Proton does not build many cars like the Proton Juara: a 5-door van with 1.1L Mitsubishi 4A31 S4 I4, built from 2001 to 2004 in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids.
How it came about
The Proton Juara is a microvan/mini MPV produced by the Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton between 2001 and 2004. It was launched on 22 July 2001 as Proton’s first non-saloon, hatchback or coupé model. The Juara was to be jointly developed by Proton and Mitsubishi Motors as an export model under the Mitsubishi badge. However, its poor reception and slow sales led to an early end to its production in 2004.
The hardware
Under the skin sits 1.1L Mitsubishi 4A31 S4 I4. Kerb weight is 1005 kg. The gearbox is a 4-speed automatic. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 2390 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Family and rivals
Where it sits in Proton's history is not in doubt: the Proton Exora (indirect) followed it; it was built at Pekan, Pahang (AMM), Malaysia. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Honda Fit, the Citroën C3, the Mazda Mazda6. Its Proton stablemates include the Proton Perdana and the Proton Arena.