The Proton Waja, called the Proton Impian in some markets, was the first offering that was entirely designed by Proton. The Malaysian car company based the chassis design on the Mitsubishi Carisma and first-generation Volvo S40. Proton first planned its release to coincide with their CamPro engine. However, the CamPro was not ready during the launch of Waja in August 2000, so they initially released the compact car with Mitsubishi engines. It was available as a 4-door sedan with varying trim levels.
Waja was one of the most affordable in the C-segment class during its production run (2000-2011). Standard features are comparable to its competitors with dual front airbags, traction control system, and air conditioning, to name a few. Comfort and amenities were decent, but cockpit design left much to be desired, such as the location of air vents and placement of switches. For instance, the switch for the power windows was in a hard-to-reach place.
Versions and Features
Proton release a long-wheelbase (LWB) version called the Proton Chancellor in 2006 and marketed it as a luxury offering. Sadly, an out-dated Mitsubishi 6A12 V6 engine powered it. The introduction of these LWB models purposely coincided with the ASEAN summit held in Malaysia to serve as the official mode of transportation for the delegates.
The Waja welcomed new honeycomb grille, headlights, and taillights in 2006, with another round of changes to these items in the following year.
Also in 2006, Proton launched a limited production version called the Proton Waja MME with a total of only 200 units built to honor Proton’s R3 Amprex Team for winning the Merdeka Millennium Endurance event. The R3 MME edition had numerous R3 upgrades and is easily distinguishable by the Zerokit body kit and the MME sticker on each side fender.
Production of the Waja officially ended in 2010, giving way to its successor, the Proton Inspira. However, overstocked cars continued to be sold and exported worldwide until 2012 and were very popular in some countries as taxis due to its low price for a good-sized sedan.
Waja Engines and Specifications
The Proton Waja entered Australia in 2001 and continued selling until 2006. It was available in two trims, the 1.6 and the 1.6X. Powered by the 1.6L Mitsubishi 4G18 Orion petrol engine, it delivered 76 kW of power and torque of 140 N⋅m. The available transmission options were either a 4-speed auto or 5-speed manual gearbox. Proton advertised acceleration from 0-100 km/hr as 14.7 seconds, top speed as 180 km/h, and fuel consumption as 6.5 L/100km.
The Mitsubishi 4G18 also powered all other cars with the 1.6L petrol engine elsewhere in the world. In 2002, Proton released the 1.8X powered by a Renault 1.8L F4P DOHC (87 kW / 165 N⋅m) and the LWB version powered by the 6A12 V6 (110 kW).
The 1.6L S4PH CamPro engine (82 kW / 148 N⋅m) finally became available in 2006. The CamPro-equipped variants were more expensive, and Proton sold it alongside the 4G18-powered models to offer buyers two options. In 2008, the automaker released the CamPro CPS (93 kW / 150 N⋅m) with airbags and ABS as standard equipment.
The Waja Today
The Waja looks and feels like a family sedan, and it's not uncommon to see these cars on the road today. It's relatively cheap to buy in the used car market and not very expensive to maintain. Carpart can help you track down parts for maintenance and if you are looking to buy a Waja or want to sell one for parts, contact us at hello@carpart.com.au.
-Jarad