By EWAN KENNEDY 
in Kuala Lumpur
7 August 2006

Proton is soon to launch its new Satria coupe in Australia. It has excellent styling as the designers have managed the difficult job of giving the new model a strong resemblance to the popular outgoing one. Yet at the same time have given us an evolution of the new-generation lines created for the Proton Gen.2.

The Malaysian car maker recently invited us to its head office in Kuala Lumpur to talk to the new managing director of Proton, Sayed Zainal Abdin, as well as to the designers and engineers of the new Satria.

Finally we were able to sample their new Satria on the road and to tour the factory where it’s made.

The best thing of all about the shape of the new Proton Satria (and the Gen.2, for that matter) is that both look distinctively Malaysian in their lines. We must admit to being tired of Asian car makers bowing to pressure and coming up with near-neutral body shapes in an attempt to please everyone.

We reckon it’s far better for them to stick to their styling guns and build cars that reflect their own culture and tastes.

Inside the Proton Satria's cabin there are again strong reminders of the design of the Gen.2, especially in the neat vertical control-knob stack and the instrument binnacles.

Significantly larger than the outgoing model the new Satria is virtually a four-seater even if adults are carried in the rear. So it could be used as a low-cost family car if the kids don’t mind getting into their seats by way of the front door.

Handling is typically brilliant in the Proton manner. These days Proton controls British sports car maker Lotus and the expertise is very obvious in the steering and suspension.

Keen drivers will rave over the way the Proton Satria holds the road in a neutral, well-balanced way until it reaches its very high limits of adhesion. And then responds in a safe, easily-controlled fashion to the steering and throttle inputs. All the time providing excellent feedback to the driver through a sporty thick-rimmed steering wheel that’s a real pleasure to sit behind.

As is often the way, a really good chassis can make an engine feel under-powered. The new Proton Satria will come to Australia only with the largest engine on offer, a 1.6-litre Campro unit developing 82 kW, and 148 Nm at 4000 rpm. We found this engine to be on the sluggish side until it got to 3000 rpm, making it necessary to work at the gearbox (no real chore as it’s a sweet five-speed unit) to get the best from the car.

Another 15 to 20 Nm, preferably useable from 2000 rpm upwards, really would transform this car into a delightful sporty three-door coupe.

There's also a four-speed automatic transmission in the new Satria range, but we haven’t had a chance to sample it as yet.

The new Proton Satria will be displayed to the Australian public for the first time at the Sydney Motor Show in October. Sales are likely to begin in December, though they may be held off until early 2007.

The biggest hit with the outgoing Satria range in Australia was the great little GTi model. Proton is still being coy about details of a new GTi, but it does look as though there's definitely one on the horizon. We certainly hope so as the old Satria GTi was one of our favourite cars in the affordable-performance class.