Before the release of the Gen2, the Proton automobile company had been marketing rebadged Mitsubishi cars. In 1996, Proton acquired Lotus Cars and started to develop in-house a Wira replacement, originally named the Wira Replacement Model or WRM. The WRM would later come under the nameplate Proton Gen2.
In 2004, the Proton Gen2 launched as a compact 5-door hatchback, joined later by a 4-door sedan. It used a platform that would then become the basis for other future models like the Persona and Satria Neo. Targeting the compact family car segment, the Gen2 had a lower price tag than its rivals. The exterior styling was sporty and modern but the interior, although better than previous offerings, didn’t receive much attention and still suffered from cheap materials and quality.
Gen2’s Lotus-developed suspensions and steering, combined with a solid body, gave the car excellent handling characteristics. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) comes standard together with driver's side front airbag. Front passenger and side airbags are optional for the base trim but standard equipment for higher trim levels.
A minor facelift in 2007 equipped the higher trim Gen2 with leather interior, cruise control and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and upgraded the CamPro engine. The 2010 model year saw interior upgrades and minor exterior trims.
Production of the Gen2 ended in 2012, but limited production runs continued up till 2018 for export to some countries in Asia and the Middle East.
Engine Variants
The entry of the Gen2 also marked the introduction of Proton’s first engine, the CamPro 1.6L S4PH petrol which produced 82 kW of power and torque of 148 N⋅m coupled with either a 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual gearbox. This engine was adequate for city driving but lacked enough power to complement its sporty appearance.
The Australian market received this 1.6L engine for all its initial trim levels (H-Line, L-Line and M-Line) and subsequent trim levels (GX and GXR). Only the hatchback body style was available in Australia.
However, Proton offered other engine options for Malaysia and other export markets, including a 1.3L CamPro S4PE (70 kW / 120 N⋅m), 1.6L CamPro IAFM (81 kW / 148 N⋅m), and 1.6L CamPro CPS (93 kW / 150 N⋅m). The China exports used the Mitsubishi 1.5L 4G15 rebadged as the Europestar, a sub-brand of the British Lotus Group.
Proton marketed Gen2’s 1.6 GSX ecologic in the UK but converted it to run either on petrol or liquified petroleum gas (LPG), making it available in both hatchback and sedan variants. Other markets also received this conversion as an aftermarket option.
Limited Editions and Concepts
In 2005, Proton’s Race Rally Research Division (R3) rolled out the Gen2 R3 concept that featured numerous aftermarket parts and aggressive styling. Production of these cars was limited to 500 units to maintain its status as a limited edition offering. The following year, another limited-edition model, the Gen2 Merdeka Millennium Edition (MME) was sold as a tribute to the Amprex Motorsports Team winning the 2005 Merdeka Millennium endurance race. Proton’s R3 division produced 200 units of this edition, which featured wraparound body kit together with new custom wheels and a slightly tuned engine.
Proton Holdings Berhad and Detroit Electric jointly developed a concept Gen2 powered by an electric motor, which never advanced further after a few prototypes. The electric motor produced 150 kW of power and torque of 380 N⋅m with a range of 320 km on a 40-kWh battery.
Gen2 in the Used Car Market
The Proton Gen2 was not particularly hailed as a reliable vehicle but was known for cheap running costs and good handling. If you are maintaining a Gen2 or planning to purchase one, visit us at Carpart.com.au or contact us at hello@carpart.com.au. We’re here to help you with your auto parts needs for this car for any other vehicle.
-Jarad