Exclusive: Lotus F1 Racing Unveils Lotus Cosworth T127 in London

Lotus became the latest Formula 1 team to launch its 2010 challenger,  as the wraps officially came off the new car in London on Friday.

As revealed exclusively by AUTOSPORT's spy shot earlier this week,  the new car - named T127 - carries the colours used by the legendary  team back in the 1905s and 1960s.

The Lotus name is returning to Formula 1 this year after having quit  the sport at the end of the 1994 season. The team is now owned by  Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes.

The new car was shaken down at the Silverstone circuit earlier this  week and the team is scheduled to begin testing at the Jerez circuit  alongside rivals from next week.

Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen will be the man in charge of  racing the Lotus cars this year.

Lotus is the second new team to complete and launch its car ahead of  the start of the 2010 season. Technical chief Mike Gascoyne said Lotus  is aiming to do a professional job this year.

"We are looking in really good shape," Gascoyne told AUTOSPORT  earlier this week. 

"We have to improve the pace of our car and the  results from wind tunnel, but that will come with time.

"Our first aim was to be on the grid - to be a professional team  where everything is to be F1 standard. We definitely will do that. The  team will look good and step one has been achieved."

article originally appeared on: autosport

 Click Here To View Over 20 Exclusive Images of Lotus F1 Cosworth T127

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Details on Proton Hybrid Concept designed by Giugiaro planned to be unveiled at Geneva

There is not a single doubt that Proton is serious about improving its image and offerings nowadays. A creative collaboration was developed by Proton together with Italdesign Giugiaro (an Italian company that has the expertise of providing the necessary support for carmakers world wide with creativity and engineering support) as a part of the group's long-term strategy to expand its market as well to match the global automotive standards. 

Together with the Italdesign Giugiaro, Proton is in the process of developing a new hybrid car, They has also unveiled some information on the hybrid car series that is said to be fully unveiled at 80th Geneva Motor Show on 4th of March.

Above is the first photo of Proton's hybrid car concept that is designed by the Italians that is bravely said to "revolutionise traditional segmentation in the car market" by Giugiaro. They also admitted that the hybrid car was developed with the "aim of optimising the available on‐board space and car access ergonomics".

“This is the outcome of several years of study: the solution allows interior

spaciousness on a par with that of a segment D saloon despite maintaining the

exterior dimensions of a segment A car” explained Giorgetto Giugiaro, Chairman of

Italdesign Giugiaro.

According to Giugiaro, the concept will features a raised floorpan that is able to accomodate the batteries of the hybrid system at the rear. The car is also higher that other compact cars to ensure the best use of interior space. Passengers also neither have to get down into the car as in a coupe nor "climb up" as in a SUV because the seat H point is designed to be at the perfect height of a passenger's hip ensuring the passenger to enter the car in a natural way. The four seats are identical,  independent and sliding, ensuring identical comfort to passengers and driver alike. The distance of the rear seats from the front seats is comparable to that of an SUV. It's worth a mention that the four seater, five door hatchback is just 3550 mm in length. Last but not least, the car also features a hybrid system that includes an internal combustion engine fitted at the front used to recharge the lithium ion batteries, while the drive is fully electric.

                                                                                   

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Exclusive Spyshot of Lotus F1 Completing Shakedown at Silverstone

Ahead of its launch in London on Friday, the Lotus F1 team has shaken down its car at Silverstone.Reserve driver Fairuz Fauzy was given the honour of driving the car during the brief test on the short Stowe circuit, before the car heads to Jerez to take part in the second of two sessions at the Spanish venue.

During the test, the car used was running in the iconic Lotus's yellow and green colours as seen in the spyshot above that was posted by Autosport. However, it's not clear whether Lotus will keep them for the upcoming season or just used for the initial test. 

Also notable are the sponsor logos of Proton, Malaysian tourism, the Tune Group and Naza Corporation, but not team boss Tony Fernandes' airline AirAsia.

Team chief executive Riad Asmat indicated to the Star newspaper that more sponsors could be unveiled at Friday's official launch.

"You can see from the livery of the car who will be supporting us. It will be a mix of Malaysian and international sponsors," he told the Malaysian publication.

Lotus’ first test-run at Silverstone was emotional on a lot of levels for those involved in the team’s return to Formula One. Even Tony Fernandes, Lotus’ team principal, admitted that he got emotional after watching the car make its first test run around Silverstone. 

"Shakedown started. Quite a few tears." said Tony Fernandes in his Twitter account.

Lotus' shakedown saw it become the second of the four new teams to get a car on track after Virgin completed its shakedown at Silverstone last week and was just 21 weeks after an entry for 2010 was secured.

“It was a big moment to see the car turn a wheel for the first time,” Gascoyne toldBBC Sport. “We had no major issues or anything that gives us concern for the future.

"To have done everything from scratch to a running car in 21 weeks is a fantastic achievement. It was a brief shakedown as we didn't get some of the last parts from our suppliers until 6am on Tuesday morning, but that was to be expected given the timescales. 

"We only got to the track at lunchtime but it went pretty well. We were able to do a few laps, which was perfect and great reward for everyone for all the effort they've put in. We got a good number of laps in and we did all the systems checks so we can run in anger in Jerez."

Following Friday's launch, the team will head to Jerez de la Frontera where it will join the majority of its rivals in the third pre-season test of 2010, scheduled to get underway on 17 February. It will be the second of the new teams to take to the track.

source: motorsport ; crash ; pitpass

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Proton Edar Aims To Sell 165,000 Proton Cars This Year

SHAH ALAM, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, the marketing arm of Proton Holdings Bhd, aims to sell 165,000 proton cars this year from 148,027 units last year, says Chief Executive Officer Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim.

He said the higher sales target stemmed from aggressive marketing strategies to compete with established car companies, introduction of new upper-end sedan model and rising consumer sentiment in view of improved economic outlook.

"We'll unveil new models towards the second half of this year to attract customers and excite the car industry amid the competitve market," he told reporters after the Proton Drive for Holiday Campaign prize-giving ceremony.

Mohamad Shukor said the company sold 14,485 units or 14 per cent increase last month as compared with 10,134 units in the same period last year, driven by strong sales of Proton Saga, Proton Persona and Proton Exora.

He said Proton Edar was confident of consolidating its 257 outlets, including outlets under Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd and authorised dealers, to 191 by year-end.

He said the rationalisation would ensure profitability for all dealers and benefits to existing and new customers as a stronger network would improve services.

On challenges in the automotive industry, Mohamad Shukor said the likely increase in the overnight policy rate (OPR) this year would affect sales, adding that the market was currently enjoying lower rate over the last 20 years.

He said the hike in OPR towards the second half of this year was sensitive to the industry as banks would start tightening lending criteria while household finances become fragile following lower disposable income.

"We know the government is very supportive to the local auto industry. The co-relation between the performance of car industry and economic growth is very close," he added.

source: bernama

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SIC, Petronas Kick Off F1 Promotion In KLCC

As the world anxiously waits in excitement for the Formula 1 Championship season, promoters of the 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix kicked of their promotion campaign in Kuala Lumpur amidst strong confidence of a large turnout event on 2 to 4 April in Sepang. 

In a joint promotion at the PETRONAS Philharmonic Hall Foyer within the capital’s leading shopping complex Suria KLCC, event organizer and promoter Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and title sponsor PETRONAS also launched the ‘I Love F1’ campaign to generate greater interest and increasing the awareness among Malaysians for the sports and in support of the 1Malaysia campaign in promoting multi-racial harmony and understanding among the people through F1.

“This should be the most exciting season in years in Formula 1 especially from the Malaysian perspective and it is our wish to see everyone in the ‘I Love F1’ t-shirt filling the circuit on race day,” says Razlan Razali, who is SIC Chief Executive Officer and event director for the 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix.
With PETRONAS also being title sponsor of the new Mercedes GP-PETRONAS F1 Team, which effectively is the defending champion Brawn GP, will be the team the world will watch as it sensationally brings back seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to the racing grid.
With Schumacher’s slick driving skills and the engineering brilliance of Ross Brawn, its supporters are brimming with confidence that the Mercedes GP-PETRONAS will be among the top contenders for the world championship this season.
All the competing teams would go into testing in February as they start preparation for a 19-round championship, which will open in Sakhir at the Bahrain Grand Prix from March 12 to 14. Malaysia will host Round 3 of the world championship at Sepang Circuit from April 2 to 4.

The 2010 race in Sepang will mark the 12th edition of the Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix, which can be traced back to October 1999 which saw Schumacher making a comeback in Sepang after a long lay-off following an accident at the British Grand Prix earlier in July where he broke his right leg.
Also known as the 1Malaysia Racing Team, the Lotus F1 Racing Team is bringing back the highly successful brand back into the F1 world with the backing of top Malaysian corporate companies that included Proton as the owner of Lotus Group, Naza Group and Air Asia.

Most prominent would be the no refueling rule, which will demand bigger fuel tanks and deeper intelligence in preserving fuel. Pitstops, however, remained necessary as teams would be required to use both sets of tires of different compounds. 

The 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix itself would have a change with the 12th edition starting at 4pm instead of 5pm as it had last year. Prior to 2009, the Malaysian race had traditionally started at 3pm; but had been delayed to boost TV viewing in the European sector.

“As to what we organized last year, we will be bringing again the drivers’ autograph session at the track. We will also have entertainment and activities at the Mall Area throughout the event and a big after-race concert. … It will be big this year” said Razlan.


With all these supporting elements, Razlan has expressed confidence that the 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix would draw a capacity crowd and even breaking the 2008 Race Day attendance of over 120,000 trackside spectators.

“Our tickets are priced as low as RM100 and as we did in previous years, we are offering discounts for students and special packages for groups,” said Razlan, adding that purchases of selected tickets between now and January 31 would entitle the buyer a 50 percent discount on a second ticket.

Show your passion for F1 Malaysia and get your ‘I Love F1’ t-shirt and the 2010 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix tickets at all participating outlets.

originally appeared on malaysiangp

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Lotus Racing confirm London's Royal Horticultural Hall as launch vanue

Lotus Racing today confirmed that the long awaited launch of the 2010 Lotus Formula 1 racing car will take place on the 12th of February in central London.

The Royal Horticultural Hall has been selected by the team as the perfect venue to unveil one of the sporting world's most eagerly anticipated new challengers and an audience of 400 guests, including all staff of the newly formed team, will be the first to see the livery of the new Lotus Racing car.

originally appeared on lotusf1racing

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SIC Targets 100,000 Spectators On Final Day Of F1 Malaysia

Buoyed by two local teams, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is targeting to woo 100,000 spectators to watch the final day of the 2010 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix from April 2 to 4.

Its chairman, Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said the target was also based on the total turnout of 120,000 spectators recorded at the last grand prix hosted by SIC.

"I expect a turnout of nearly 100,000 on the last day on Sunday. In the last edition, nearly 60,000 spectators turned up on the last day," he told reporters after the launch of the 2010 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix 2010 here Thursday.

The two local teams are Lotus F1 Racing, backed by three businessmen, namely Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and S.M Nasarudin S.M Nasimuddin, and Mercedes GP Petronas.

Mokhzani said the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix 2010 would start at 4pm, one hour earlier than the previous edition.

He said the time still suited viewers in Europe, who would be following the live telecast.

Present were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Petronas adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Petronas president Tan Sri Hassan Merican.

originally appeared on bernama

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Midnight Start, Stricter Rules For MMER 2010

Sepang's 12-hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race (MMER) continues for its 11th edition this year with the organiser, the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), drawing up tighter rules with strict conformity to Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regulations especially on the eligibility of race cars.

In a clear effort by SIC to take the MMER to a higher level and to attract more top professional foreign teams and drivers, it has also decided to revert back to a midnight start.

"The move will see the 2010 race to be flagged off at the turn of the day on Sunday, Aug 8 and finishing 12 hours later at noon," SIC Chief Executive Officer Razlan Razali said in a statement here on Wednesday.

Hailed as Asia's biggest race, the MMER, which started at the turn of the new millennium with five categories, including 1000cc Perodua Kenaris and four-wheel drive Kembara machines, will now be only a three-class competition.

"For this season, the three classes are the GT Class, the Sports Production Class and the Touring Production Class. The eligibility of competing cars is clearly defined through various articles stipulated by FIA, the world governing body for motor racing," Razlan said.

The change was to ensure that the MMER continued to be the endurance race in Asia, and that its regulations were acceptable by most endurance races around the world, he said.

Razlan said the new rules required all cars to be fully homologated models.

Explaining on the change of racing time, Razlan said it was to make the 12-hour race even more demanding.

"Having started in the day for a few years, now we are back to the original time of racing from midnight to midday," he added.

With a full grid and a crowded track that included fully modified supercars and 1600cc production cars, a midnight start offered a high probability of on-track incidents as compared to a mid-day start when drivers had better handling of their cars and racing situations, he said.

The 2009 MMER only had 57 cars compared to 77 cars in all its races except for the inaugural edition in 2000 when it had 52 cars.

originally appeared on bernama

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Petronas, Proton ink lubricant deal

KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has been appointed sole lubricant supplier for Proton vehicles in a 10-year agreement that covers all markets Proton cars are sold.

The agreement, which sees the parties share the profit from the lubricant deal, will net Petronas a small increase in its market share of the lubricant business in Malaysia.

“The long-term partnership will allow PLI (Petronas Lubricants International) and Proton to develop and bring to market new innovative solutions in the form of products and services and explore the fullest value and potential that this partnership can bring,’’ said Petronas vice-president, oil business, Md Arif Mahmood.

The deal would see Petronas produce lubricants that are tailor-made for Proton cars and provide lubricants technical service support for Proton’s global network.

Proton Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said in a media briefing that the deal with Petronas would see the national oil company supplying 1.4 million litres of lubricants to Proton annually.

However, that amount was projected to rise to two million litres in two to three years after the agreement kicked off, he said.

He said the lubricants would carry Petronas branding and there was big potential for the sale of lubricants in the after-market business.

Petronas president and CEO Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican said the lubricant market in Malaysia stood at 260 million litres a year and Petronas’ share of that was 21% to 22%.

It has penetrated markets in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

Meanwhile, Hassan declined comment on the status of his contract, which expires in February, saying it was a decision for the Government to make.

However, Petronas adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad scoffed at a question whether a politician should be appointed to the top position at the national oil corporation.

“Some of the top politicians have been making a mess of our economy,’’ he said. “Do you want them to make a mess of Petronas?’’

originally appeared on: thestar

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Perodua retains top spot in 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua ended 2009 as the number one car manufacturer in Malaysia for the fourth consecutive year, with sales of 166,700 units, the second highest in the company's history.

The volume sold last year represented 31.3% share of the market compared with its record 176,400 units or 30.5% market share in 2008.

"We did considerably well in 2009 with a 0.4% drop despite the global economic downturn," its managing director Aminar Rashid Salleh said in a statement today.

He said sales dropped in the first half of last year but picked up in the second half, following the government's RM67 billion stimulus packages and the car-scrapping scheme for cars 10 years old and above. 

"Our sales every month in the final quarter of 2009 were higher than the same period in 2008.

"We believe that the upward trend will continue in 2010. This optimism is also on the back of the 5% economic growth forecast for this year by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister's Department," he added.

Perodua aims to sell 176,000 units this year, a 5.58% annual growth, its highest ever sales volume underpinned by the popularity of its three models, the Myvi, Viva and recently introduced Alza.

Aminar added that Perodua's new Alza had received 18,000 bookings since its launch last November and the waiting list had lengthened to up to four months from three months previously.

"The interest in our two other models, the Myvi and ViVa, continues to be strong with an average sale of 7,600 units and 5,700 units, respectively, monthly," he said.

On after-sales service, Perodua service operations recorded a 16% jump in service intakes to 1.59 million from 1.37 million intakes in 2008 on the back of higher car sales, improved efficiency at service outlets and the opening of new branches.

Perodua parts division also chalked a 23% increase in sales revenue.

originally appeared on: theedgemalaysia by Max Koh

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2010 Proton Persona Facelift Spotted (video and spyshots)

This year seems to be the right time for Proton to introduce a facelifted Persona since it was launched in 2007. For the past few months there are numerous spyshots of the expected facelifted version scattered around the web giving us a clue or two about how the new version would look like.

As we can see, the front bumper is nearly resembles the bumper of a Gen-2 CPS. The rear end suggest that the upcoming facelift could have an updated tail lamps design and looks like Proton decided to incorporated the use of LED technology. On the other hand, the wing mirrors also appear to be taped up, but through these spyshots, we can conclude that the wing mirrors on the new version have been integrated with turn signal indicators. s

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

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Lotus F1 Reveals Launch Date: 12 February !!

Team Principal Tony Fernandes today confirmed that the world will see the Lotus F1 Racing car officially launch on 12th February. 

The location of the launch will be revealed soon, but for the time being F1 fans worldwide will be pencilling in 12th February as the first time they will see the team's 2010 challenger, the first new Lotus F1 car unveiled since 1994.

                            

Writing on his Twitter account on Thursday, Fernandes said the team will turn on its car's engine for the first time on 5th February, before holding an official launch event a week later.

source: autosport ; lotusf1racing

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Malaysian GP boosted by Lotus and Petronas

Lotus's return to Formula 1 and the decision by Petronas to sponsor the Mercedes GP team have been a huge boost to the Malaysian Grand Prix, claims its circuit boss.

Razlan Razali, the CEO of the Sepang track, believes that interest stirred up by the Malaysian-backed Lotus effort and the national oil company's affiliation with Michael Schumacher have provided an unexpected boost to his venue.

"The last six months have seen a tremendous development for Malaysian motorsport," Razali said on the main stage at the AUTOSPORT International Show.

"We have seen Lotus F1, which is backed by Tony Fernandes as the new Malaysian team.

"Then Petronas was searching for a new partner. There was a lot of speculation and suddenly out of the blue, it came out with Mercedes. It is a really good development, a world champion team, with the return of Schumacher.

"So for us, as Malaysians, it cannot get any better than this. It is good for us and the country especially."

Razali is hopeful that the event's shift in start time to 4pm, one hour earlier than last year, will help avoid a repeat of the forced abandonment of the 2009 grand prix through bad weather and poor light.

"We haven't seen rain like it!" he said of last year's race.

"It was totally different for us as well. At the 2009 F1 race, it was my first F1 event, so it was not helping. But we have shifted the time to 4pm this year and hopefully the weather will be okay this year, but who can control that?

"It was crazy. You couldn't do anything, and there was no room for error really. We ran out of light so we could not continue the race. It was sad, good for television, but I did pity the guys who came to the track on the day."

originally appeared on autosport by Jonathan Noble

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Demak Motor to Enter Indian Market By End Of The Year

Malaysian firm Demak Motorcycles is planning to enter the Indian two-wheeler market by the end of this year.

Demak participated for the first time in an Indian auto fair and is looking to bring in its scooters and motorcycles.

“Globally, we have our range of scooters, e-bikes, motorcycles, mopeds and three-wheeler good carriers in the market. But in India, we are looking at launching scooters and motorcycles,” Jason Lee Tse Ta, international marketing in-charge of Demak Motorcycles, told The Telegraph.

Around 80 lakh two-wheelers are sold in India every year, of which 60 per cent are motorcycles.

“We are looking for some partners here…distributors or dealers. If all goes well, we should have our products here by the end of the year. The enquiries both from customers and dealers have been very encouraging,” he said.

Demak’s portfolio comprises motorcycles, powered by 250cc, 150cc and 125cc engines, a 110cc moped and 90cc and 50cc scooters.

The company, which has two manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and one each in the Philippines and Indonesia, is aggressively looking to grow in Asia.

It will set up another facility in Sri Lanka.

However, Demak is unsure about a facility in India.

“We are not very sure of setting up a manufacturing base here. There are a lot of things we will have to take under consideration. So to begin with, we will test waters by getting some dealers here,” said Lee Tse Ta.

Refusing to divulge details, he said two dealers, who sell Yamaha and Hero Honda’s vehicles, had already approached them.

Two-wheeler sales in December surged 66.60 per cent to 7,67,796 units from 4,60,852 units in the corresponding month in 2008.

Motorcycle sales rose 76.70 per cent to 5,92,596 units in the month from 3,35,370 units in December 2008. Sales in the scooter segment jumped 41.39 per cent to 1,27,597 units against 90,247 units a year ago, according to data available with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

Originally appeared on: telegraphindia

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Proton team plots Sardinia IRC return

 

The factory Proton squad will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge this season with a two-car team of Satria Neo Super 2000s.

 

However, in order to complete an extensive test and development programme, its first event will be Rally d’Italia Sardegna in June, the fourth round of the 12-event series.

Scotland’s Alister McRae will pilot one car with up to four other drivers under consideration for the second seat.

“We wanted to give ourselves time to develop new parts. The testing is already proving very fruitful and we’d only be shooting ourselves in the foot if we’d tried to rush to be ready in time for Monte Carlo.” said Chris Mellors, whose British MEM operation overseas Proton’s rallying effort.

Mellors said that he was relishing the prospect of his team returning to the IRC.

 

“We’re coming off the back of our second place on Rally of Scotland and I really think we can get some more good results if we get the breaks. We’ve certainly got a car that’s proving to be quite good.” he added

 

source: ircseries

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A Debut For Proton In The International Geneva Motorshow To Showcase Its Future Design Direction?

 

Proton Holdings Bhd group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir revealed that Proton would participate in the 2010 International Geneva Motor Show for the first time at Proton's 2010 Family Day celebration held in conjunction with its 25th year anniversary here on Saturday.

 

The annual show, held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva, is one of the most important on the automotive firms' calendar as all the major carmakers will be there.

 

"We have come of age and the participation shows that the Proton brand is growing," he said.

He said Proton would use the seven-seater Exora multi-purpose vehicle to penetrate the Middle East market in the second quater of this year.

 

"Currently, the Exora, which was launched in April 2009, is in Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. And 2,300 units have been sold in Asean alone," he said.

Syed Zainal said Proton has received 38,000 bookings for the Exora and 24,000 units were on the road.
The Exora is priced from RM72,000 to RM76,000.

He said the Exora has beaten its competitors and this was a good barometer.

Earlier, Proton adviser, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said the company has taken the lead in the local market again in its sales volume.

 

"Be more innovative, think out of the box. It's not only about changing the shape of the car but also changing performances," he said after launching the Family Day.

 

 

Meanwhile, just for your information, later last year, Proton’s chief of Design and Styling Department, Azlan Othman mentioned on his twitter account that Proton will showcase a new look to its future car in the name of Proton Design. He also stated that worldwide announcement will be made soon. There is a strong thought that what he mentioned on his twitter account could be related to Proton’s effort of joining the International Motorshow of Geneva. In other word, Proton could use its Geneva debut as a platform to showcase its new design direction to the world.

 

source: bernama

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Heikki Kovalainen confident over his switch to Lotus

 

Heikki Kovalainen is hopeful he has joined the most competitive of the new teams in the 2010 Formula 1 season.

 

The Finn, who joins Jarno Trulli in the Norfolk-based team, has had his seat fitted at the team's Hingham factory.

 

He told BBC Radio Norfolk:

 

"We want to be ahead of the other new teams, that's the minimum target.

 

"I think it's difficult to predict before we actually see the car on the track, and see some lap-times, and see how this first car will be behaving."

 

Kovalainen drove alongside Lewis Hamilton for McLaren in 2008 and 2009, but his place this year has been taken by reigning world champion Jenson Button.

 

The 28-year-old admits he had other options, but was quickly sold on the new enterprise when he spoke to team principle Tony Fernandes and technical director Mike Gascoyne.

 

"It wasn't a difficult decision once I met Mike and Tony, who are very much pushing this programme forward, it became very clear to me that they are very serious.

 

"The aim is to become a successful race team that is competitive even in the medium term, obviously at the beginning it will be tough," he said.

 

"Before I knew about this Lotus project I was talking to other teams, but when I spoke to Mike and Tony is became quite easy," he added.

 

originally appeared on: bbc

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Proton Set To Complete Consolidation Of Plants By Year-End

 

Proton Holdings Bhd expects to complete the consolidation of its two plants by year-end, said group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

Proton has two manufacturing plants in Shah Alam, Selangor and Tanjung Malim, Perak.

 

"Currently, feasibility studies are going on. We expect to finalise them by year-end," he told reporters at Proton's 2010 Family Day celebration held in conjunction with its 25th year anniversary here on Saturday.

Syed Zainal, however, did not reveal details.

The Tanjung Malim manufacturing plant, which is five times larger than the Shah Alam plant, is capable of producing multi-model products on a common line, allowing flexibility in production change to meet the changing market demands.

 

source: bernama

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Proton Holdings Bhd expects to complete the consolidation of its two plants by year-end, said group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

Proton has two manufacturing plants in Shah Alam, Selangor and Tanjung Malim, Perak.

"Currently, feasibility studies are going on. We expect to finalise them by year-end," he told reporters at Proton's 2010 Family Day celebration held in conjunction with its 25th year anniversary here on Saturday.

Syed Zainal, however, did not reveal details.

The Tanjung Malim manufacturing plant, which is five times larger than the Shah Alam plant, is capable of producing multi-model products on a common line, allowing flexibility in production change to meet the changing market demands.

source: bernama

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Lotus F1 Testing Debut in Jerez in Mid February

Lotus is scheduled to get its new Formula 1 car out on track for the first time at Jerez in Spain. The Malaysian-backed team will join the final two F1 test sessions before the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled in mid March. The race car is set to be driven for the first time at Jerez from February 17.

 "We are actually a week ahead. When we got the entry on September 12, our schedule said we would fire up on February 12 - we are now scheduled to fire up on February 5.

"After that, we will be at the second Jerez test and then the final one at Barcelona. That will be the first time the world will see the car in action," Mike Gascoyne told Autosport. 

"We have made pretty rapid progress, and if we can maintain that then we will be in pretty good shape come Barcelona mid-season - and that is really where you have to target where you've got to be.

"Yes, there is the getting there – but we've done the getting there now, we are going to be there, and we are going to be in professional shape and we are going to be okay.

"Now it is about where are you mid-season, where are you end of season, and I want to end the season beating Force Indias and Toro Rossos and whoever is struggling – maybe Saubers. I want to be picking them off."

source: autosport

 

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