating layout combinations, the Exora does pretty well in this regard too, with six different seat folding configurations. Granted, with the rear seats up, there's little cargo space, but with the third row seats fully flat-folded and the second row stored forward the load-carrying space becomes very convincing. Ingress to the third row is by means of a single-lever seat-folding mechanism on the second row, and in use getting in and out is accomplished easily enough.
In terms of trim, the Medium-line version comes with a simple grey interior with fabric seats, whereas the High-line variant features leather and Alcantara-finished seats in light grey. Surprisingly, I thought the fabric seats offered a better visual perspective, both in terms of shade and texture - the leather looked a little on the pasty side.
Much attention has been paid to reducing the noise levels in the cabin - the firewall, door panels and floor pan have been given soundproofing insulation treatment, and all the pillars are injected with foam; effectively, it makes everything less zingy. As for fit and finish, there were some small assembly imperfections here and there on some panels, but nothing that would make you scream murder.
In terms of safety, twin front airbags - standard fitment in both versions - and front seat-belt pretensioners are part of the kit, as well as ABS and EBD.
Elsewhere, the primary differences in both variants, besides the seat material, are with equipment levels, as the chart below shows:
Opting for the High-line version bags you fog lights, front seat armrests, cruise control, a remotely mounted navigation system, a roof-mounted DVD/LCD monitor - with SD/MMC card slots and USB port - for rear passengers, a rear spoiler and tinted glass. And of course, those leather seats.
Powering the Exora is the tried and tested 1.6l Campro CPS engine, here offering 125bhp at 6,500rpm and a maximum torque of 150Nm at 4,500rpm. Placed in a vehicle that weighs in at 1,422 (M-line) and 1,442kg (H-line), the result isn’t ever going to be breathtaking, but surprisingly the Exora goes about its business ably enough as an entire package.
The chance to sample the final product came at a press preview last week, and as is usually the case with previews, there wasn’t enough time spent with the vehicle to offer a firmer opinion than a mere skim-through, but it’s certainly a very likable sort.
First impressions reveal a vehicle that is as comfortable and pliant as promised. Ride comfort is high, and in general everything is geared towards cosy, though the softness comes through without being overly mushy.
A quick ride being seated in the third row showed very little undue modulation, with only large dips causing some discomfort. The lack of lower-end support here means that if you’re an adult - and a strappy one at that - it’s definitely not going to be rosy if you decide on say, doing Penang from KL, but at least you won’t be shaken senselessly while at that.
Performance-wise, the 1.6l pot is adequate enough for the job, under most conditions - at the preview, the vehicle showed a slight lack of urgency on take-up unless pushed, and doing so results in the block being a little shouty, but once you get moving the vehicle pulls along well enough, and at cruising levels the car feels tractable. This, mind you, with five adults on board.
As for fuel consumption figures, the claim is 7.2l per 100km at a steady rate of 90kmh, while for a combined cycle it is 9l per 100km. In the real world, with some of the loads that are going to be expected in many Exoras, those figures might differ a fair bit. Still, we’ll be able to tell you more about how well it does in terms of actual fuel economy - as well as operation over a wider range of conditions - when a full road-test is done, hopefully soon.
The pricing for the Exora Medium-Line is RM69,998, while the High-Line goes for RM75,998 (both on-the-road, without insurance). Six colour choices are available - Pyrite Brown, Gaia Blue, Genetic Silver, Tranquillity Black, Blue Haze and Solid White - and the vehicle comes with an extended warranty of 175,000km or five years, whichever comes first.
On the whole, this one should hit it right on the spot for a very large audience, and there are 2,500 of these so far from pre-launch bookings. Undoubtedly, detractors will continue to do the usual, but surely three out of three is more than commendable.
Say hello then to the Proton Exora, the country’s first fully homegrown MPV. As the third part of the great comeback, following on the successes of the Persona and Saga, the vehicle - developed from design to completion in 18 months and at a cost of RM450mil - is quite a sterling showpiece, and essentially completes the circle of reinvention for the brand.
As a platform, there’s nothing radical about it - a seven-seater MPV isn’t exactly a new type. But for what it is, it’s a very clever offering, rolls in at an excellent price point and incorporates enough winsome features that there surely must be little to complain about, and there really isn’t, but more as we go along.
At the point of launch, two versions of the Exora go on sale - the 1.6l AT Medium-line and 1.6l AT High-line, and both only come with a four-speed automatic gearbox, which features a retuned transmission control unit and a revised final drive. There’s a manual variant, though this is only slated for launch later in the year.
Visually, the Exora is best described as elegant; shades of the Toyota Wish and Honda Stream, benchmarks in the development of the vehicle, as well as the Mitsubishi Grandis, can be traced in the exterior lines and general flow, but the Exora has enough of its own identity, helped by a prominent enough looking front end and a tail that has one of the best looking tail-lamp clusters in recent memory.
The sleek vehicle, which has a coefficient drag of 0.33Cd, looks sizeable, and once you get inside, you’ll find it is indeed quite the spacious offering it promises to be. The dashboard is unfettered, there’s plenty of space, and the legroom on the second row is rather good, with the third adequate for short hauls. The rear doors open to a maximum angle of 80 degrees, making for easier ingress and egress for passengers.
As for seating layout combinations, the Exora does pretty well in this regard too, with six different seat folding configurations. Granted, with the rear seats up, there's little cargo space, but with the third row seats fully flat-folded and the second row stored forward the load-carrying space becomes very convincing. Ingress to the third row is by means of a single-lever seat-folding mechanism on the second row, and in use getting in and out is accomplished easily enough.
In terms of trim, the Medium-line version comes with a simple grey interior with fabric seats, whereas the High-line variant features leather and Alcantara-finished seats in light grey. Surprisingly, I thought the fabric seats offered a better visual perspective, both in terms of shade and texture - the leather looked a little on the pasty side.
Much attention has been paid to reducing the noise levels in the cabin - the firewall, door panels and floor pan have been given soundproofing insulation treatment, and all the pillars are injected with foam; effectively, it makes everything less zingy. As for fit and finish, there were some small assembly imperfections here and there on some panels, but nothing that would make you scream murder.
In terms of safety, twin front airbags - standard fitment in both versions - and front seat-belt pretensioners are part of the kit, as well as ABS and EBD.
Elsewhere, the primary differences in both variants, besides the seat material, are with equipment levels, as the chart below shows:
Opting for the High-line version bags you fog lights, front seat armrests, cruise control, a remotely mounted navigation system, a roof-mounted DVD/LCD monitor - with SD/MMC card slots and USB port - for rear passengers, a rear spoiler and tinted glass. And of course, those leather seats.
Powering the Exora is the tried and tested 1.6l Campro CPS engine, here offering 125bhp at 6,500rpm and a maximum torque of 150Nm at 4,500rpm. Placed in a vehicle that weighs in at 1,422 (M-line) and 1,442kg (H-line), the result isn’t ever going to be breathtaking, but surprisingly the Exora goes about its business ably enough as an entire package.
The chance to sample the final product came at a press preview last week, and as is usually the case with previews, there wasn’t enough time spent with the vehicle to offer a firmer opinion than a mere skim-through, but it’s certainly a very likable sort.
First impressions reveal a vehicle that is as comfortable and pliant as promised. Ride comfort is high, and in general everything is geared towards cosy, though the softness comes through without being overly mushy.
A quick ride being seated in the third row showed very little undue modulation, with only large dips causing some discomfort. The lack of lower-end support here means that if you’re an adult - and a strappy one at that - it’s definitely not going to be rosy if you decide on say, doing Penang from KL, but at least you won’t be shaken senselessly while at that.
Performance-wise, the 1.6l pot is adequate enough for the job, under most conditions - at the preview, the vehicle showed a slight lack of urgency on take-up unless pushed, and doing so results in the block being a little shouty, but once you get moving the vehicle pulls along well enough, and at cruising levels the car feels tractable. This, mind you, with five adults on board.
As for fuel consumption figures, the claim is 7.2l per 100km at a steady rate of 90kmh, while for a combined cycle it is 9l per 100km. In the real world, with some of the loads that are going to be expected in many Exoras, those figures might differ a fair bit. Still, we’ll be able to tell you more about how well it does in terms of actual fuel economy - as well as operation over a wider range of conditions - when a full road-test is done, hopefully soon.
The pricing for the Exora Medium-Line is RM69,998, while the High-Line goes for RM75,998 (both on-the-road, without insurance). Six colour choices are available - Pyrite Brown, Gaia Blue, Genetic Silver, Tranquillity Black, Blue Haze and Solid White - and the vehicle comes with an extended warranty of 175,000km or five years, whichever comes first.
On the whole, this one should hit it right on the spot for a very large audience, and there are 2,500 of these so far from pre-launch bookings. Undoubtedly, detractors will continue to do the usual, but surely three out of three is more than commendable.
Price of new Proton Exora
I think Proton Exora is cheaper than other MPV
Proton Exora Launch:New Proton Exora Price from RM69,998
Everyone is waiting to see official pictures of Proton new MPV, Proton Exora.Now Malaysians finally can own Malaysian made MPV at a decent price. The new Proton Exora comes with a two variants which is a 1.6 liter automatic high-line and a 1.6 liter automatic medium-line, priced at RM75,998.00 and RM69,998.00 respectively OTR with insurance.
When we talks about MPV, i know everyone who type "Proton Exora" in the search enine would like to know the actual dimensions of Proton Exora car, because when you buy an MPV what you are looking for is a big vehicle that able to fit your family in.MPV is all about a bigger size,decent model and of course a good price. There has been some revision to the data that Proton provided us during the prototype test drive (particularly the weight, which is now heavier - 1422kg for M-Line and 1442kg for H-Line). Here are the final specs of the Exora in comparison to its competitors.
Take a peek into Proton Exora interior quality,it was typically Proton.No doubt about that. There were some uneven gaps between the plastic parts of the dash but hopefully these will be ironed out as the assembly plant gets better at assembling the new model, same goes for the parts suppliers. The gap between the headlining and the front windscreen was quite alarming though, and apparently this was because of the need to wire the DVD player.
Anyway here is a full high resolution gallery of the Exora, both inside and outside. Be back soon with even more on the Proton Exora, stay tuned! I am just really glad that finally Malaysians are able to buy a decently sized MPV for under RM70k, even if its just RM2 under RM70K!
Proton Exora 1.6L A/T M-Line Metallic - RM69,998.00
Proton Exora 1.6L A/T M-Line Solid - RM69,548.00
Proton Exora 1.6L A/T H-Line Metallic - RM75,998.00
Proton Exora 1.6L A/T H-Line Solid - RM75,548.00
After reading this, don't you think this is a good price?Supports Malaysia car,supports Proton Exora!
(P/S:Maybe in future i will buy Proton Exora.But first i need to start a family!)
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