Proton introduces minor changes for Exora
Just over a year after making its debut, the Proton Exora has been put through its first upgrade, with all variants receiving cosmetic enhancements. The model line-up and running gear are unchanged, so we’re still seeing the same 1,597cc Campro CPS engine under the hood up front paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto transmission.
Upgrades introduced to the Exora include a revised interior colour theme, steering wheel finish, and door inner handle finish. The High-Line model gets new finishing on the centre panel and around the shift lever besides receiving door visors, chrome lining around the fog lamps and a useful boot organizer.
Equipment that continue to be featured include rear air-con blowers, cruise control, and an Intelligent Electronic Body Control Programme which endows the Exora with functions such as one-touch signal indicators.
Since launching the Exora in April 2009, Proton has picked up nearly 43,000 bookings (as of 30 June 2010), and have proceeded to deliver some 32,540 units – averaging about 2,300 per month. With the newly enhanced Exora, Proton now targets to sell 2,500 units per month.
Available in five colours, Genetic Silver, Solid White, Tranquility Black, Blue Haze, and Plum Red (for Medium & High-Line), the Exora is offered with a 5-year/175,000km warranty. Prices are as follows:
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Drive for Celebration campaign
As part of Proton’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the company is running a Drive for Celebration campaign from 15 July to 30 September 2010. Among activities held during the campaign include an online contest which dangles a unit of the Proton Persona 25th Anniversary Edition as the grand prize. The contest is open to customers who register any Proton car or spend a minimum of RM250 in an authorized Proton service centre during the contest period.
Customers who book any Proton car during the contest period will be eligible to participate in an SMS contest which offers service vouchers worth RM1,000. Also part of the campaign are the Balik Kampung deals, which entail customers to 50% discount in labour costs for the replacement of certain parts. On the weekend of 17 – 18 July, Proton sales outlets nationwide will also be organizing a Proton 4 You Day in conjunction with launch of the enhanced Exora.
Waja Replacement Model
During the post-launch press conference, Proton MD Dato’ Syed Zainal informed us that preparations are well under way for the rolling out of the Waja Replacement Model by the final quarter of this year.
Production has yet to cease for the current generation Waja CPS, which is now in its tenth year in production. The next generation Waja, widely-known to be a badge-engineered version of the Mitsubishi Lancer, will also roll out from the MVF in Shah Alam where Proton currently builds the Waja and Exora.
Dato’ Syed also hinted that something all-new will be shown by Proton at the KL International Motor Show at the end of this year. It is unclear if the ‘all-new’ car would be the Waja replacement or some other new model that has not been talked about.
