THE fourth generation Proton Perdana is the talk of town last week, after it was unveiled at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
The long anticipated sedan fills the void in Proton's lineup, giving them a D-segment offering almost seven years after the Perdana V6 was discontinued in August 2009.
While the last Perdana was only available in a two-litre capacity version, the latest iteration is provided in 2L and 2.4L variants. Both are 4-pots, the larger of the two an I-VTEC with double overhead camshafts.
The 2L variant churns out 154hp at 6,300rpm and 189 Nm at 4,300rpm, while the 2.4L produces 178 hp at 6,500 rpm and 222 Nm at 4,300rpm.
In the metal, the Perdana is a rather handsome car, in a stately, regal fashion.
The eight-generation Honda Accord foundation has been improved upon to tremendous effect. What was once a generic D-Segment contender is now a graceful sedan with hints of luxury.
At 5,020mm long, it is a very large car, larger than most of its class competitors. It is longer than the Toyota Camry, which is 4,850mm long, and the Mazda 6 (4,865mm). It is even longer than the Nissan Teana (4,885mm).
However, the sheer size of the car is not readily noticeable, disguised by the elegant, flowing design.
The abrupt drop on the C-pillar window of the Honda now gradually slopes before settling on the belt line of the car. The Accord's bold and peculiar shoulder line, which once extended across to the rear of the car now dissipates elegantly on the rear quarter panel on the Perdana, just before the lamps.
Up in front, the wheel arches have tastefully executed vents.
What detracts from the car's graceful lines, however, is the busy rear end.
Moulded faux tailpipe blanks and chrome garnished rear bumper reflectors mess things up, making the whole bumper ensemble verge on the tacky.
Unfortunately, this general short fall in taste also extends to the overdone sideskirts on the 2.4L.
Most of Proton's work on the platform has been on the exterior. Underneath the skin however, almost all of the Honda underpinnings have been retained, from the suspension and steering to the engine. The 2.0L R20A3 and 2.4L K24Z2 engines even retain their covers and Honda badging. The only thing that has been changed is the specifically-made Goodyear EfficientGrip tires.
Both cars have five-speed auto boxes, while the 2.4L also has paddle shift added in.
The interior of the Perdana is also mostly a carry-over from its Honda counterpart. The seats are the same, but finished in different leathers, fabrics and tones. The 2.0L comes with leather and fabrics and a black interior. The 2.4L comes with full leather and a beige and black interior.
THE DRIVE: SHADES OF ACCORD
We had a quick test around Proton's oval test track in both variants. The 2.0L is a revvy four potter, more eager to accelerate. The 2.4L meanwhile, had a more laid back character, only coming into its own at higher speeds. Once at cruising speed though, the latter powertrain drives the car assuredly at a respectable pace, and feels like a perfect choice for long drives on expressways such as the North South Highway.
The gear shifts on both auto boxes are smooth. Of course, suspension, steering and handling are entirely identical to the 8th Generation Accord, which is to say, the cars feel composed and firm at high speeds, while still retaining a great deal of while still retaining a great deal of comfort. There isn't much to fault on the platform, despite the fact that it was first introduced about eight years ago.
However, what is missing from this Proton is the signature suspension tuning which has been Proton's USP since the mid-1990s with models like the Satria GTI and Perdana V6, and homegrown models like the Suprima.
Economies of scale, and perhaps limitations from Honda have put a cap on suspension and chassis tuning.
These, however, will likely be addressed when the Perdana undergoes a powertrain transplant sometime in 2017, to Proton's own engine.
But Proton says noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been further improved on the new Perdana compared to the original Accord with better aerodynamics. They say that the new Goodyear tyres also contribute to making the Perdana slightly quieter than the car it is based on.
On the Proton oval, cabin noise in the Perdana was low at speeds up to 130km/h. The Proton test track includes a variety of testing surfaces which include tiled surfaces, bumps and various grades of tarmac. Even over the roughest surfaces, not a hint of a rattle came from the inside of the cabin. In fact the only sound we could hear came from the keyring dangling from the ignition.
INFO
PRICE
• Perdana 2.0L
• Solid: RM113,438.00
•Metallic: RM113,888.00
• Perdana 2.4L
•Solid: RM138,438.00
•Metallic: RM138,888.00