Local Market Scene Gets More Interesting... Debut of Proton Inspira

The local car market's sales has the highest concentration in the B- and C-segment cars. The latter mainly starts from RM9Xk ono, until Kia came along with its Forte and with just a badge swap, managed to be the most value-for-money C-segment model with the EX trim (RM76,800).

Along came Proton heating up the C-segment market with its Proton Inspira offering. Basically a Mitsubishi Lancer EX 1.8, it has 26% local content compared to the initially 100% Japan CBU Lancer EX/GT. The local content mainly went towards a re-designed bumper, grill, tyres and sports rims. And with a lowered price of less than RM80k for the 1.8 manual compared to the initial RM110k+ Lancer, it looks to be a great buy and many buyers would no doubt be rushing forward to place the RM1k deposit to secure the first 1,000 units, which are said to be totally CBU Japan.

Buyers in general are delighted with the new offerings, excluding some current Lancer EX/GT owners. Pop into their Lancerzone Forum and you can see quite a few sulking that Proton is making a pirated copy and should be punished, etc. One sorry-arse even went as far as to suggest taking legal stand against Proton; and I really like to see how the heck can that avenue be pursued... successfully and feasibly, that is.

(example of one of the said signatures)

 
The funny thing that these small-minded people just can't get it is, car producers all over the world has been doing such re-branding exercise all over the world since decades ago. A Daihatsu there could be a Perodua here, a Daewoo there could be a Chevrolet here, an Opel there could be a Nissan here, a Kia there could be a Naza here, and similarly, a Mitsubishi there could be a Proton here. This is simply a matter of economies of scale and placement of brand perceptions.

Now for the really funny bit... while they were lamenting that Proton was a copycat, a pirate, and God knows how many more nasty names labelled, all these while, the same few forummers were so proud that they were buying Lancer Evo X bodykits (and not all were originals, some were mere copies at a fraction of the original pieces' prices) and converting their Lancer EX/GTs into Evo X wannabes. I have seen at least one misbehaving at the Ikea basement car park scaring pedestrians with their wannabe bodykits and loud exhausts, revving and slowing and revving and slowing just to gain a few extra glances.

Now, don't get me wrong. I like the Lancer GT and I almost bought one when it was launched; although I switched to a Camry instead for practical reasons. And similarly, I like to enhance my rides into the "real deal extras" that I couldn't afford either. Like how I convert a local EG to a JDM EG9. A Coupe into an almost Coupe LE. Stuff like that.

The only thing is that I don't condemn others whom do the same thing. With these "kids" whom can't afford the real deal and upgraded their Lancers with its bigger bro, Evo X parts, I admire them dreaming big and yet being practical at the same time. But I pity that they can't see the bigger picture and instead start throwing stones at glass houses, which they are occupants too. Man...

Oh well, smart guys get it! But we ain't all born smart, are we?

More models at affordable prices would only make the local market more competitive and improved further. We can't just be like the proverbial toad under the coconut shell. Let's end this posting with a Forte SX that is undergoing transformation under its owner, Apx Nani of Kia Forte Owner's Club. His Forte is fast-becoming an envy amongst many Forte owners; and dare I say that it is starting to look more menacing that the Mitsubishi Lancer GT (or Proton Inspira) even! Please feast your eyes...