Doesn't anyone realise how similar this sounds to Lotus Evora? Only a mere two strokes separate the Exora and Evora name. Of course, Lotus Cars UK is Proton's subsidiary company.
Much have been written regarding the initial press preview of Proton's first MPV, the Exora. Among all the articles I have come across, I found none to be more objective than MTM's version. I have no special interest in MTM nor do I know Chips Yap personally. However I find that many websites / journos are either not publishing an entirely correct info or failed to recognise that the test cars are pre-production models, or worse not understanding the vehicle's target market. A professional journalist would refrain from making comments on NVH and fit and finish quality based on impressions from anything other than a full production model. AutoCar UK journalists often stress on this point very clearly whenever they drive a pre-production version of any vehicle. Performance of an MPV is subjective and those looking for a blistering quick acceleration time don't represent 90% of potential customer's opinion. After-all, among Malaysia's best selling MPV is a puny 1.3-liter engine Toyota Avanza.
Contrary to an earlier speculation made on this blog, the Evora has no clear relation to the GX platform that currenly underpins the Waja, Gen-2 hatch and Persona sedan. It was said that the over a decade old GX platform, which loosely based on the Dutch NedCar Mitsubishi Carisma platform would no longer meet current crash safety regulations. Instead the Evora is based on a new platform whose reference name and details are not known at the moment.
I shall not comment further on MTM's already very comprehensive write-up, so go here for a for more on the Evora's preview. There is one tiny little fact that caught my attention, which is the inclusion of slightly more sophisticated Body Control Module that also provides programmable "follow-me home" lights function and flashing of hazard lights under hard braking.
Example of a simple BCM made by Delphi. Proton's BCM is probably made by some Japanese supplier, probably Denso.
A body control module is available in all modern cars and at the most basic level, controls interior lighting, security and remote door locking / unlocking, electric window, electric side mirror functions. The BCM is linked / interface with other control units in the car via a vehicle area control bus / network. None of the functions included in Proton's new BCM is even available on far higher priced MPVs like Toyota Wish / Honda Stream.
Personally, I truly appreciate inclusion of automatic hazard lights activation under hard braking. But most drivers in this developing market region might not reach the level of "driving sophistication" to appreciate it just yet. Something which I blame it on the completely hopeless new driver training module in Malaysia. See, in Germany and many parts of Europe, drivers are thought to lift off the throttle whenever you approach a rising crest, which limits your visibility of the traffic condition ahead. The driver of the last car in the traffic jam / queue on a highway MUST flash his hazard lights. When you come to a stop on a fast lane on the speed limit free German Autobahn, you would be mad to rely on your brake lights hoping that the car approaching from behind at over 130km/h (average speed on an Autobahn) knows you are stationary instead of just slowing down.
Many rear-ender crash on Malaysian roads happen because the driver couldn't react in time when approaching a traffic jam ahead, especially those right after an uphill section or a blind corner. The inclusion of the new function on the Exora is a truly welcomed feature, but initial press information did not state clearly if this will be available across the Exora model range. Since the local drivers don't have the discipline / practice to use their hazard lights properly (Malaysians think hazard lights are for use during the rain, and expect other cars to know which lane are they keeping to), hopefully the Evora's new function could do some small bit to improve road traffic safety.
Another blogger have also mentioned on the omission of ISOFIX child seat mounting points. I could not agree more. Child seats are only as effective as their mounting points. And it's not just Proton, not even Toyota offers ISOFIX points on their ASEAN market focused models. Let's see if Perodua's upcoming MPV offers them, but I highly doubt so given car manufacturer's slow responce to safety items that are not much in demand locally, mainly due to poor awareness among local drivers.
On the subject of driver reaction in traffic jams, besides having the last car switching on the emergency hazard lights, another good practice I hope to see included in any new driving education curriculum is to educate drivers to move the aside when caught in traffic jams on roads without an emergency lane. Drivers on the left lane should move left as much as possible, like wise those on the right lane, in order to "create" an emergency lane for emergency services vehicles. This has been a practice that German drivers are thought in their driving schools and although it is not religiously followed, driving in those countries is still a lot less stressful. But of course looking at the driving habits of the parents of these bloody third world country idiots, fat chance of this happening.
The two models above are pre-production versions, leaked early this year. More info.
Official Proton images released earlier as part of Proton Exora's teaser ad campaign.
Related link : Passo Sette / Sirion Luminas - preview to Perodua's MPV
6 comments:
Perhaps you can have your own version of the Review for the finished product after the launch.
P/S: Hope you can change comment system on your blog to the one like in PT. That way it can make commenting easier and painless unlike your current system.
This certainly can improve your hit. Remember, the more comment, the more user comes in.
Seems that no one is sure what platform the Exora is built on. I have a hunch...Go to the Chery website and look at the Chery Eastar/B240. Compare the Exora's A, B & C pillars and the bonnet to the Eastar's. I think our Exora has Chinese blood.
On the similarity to Chery Eastar - I would not assume that they are related on the basis that they look the same. A Fiat 500 uses the same platform as the Ford Ka. Do they look the same?
The similarities have more to do with the common engineering constraints of minimizing production and material cost, maximum space utilization and optimal ergonomics.
They might however share the same group of engineering consultants.
Btw, platform does not necessary refer to exterior visible elements of the car. It has more to do with floorpan, steering, suspension and driveline mounts, and even wire harness. Thereby allowing sharing of internal parts.
MyBoy,
I am not a full time blogger thus does not have the resources to maintain a more complex system. Blogger's free service works fine for now. I only feed my writing and reading interest as and when my work and family schedule permits.
Thanks for the clarification. Been surfing you blog for quite sometimes now and found it to be rather good. Who knows your blog can become one of the big boys.
The more the merrier.
Harsh criticism on Malaysian bad driving habits.
I applaud your honesty. Crowd stupidity cannot be ignored or sympathized anymore. It has to be addressed.
the proton bcm function are similar to the one of chery.
why? is provided by chery auto?
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