Shah Alam, 16 June 2006 – If you are reading this article today, it means that the all-new Proton Satria Neo has been launched. The media had a press preview of the new car at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday, but there is an embargo on the... [+ click to enlarge] The New Satria Neo looks great! Clean, uncluttered front is not too fierce, nor too mundane My favourite is the rear view. Straight from the plant onto the race track for a test!

Shah Alam, 16 June 2006 – If you are reading this article today, it means that the all-new Proton Satria Neo has been launched. The media had a press preview of the new car at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday, but there is an embargo on the story until 6.00 pm. We have timed it to break at exactly 6.01 pm, in compliance to the media embargo, but getting the story to Aw readers as quickly as possible.

There are 2 models, 1.3 litre, and 1.6 litre respectively to choose from, but 6 variants. In 1.3 form, you can choose between the 5-speed manual or the 4-speed auto. It is the same for the 1.6 litre model, but there are additional two variants, the Hi-line series, in which ABS and airbags are part of the package.

The all-new Satria Neo looks like it will be a great success, and our first impressions are good. We had the opportunity to check out all the models on the racetrack, and I come away impressed.

In terms of looks, the Satria Neo is inspired by the very popular Satria Gti, retaining the sporty flavour and the looks. This car is going to be a hit with the young and young at heart. The roofline is lowered, giving the car a very low-slung look, with a higher proportion of body to glass. Clever blacking out of some of the glass area at the rear make the car look really pleasing to the eye. A hatchback in construction, the rake of the car from a higher point, tapering downwards towards the front makes it look like a predator poised to pounce.

The new model carries some improvements over the previous Satria. For starters, all the variants come with ventilated discs in front and solid discs at the rear; stopping power is excellent. The ones we tested were all without ABS, but save for a little lock-up at turn four when it rained, (corrected easily by a slightly lower entry speed the next lap), all the cars behaved flawlessly throughout. By the way, the power windows are concerned, the mechanism has been changed and the motor is uprated. The actuation is smoother and we note that the windows move up and down slower than before, thanks to better gearing. The wing mirror control switch looks different from the entire Proton range and I have seen this mechanism from a Japanese but I can't remember which marque.

Handling, developed by Lotus, is one of the Satria Neo’s star attributes; there is a natural tendency towards under steer, easily corrected by lifting off on the throttle, making it easy to drive, even for beginners. Breakaway is gradual and predictable, without any violent reactions. Straight-line stability is excellent, and body roll is minimal, thanks to the stabilizers at the front and rear. Damping is soft yet supple, giving the car good stability around corners, but at the same time providing a good ride. Kudos to the design boys for coming up with a great package. Looking under the car, I note the similarities between the previous and the new model; basically they are the same set-up, except for the front lower arms, which are now a U-shaped pressed part instead of a welded construction. The ball joint is now detachable, which means you do not have to buy the whole arm every time you need to change it.

Body rigidity is greatly improved through body reinforcements at critical places. One such example is the joining of the front strut to the firewall; the monococque of the Satria Neo will probably outlast the car. Body weight is approximately a hundred kilograms heavier than the outgoing model, due to the additional reinforcements.

The engine is the already well-proven Cam-Pro series found in the Waja and the Gen2, and the ‘cammy’ performance suits the Satria Neo, especially if one likes to drive exuberantly. Power comes on line between 4,000 to 6,500 rpm. Even the 1.3 litre engine feels good, especially the manual model, thanks to a revised final drive ratio of 4.333:1, compared to the higher ratio 4.058 for the 1.6 model.

All the 1.6 litre models are shod with 16-inch wheels, while the 1.3 litre models are on 15-inch. The 1.6 litre are fitted with alloys, while the 1.3 litre models are with steel wheels and plastic wheel covers.Prices range from RM43,000 for the 1.3 manual to RM55,000 for the Hi-line 1.6 Auto.

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating; well, I have tasted it, and in addition, I have put my name down to hopefully take delivery of one of the first ones off the line.

For a first impression, the Satria Neo passes my test with flying colours. More to come when we do an extended road test.......