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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Proton Waja

The Proton Waja is a saloon car designed in-house by Malaysian automotive company, Proton, first released in August 2000. The Waja is the first Malaysian-designed car, with a chassis derived from a Mitsubishi Carisma and a Volvo S40. The name Waja, which means "tough (as steel)", reflects the strength of the steel used for the Waja compared with the previous models. The name was chosen partly to counter the perception in the domestic market that Proton cars were less strong.[citation needed] In the United Kingdom, the Waja is sold as Proton Impian, "Impian" being another derivative of the Malay language, meaning "dream".
Proton Waja
A pre-facelifted Proton Waja.
ManufacturerProton
Also calledProton Impian
Production2000–present
PredecessorProton Wira
ClassCompact
Body style(s)4-door saloon
LayoutFF layout
Engine(s)1.6 L Mitsubishi 4G18 I4
1.6 L Proton Campro S4PHI4
1.8 L Renault F4P I4
2.0 L Mitsubishi 6A12 V6
Wheelbase2600 mm (102.4 in)
Length4465 mm (175.8 in)
Width1740 mm (68.5 in)
Height1420 mm (55.9 in)
Curb weight1210-1249 kg (-1544 lb)
RelatedProton Gen-2
Mitsubishi Carisma
Volvo S40


































History

The Proton Waja is the first model designed in-house by Proton. The development of the Waja began at the end of the 1990s together with the Campro engine, however the development of the Campro engine was still in progress at the time of its launch and therefore Proton had to source the 4G18 engine for the Waja from Mitsubishi,[citation needed] before switching to Campro engines in 2006. It was launched in August 2000 together with the introduction of Proton's new corporate logo. Early batches of the Waja had some serious quality problems due to some component vendors and suppliers skipping quality checks to rush for the huge early demand.[citation needed]However, the quality of the components were strictly improved years later in 2005.[citation needed]

The Waja was facelifted twice since its debut in August 2000. The first minor facelift was in mid-2006 which only involved rear lights. The 2007 Proton Waja with a more substantial facelift was launched on January 19, 2007 together with the facelifted Proton Savvy. For the 2007 Waja, it was given a new grille which was nearly identical to the Savvy. The 2007 Waja also includes both ABS and air bag as standard for the Malaysian market, which were previously optional equipment. At the end of 2005, Proton additionally introduced another variant of the Waja, known as Proton Waja Chancellor, to be used by representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) during the meeting of ASEAN leaders in the KLCC, shortly before its launch in 2006. The Waja Chancellor has a longerwheelbase and a 2.0 L V6 engine similar to that used in Proton Perdana V6, also sourced from Mitsubishi. By 2008, an updated Waja was launched with an improved Campro engine and a new center console with a new 2-DIN Clarion audio set.

Waja sales in the UK, where it is rebadged as the Impian, did not begin until April 2001, and it has continued virtually unchanged ever since. The Impian is only available with right hand drive while left hand drive models are available elsewhere in Europe as the Waja. Sales have not been strong,[citation needed] as it was behind the best of the competition at its launch and virtually all of its competitors have been replaced since. Its decent ride and handling, generous equipment levels, competitive asking price and comprehensive aftersales package are perhaps the only things that keep it going with British buyers.[citation needed]

[edit]Performance

Engine specifications


1.6 (4G18)

  • 5-speed MT / 4-speed AT
  • SOHC 16-valve inline-4 cylinder Mitsubishi 4G18
    • Multi Point Injection (MPI) Fuel System
    • Max output : 102 hp (76 kW) @ 6000 rpm
    • Max torque : 145 N·m (107 lb·ft) @ 2750 rpm
    • Max speed : 185 km/h (115 mph) (manual); 180 km/h (112 mph) (auto)

1.6 (S4PH without CPS)

  • 5-speed MT / 4-speed AT
  • DOHC 16-valve inline-4 cylinder Campro engine
    • MPI Fuel System
    • Max output : 110 hp (82 kW) @ 6000 rpm
    • Max torque : 148 N·m (109 lb·ft) @ 4000 rpm
    • Max speed : 190 km/h (118 mph) (manual); 185 km/h (115 mph) (auto)

1.6 (S4PH with CPS)

  • 5-speed MT / 4-speed AT
  • DOHC 16-valve inline-4 cylinder Campro CPS engine
    • MPI Fuel System
    • Max output : 125 hp (93 kW) @ 6500 rpm
    • Max torque : 150 N·m (111 lb·ft) @ 4500 rpm
    • Max speed : 196 km/h (122 mph) (manual); 190 km/h (118 mph) (auto)

1.8X (F4P)

  • 4-speed AT
  • DOHC 16-valve inline-4 cylinder F4P
    • MPI Fuel System
    • Max output : 116 hp (87 kW) @ 5750 rpm
    • Max torque : 165 N·m (122 lb·ft) @ 3750 rpm
    • Max speed : 186 km/h (116 mph)

2.0 V6 (Waja Chancellor)

  • 4-speed AT
  • DOHC 24-valve V6 6A12 engine
    • MPI Fuel System
    • Max output : 148 hp (110 kW) @ 6750 rpm
    • Max torque : 179 N·m (132 lb·ft) @ 4000 rpm
    • Max speed : 205 km/h (127 mph)

In its initial years in the market, the Waja was originally powered by a Mitsubishi 4G18 SOHC 1.6 L engine. Also made standard since the introduction of the Waja are multi-point fuel injection and brake configuration (front ventilated disc brakes and rear disc brake). All Wajas (excluding the Waja Chancellor) are also available in both manual (5 speed) or automatic transmissions (4 speed).

In 2002, the 1.8 L variant was introduced, powered by the same engine used in Renault Laguna II. The 1.8 L model incorporated drive-by-wire technology and variable valve timing (VVT) technology. However, the 1.8 L model suffered from poor sales because Malaysian customers were more familiar with Japanese engines and were less confident of European engines especially on unfamiliar with the maintenance standard;[citation needed] as a result, the 1.8 L variant was phased out in the following year. It was also believed that the Renault engine gain its trust back due understanding of owners on maintaining the engine.[citation needed]

By January 2006, the Campro engine was finally used to power the Waja. Although the engine is similar to the engine used in the Proton Gen-2, the DOHC Campro engine used in the Waja has higher power and torque, probably due to the remapping of the ECU and also a different air intake system. The 2008 Proton Waja is now powered with a Campro CPS engine with variable valve timing, which was not available in the previous Waja Campro models.[1]

The Waja Chancellor, which launched 2006, featured a longer wheelbase and was powered by a Mitsubishi 6A12 2.0 L V6engine similar to that used in Proton Perdana V6, also sourced from Mitsubishi. The car is also available only with a 4-speed automatic transmission.

[edit]Racing

For three years the Waja was entered as a works team in the British Touring Car Championship between 2002 and 2004. The car was entered as a BTC spec under the team name Petronas Syntium Proton. The underfunded team only had moderate success with no race wins and finishing below the other works teams despite having experienced drivers David Leslie and Phil Bennett for the first two years. In 2004 they had two new drivers in Shaun Watson-Smith and Malaysian star Fariqe Hairuman, but after no podium finishes, they withdrew from the championship at the end of the year.

[edit]Safety

The Waja/Impian is currently the only Proton car to have undergone a Euro NCAP test, receiving only moderate-to-mediocre results in a 2002 crash test.[2]

Euro NCAP 2002 crash test ratings
  • Adult Occupant Rating - 3/5 stars
  • Pedestrian Rating - 1/5 stars

Proton claims that the Impian is the first of a new generation of cars that are designed to Euro NCAP standards and is the first Proton car evaluated by Euro NCAP. It scored 3 stars for adult occupant safety but only 1 star for pedestrian safety. This was a disappointing performance but Proton says it intends to improve future designs. But it has not yet been done till now.

The car's body was damaged so badly by the impact that it became unstable. The driver and front passenger risked serious injury. The child restraints performed poorly and it became apparent that, in development, too little thought had been given to their use.

The tested configuration with side airbags were never sold by Proton in Malaysia.[citation needed]

Top Gear aired a segment which featured a damaged Proton Waja alongside a damaged Toyota Avensis to show the differences between a 3-star EURO NCAP car and a 5-star EURO NCAP car after a head-on collision on a deformable steel concrete wall.


Proton Waja CPS 1.6 now in showrooms!


I have just returned from a Proton Edar showroom in the neighbourhood and snapped photos of the new Proton Waja CPS to share with you.

The showroom I visited only had the manual version on display, so you will not be able to see the new gated shifter in detail but then again you’ve already seen it in myprevious spyshotpost, so not too much of a loss there. Showrooms have started taking bookings for the new Proton Waja CPS beginning today, and prices are supposed to top out at about RM65K for the automatic version.

Let’s have a look at the Waja CPS photos after the jump.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

As seen with the photos of theThai-market facelifted Proton GEN2, the new Waja CPS engine uses a red cam cover.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

You can see what appears to be spark plug cables (marked with 1, 2, 3, 4 denoting which cylinder it goes to) leading into the space under the cam cover, so this means that the Proton Campro CPS engine does not use coil-on-plug ignition, unlike the Proton Campro IAFM engine used in the second generation Proton Saga.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

Another shot of the engine bay.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

Externally the Proton Waja CPS 1.6 looks pretty much the same as the non-CPS Waja.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

The rear of the Waja CPS 1.6 also looks the same except for twin tailpipes and the CPS logo on the top left of the boot lid.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

Twin tailpipes.

Waja CPS
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Thewheelsof the new Waja CPS 1.6 wrapped with Silverstone Kruizer-1 tyres.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

The interior features a new meter panel and a new head-unit capable of playing CDs, MP3 files and WMA files. The automatic version has anew gated shifter, but you cannot see it here as this is the interior of the manual version.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

The new metre panel looks pretty much similiar to the old version except the speedometer numbers are now even-numbered instead of odd-numbered.

Waja CPS
Click to enlarge

The new Clarion head unit which supports a single disc and plays MP3 and WMA files.

That’s pretty much it, and more details will be released and published here on this blog on Wednesday, or whenever I can get a hold of more details. I had a short drive in the car, only about a hundred metres or so and only got up to 2nd gear, and all I can say for now is the car’s low to mid range torque is a huge improvement over the non-CPS Campro. I will try to get a test drive unit and post my findings soon.


Read more:http://paultan.org/archives/2008/02/04/proton-waja-cps-16-now-in-showrooms/#ixzz0NBmtC2QT


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