Proton Savvy

Introduction to Proton Savvy

The universal truth, automobile Industry in India is the most swiftly growing auto market and the most appealing one as well. Validating this, are brands like Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Ferrari etc. who are swiftly rolling out their India plans.

Apart from the super luxurious brands, automakers that are famous for their economical yet aggressive products also desire the same; a telling instance is the Malaysian automaker Proton, who will soon be unveiling its Supermini Hatchback Proton Savvy by June 2011 on the Indian roads.

Proton's compact-sized Savvy hatch is a capable, well designed little secret. Although it's a compact design, the interior is anything but compact. Headroom is generous and legroom is ample. The engine is quite zippy considering it's a 1.2 liter petrol engine, and it is sourced from Renault, the masters experienced in extracting tons of power from small engines. The suspension is the pick of the car, designed and tuned by Lotus, the sports car manufacturer.

The Proton Savvy has a fine build quality compared to previous models and rivals like the Ford Fiesta hatchback, and a low price, expected around INR 6,00,000, a cute look, a superb ride and easy handling make it a complete parcel.

Engine & Specifications of the Proton Savvy

The Proton Savvy will be made available in a Manual or Automated Clutch-less Manual gearbox. It will arrive only with a 1.2-litre petrol engine churning out around 75bhp, with displacement of approximately 1200cc. Engine would rev up to 5000rpm and the drive-by-wire delivers penetrating response. Proton isn’t into diesels but you wouldn’t anyway find much point in paying the usual premium for a diesel car of this kind as you will be looking to travel short urban distances.

The Proton Savvy will surely offer better fuel mileage as compared to its contenders. The exact mileage is not disclosed by the company as of now.

Exterior Appearance of the Proton Savvy

In the front, the bold grille and character headlamps give the Proton Savvy plenty of character. The shapes are pretty sharp and if you look around the car, there are some careful detail touches. The neatly styled front lamp clusters for example - and the tidy way the rear wiper has been integrated. The V-shaped indent on the tailgate corresponds to the front grille, although the body-colored grille works a lot better in black than other colours. 

Interiors of the Proton Savvy

The interiors of the Proton Savvy are simple yet elegant and fit the purpose. Front head room is generous and the driving position is comfortable for the passengers. The lively yellow-faced instrument dials and the no-nonsense fascia are good, though the Savvy’s boot is small but very well designed, and the 50/50 split rear-seats fold to leave a flat floor and a maximum luggage capacity of 909 liters. The Savvy is available in a single trim, which comes with remote central locking, air-conditioning, a CD player, and electric front windows.

Proton has supplied the Savvy with a good enough safety kit. There are anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and two front airbags. An alarm is fitted as standard, as are marked parts, etched windows and locking wheel-nuts.