Proton does not build many cars like the Proton GEN•2: a 5-door Liftback with 1.3 L CamPro engine, built from 2004 to 2012 in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids.
The story
The Proton GEN•2 (often simplified as Gen-2 or GEN2) is a compact 5-door liftback manufactured by Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton which launched in 2004. It was initially codenamed Wira Replacement Model (WRM). The GEN•2 uses a platform which was expensively developed in house by Proton and technical partner Lotus.
This platform was later adapted for the Proton Satria Neo and Proton Persona. The GEN•2 was among the first models to be produced at Proton's Tanjung Malim plant, developed as part of the Proton City project. Although domestic sales of the GEN•2 was discontinued in 2012, Proton continues to produce the GEN•2 exclusively for export markets as of 2018.
What is underneath
Under the skin sits 1.3 L CamPro engine; other versions carried different engines, listed in the specification table below. Kerb weight is 1195 -. The gearbox is a 4-speed automatic / 5-speed manual. The layout matters: the engine drives the front wheels, the packaging choice that gives a small car a big cabin. The wheelbase is 2600 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Its place in the line
Where it sits in Proton's history is not in doubt: the Proton Wira Aeroback came before it; the Proton Suprima S followed it; it was built at Proton City, Perak. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Ford Mustang, the Chrysler 300, the Hyundai Tucson. Nearby in the Proton catalogue sit the Proton Perdana and the Proton Arena.