Italian design house Italdesign Giugiaro has created a family of city cars for Proton, based on a Lotus-developed hybrid powertrain.
The range includes three and five-door hatchbacks, along with a mini-SUV version with increased ground clearance. The hatch seats four while the SUV can accommodate five, thanks to the removal of the B-pillar.
See all three Italdesign Giugiaro Proton concepts
Guigario is claiming that the car can offer the leg and kneeroom equivalent to a C or D-segment car such as a Ford Focus, with the raised driving position of an SUV.
The car is 3550mm long, and uses a range-extender drivetrain with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine that can run on petrol, ethanol or methanol.
The engine provides power for the batteries, which are sandwiched between the car’s double floor. The electric motor is at the back of the car and drives the rear wheels.
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Re: Proton's city car family
Proton would never produce anything so innovative and forward looking.
The old GTI was great but look at their last new model... A dreadfully conservative 3-box saloon called the "Saga".
Re: Proton's city car family
If only Proton, if only...
Re: Proton's city car family
I think Lotus and Proton need to have a serious think about how they are marketing their cars, because let's be honest- Proton are liked more by retirees. Whereas Lotus have a youthful, fun and agile aura to them. If they scrapped the name Proton and just became Lotus and started to think about competing in the market properly instead of floundering underneath it, they may have a fighting chance. Just like Chevrolet have had to- by injecting a bit of fun, flair and pizzaz into their models sales have picked up and they can now compete in the market, granted they aren't serious competetors, but they are out there, and that matters.
So- Lotus, Proton sort yourselves out! Because with the right ingredients, the right balance of fun and practicality and flair- you really could make this work and shake up the market.