Proton R3 Satria Neo
Proton’s Motorsports Division, which promotes the R3 (Race, Rally, Research) brand name, has hatched its latest product – the Proton R3 Satria Neo. Recognizable by its striking Fire Red exterior and black-painted roof, this hotter variant of the Satria Neo has an uprated Campro CPS engine with Stage 2 performance upgrades.The output goes from the standard 125 bhp and 150 Nm of torque to 145 bhp at 7000 rpm and 168 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm. A close-ratio 5-speed manual transmission lets the driver exploit the increased performance.
“Motorsports is one of several key strategies being pursued to enhance the Proton brand. It is a platform that allows us to not only promote the brand and increase awareness in new and potential markets, both domestically and abroad, but it is an equally rewarding proving ground,” said Proton Holdings Berhad Group MD Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.“The R3 Satria Neo is an extension of our involvement and experience in motor racing, and itcaters to a demanding segment of customers and enthusiasts who desire vehicles that arepurpose-built for performance as much as it is practical for everyday usage,” he added.
The R3 Satria Neo comes with a bodykit; an R3-designed rear roof spoiler; a front lip for improved down force; titanium-coloured side strips, and a more aggressive appearance due to a 10 mm drop in ride height.
The engineers have also made significant enhancements to ride and handling, with the use of specially-designed R3 performance springs for reduced body roll, recalibrated alignment, toe and camber settings for more grip and steering precision, and R3 16-inch gunmetal lightweight alloys wrapped in softer compound Bridgestone Potenza RE001R 205/45 series profile tyres.
Inside, the R3 Satria Neo has a sporty and classy ambience with matte red and black two-tone theme. R3 limited edition front bucket seats wrapped in nappa leather with ‘Trivel’ finish, carbon effect PVC and red stitching replace the standard seats. Adding distinctiveness to the cabin are matte red dashboard trims, gear console and handbrake handle; two-tone door trims; R3 floor carpets, an engine start button; aluminium foot pedals and gear knob.
Being a part of Proton, which makes the Satria Neo, the motorsports division has also to give safety a top priority in whatever it offers. Taking into consideration the higher performance of the car, the R3 Satria Neo gets high-performance brake pads capable for increased fade resistance often associated with constant heavy braking; dual front airbags; ABS with EBD.
The asking price of RM79,797 (inclusive of roadtax and insurance) includes tinting for solar and security protection, and a 2DIN audio head unit with 3D GPS navigation. The latest Proton model can be viewed at Proton Edar’s Crystal showroom within the Proton Centre of Excellence complex in Shah Alam, Selangor, or any of the three Platinum showrooms (Mutiara Damansara in Selangor, Juru in Penang, and Plentong in Johor). Bookings can be made immediately at any of Proton Edar’s 23 sales branches throughout Peninsular Malaysia with a fee of RM2,000 and purchasers can expect the car delivered to them within 4 weeks of obtaining loan approval.
