The Malaysian car manufacturer Proton Holdings is reportedly planning to launch their sedan vehicle, the Proton Saga in Pakistan by the end of next month (December) according to PakWheels.
We already know about the Proton X70 SUV that is being introduced by the company next month marking its debut in the Pakistan automotive sector with the help of local partner Al-Haj Group.
Read more: Proton X70 SUV Coming to Pakistan in December.
According to the latest reports, the Malaysian car manufacturer will be importing 100 units of their sedan, the Proton Saga in Pakistan as Completely Built Units (CBUs) under the Automotive Development Policy (ADP) 2016-21 which was introduced by the Federal Government to increase competition in the automotive sector which was dominated by the BIG3 (Honda, Toyota and Suzuki) for decades.
The ADP 2016-21 allows automotive manufacturers like Proton Holdings to benefit by duty-free import for setting up the assembly or manufacturing plant. Furthermore, the policy offers 50 percent waiver in duty for 100 units of a vehicle’s variant that are imported as CBU for testing purposes.
Once the company successfully sells the first 100 imported units, the Proton Saga will be assembled locally in Pakistan as a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit by June 2021, therefore, a delay is to be expected in availability if you’re not among the lucky few purchasing the introductory units.
Furthermore, the company is introducing three variants of the Proton Saga in Pakistan which include the Standard Manual, Standard Automatic and Premium Automatic, which will be the top of the line version.
Proton Holdings has already started advertising its upcoming vehicles through radio while claiming to be “years ahead” of the local competition with its “European standards” but only time will tell as car companies do tend to cut corners once they gain a foothold in the automotive sector.
Proton Dealerships in Pakistan
According to reports, the company already has four dealerships in the country with 2 in Karachi and one each in Lahore and Islamabad. However, this network is expected to improve based on the demand once the company starts booking vehicles.
About Proton Saga
The Proton Saga was basically introduced as a budget vehicle in 1985 for the Malaysian market. The first iteration of the car was based on the Mitsubishi Lancer but later redesigned by the company.
In Pakistan, the company is launching three variants of the vehicle which include Standard Manual, Standard Automatic and Premium Automatic, which will be the top of the line version in the country.
The Proton Saga will directly take on Honda City and Toyota Yaris in terms of competition as the vehicle is equipped with a 1.3L engine which we will discuss below.
Engine and Transmission
Originally, the Proton Saga comes with a 4-cylinder 16 valve DOHC engine with a displacement of 1332cc. However, the company will launched the vehicle with a reduced displacement in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, the vehicle will be equipped with a 1298cc engine under the hood to take advantage of the lower tax bracket and attract more potential customers. The engine will be capable of producing 95hp and 120Nm of torque which is in-line with the competition in this category.
Furthermore, the car will be equipped with two transmission options which include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic which is said to be sourced from Hyundai and similar to the one found in KIA Picanto.
Dimensions & Weight
| Length x Width x Height (mm) | 4,331 x 1,689 x 1,491 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,465 |
| Kerb Weight (kg) | 1,055 |
Exterior Features:
- Halogen Headlamps
- Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) – available only in the Premium Automatic.
- Electronic Door Mirrors with LED Turn Signal Lamps
- Remote Trunk Release
- Rear Spoiler
Proton Saga Exterior Pictures:
Interior Features:
- Urethane Steering Wheel
- Steering Wheel Switches for Audio & Hands Free Telephone on Premium Automatic
- Steering Tilt Adjustment
- Multi Information Display
- ECO Drive Assist
- Power Windows
- Luggage Lamp on Premium Automatic
- Seat Material
- Driver Seat Height Adjuster
- Rear Seat Fold
- 12V Power Socket
Proton Saga Interior Pictures:
Infotainment System:
- Audio System (Floating Type)
- Smartphone Connectivity
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- No of Speakers
- USB Ports
Safety Features:
The safety features which come standard across all three variants include:
- Front SRS Airbags
- Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Front Seatbelts with Pretensioners & Load Limiters
- Rear Seat ISOFIX & Top Tether Anchorage
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Immobilizer & Anti-theft Alarm
The following features come equipped only with the Premium Automatic Variant:
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Hill Hold Assist (HHA)
- Front Parking Sensors
- Reverse Camera
Proton Saga Price in Pakistan:
The Proton Saga is expected to launch with a price tag of Rs. 2.5 million for the Standard Manual variant and going up all the way to Rs. 3 million for its Premium Automatic Variant.
However, these are only expected prices of Proton Saga in Pakistan and we have to wait for an official announcement by the company.
Tell us what you think about the company making its debut in Pakistan.
Read more: Master Motors launching Changan Alsvin in Pakistan.
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