It went up against a Proton Persona during a demonstration at the Power of 1 showcase held at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium yesterday. To create an air of mystery, the car was “camouflaged” in a black-and-white psychedelic patterned sheet. There was also a “sneak-a-peek” box in which the vehicle was placed so the public could have a peep at the car. Proton group managing director Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, who announced the model's soft launch, said buyers who made advanced bookings stood a chance to win the Lotus F1 Team I-Race experience.
He added that the winner would receive Formula 1 driver training and get to drive an F1 car at the end of the all-expenses-paid three-day session. Advanced booking opened nationwide yesterday for a RM500 fee with 44 people placing their orders as of 7pm. Syed Zainal Abidin said the Power of 1 event served to showcase the national car manufacturer's capabilities and technology. He said the showcase would also serve to introduce the new model, priced from RM62,000 to RM75,000 depending on the version, to the public.
Other Proton cars, including the Exora Bold, Persona, Saga FLX, Gen 2 and Savvy, would be on special offer with discounts from RM500 to RM15,000. The event is on until Sunday from 10am to 10pm. Admission is free. Syed Zainal Abidin also said the Power of 1 showcase was for all to come and learn about Proton cars. “We believe people don't really understand truly how much we've grown and hope people will come to see what Proton is all about,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was love before first sight for Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid, 51, who became the first customer to book the P3-21A without even knowing how the vehicle looked like. “My first car in 1989 was a Proton and it served me well for six years,” he said, adding that he had full confidence in the national brand.
