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ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO UNVEILS THE SECOND CONFIGURATION
OF ITS COMPACT ECO‐CAR FAMILY
CREATED FOR THE MALAYSIAN MANUFACTURER PROTON
BASED ON THE LOTUS HYBRID SYSTEM
Launch: 24 February
Moncalieri (TO)
Italdesign Giugiaro introduces the second configuration of a car family that will
break the mould of traditional market segmentation, the country version.
"We have created a family of models in different configurations, but which still
offer the spaciousness of a medium‐category car while maintaining the exterior
dimensions of a compact mini. The architecture has been designed in such a way as
to allow us to outfit an infinite number of variants without giving up great comfort
and extensive interior space" explained Giorgetto Giugiaro, chairman of Italdesign
Giugiaro.
The country version offers the same dimensions as the hatchback; only the ground
clearance has been increased. Compared to the first configuration, it can
accommodate 5 passengers instead of 4, the B pillar has visually disappeared and
the number of doors has decreased from 5 to 3. Access to the car is still easy
however, due to a generous door no less than 1350mm in length and the
ergonomic, rational rear seat position.
The series hybrid drive system was developed by Lotus Engineering, part of the
Proton Group, and includes a 1.2 litre capacity 3 cylinder internal combustion
engine that can run on petrol, ethanol or methanol.
The front transverse internal combustion engine serves exclusively to recharge the
lithium ion batteries.
"Developing a car based on a hybrid system allows the designer to maximise all the
opportunities and advantages offered by the combination of internal combustion
ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO
and electric engine in terms of the arrangement of volumes and dimensions. With
PR & PRESS OFFICE this project, we have shown that the car layout remains unchanged regardless of
Via Achille Grandi, 25
10024 Moncalieri (TO)
the type of fuel system, be it conventional, hybrid with petrol engine, hybrid with
natural gas engine or also fully electric” – continued Giorgetto Giugiaro.
Tel.: +39 011 6891824
+39 011 6891987
+39 011 6201428
Fax: +39 011 6470755
e-mail: pr@italdesign.it
PRESS RELEASE
The press event for unveiling the whole family of Proton cars, powered by Lotus, is
set for Tuesday 2 March at 10 am, hall 2, stand 2041.
Throughout the Geneva Motor Show, you can follow Italdesign Giugiaro's
participation on the website www.italdesign.it, which has been fully revised and
entirely dedicated to to the event.
ITALDESIGN GIUGIARO
Italdesign Giugiaro’s roots go back to 1968 when Giorgetto Giugiaro set up a design studio.
This represented an innovative formula for the car industry and its mission has remained unchanged
throughout the intervening 43 years: a company conceived as an independent service company,
capable of supplying creativity, engineering, construction of preseries prototypes, production start‐
up assistance and all the support required to put a new product into production. Giorgetto Giugiaro
heads the company as its Chairman together with his son Fabrizio, Deputy Chairman and Manager of
the Style Centre.
Since 1968, some 200 car models have been created that have spawned 50 million standard
production units produced by leading international car manufacturers.
Further information is available on the website www.italdesign.it
PROTON
PROTON was set up in 1983 and is the biggest car manufacturer in Malaysia. It is present in key
markets, from the United Kingdom and Western Europe to the Middle East, South East Asia and
Australasia. Activities include vehicle engineering, research and development, construction,
distribution, sales, marketing and aftersales services. The company has research centres dedicated
to new automotive technologies in Malaysia and the UK.
PROTON produces cars that are able to meet consumer requirements. The product range includes a
family of versatile, reliable, four‐door vehicles, three‐door hatchback versions for customers who are
young at heart, deluxe saloons, roomy, economical MPVs as well as the world‐renowned Lotus
sports cars. For further details, visit www.proton.com.
For more details on PROTON, contact Muhammad Amyzaddin Bin Raya, Head of Group
Communications (amyzadr@proton.com) or Yohani Yusof, Director of Group Marketing and After
Sales (yohanimy@proton.com).