Spoiler alert: it is impressive. More genuinely packaged to be a relevant car in today’s market

To start with, this article should really be written as a proper article should; but considering that I took an earlier flight back to Malaysia just to take part in a media preview of the new Proton Persona after spending the entire day before roaming the Jakarta motor show floor, I cannot find the energy for it. So here are the quick facts. Bear with me.

• Dealers can begin to accept bookings starting from next Monday (15 August 2016)
• The new Persona will be officially launched on 23 August 2016, as scheduled.
• Only one engine will be available for the Persona – the 1.6-litre with VVT. (No 1.3-litre option)
• In total, there will be six different variants available: (MT) Standard, (CVT) Standard, (MT) Executive, (CVT) Executive, (CVT) Premium, and (CVT) Premium with bodykit.

Legacy

• The new Persona is based on the Iriz but with the obvious extra cabin space.
• Yet, the new Persona is smaller than the car it replaces by way of exterior dimensions as seen below:

• No reason to panic though; the cabin is pretty spacious with generous amount of headroom. Legroom seems ample enough; certainly better than the 2015 Persona.
• Boot space increases from the previous 430 litre to 510 litre.

Powertrain

• This also falls under legacy, I suppose, as the engine is carried over from the Iriz. The 1.6-litre mill with the same 107hp/150Nm output, however, is tuned for a different performance. Now, it feels more ‘liberated’.
• A big part of this is the tuned CVT. Throttle response is livelier and receives modulation much better.
• Efficiency for the CVT-equipped variants have improved by 10% while the three-pedal car is 13% more frugal.
• There is an ‘Eco’ light on the meter cluster. It does not, however, make the car more efficient; instead it lights up when the driver is driving in a fuel consumption-friendly manner.
• The engine is now bolted to the car on three engine mounts compared to four in the Iriz. Apparently, this way the engine is always more secure.

Ride quality

• Probably better to elaborate this in the upcoming ‘First Impressions’ report but clearly there has been a big step in improving NVH levels.
• The retuned transmission contributes to this, as did the increase of sound insulator materials used.
• The exhaust system is now entirely from Faurecia resulting in an impressively quiet drive. Tests reveal that it is 6dB quieter than before during idling and under load.

Safety

• Both Standard variants will have two airbags; SIX for the Executive and Premium.
• All variants will come with Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
• The cars have been crash tested, and awarded with 5-Stars by ASEAN NCAP. Actual announcement will need to come from that party, of course.
• Braking performance has improved compared to the current Persona: previous 100kph-0 took 44.6m compared to 41.6m with the new model.

Others

• Rear passenger seats in the Standard variant does not even fold down. A 60/40 split is available only in the Executive and Premium types.
• The 2015 Persona did not have a boot release button, which didn’t make sense. Now, the new Persona does have a button.
• Remember the pathetic and loud ‘KLUCK!’ sound as the 2015 Persona doors are locked? It’s gone, finally! The central lock button is more accessible to everyone too – located right in the middle.
• The higher spec cars get three USB ports.

Next, I’ll give you my brief experience of driving the new Persona. It’s quite impressive, what Proton has achieved and while products like the Preve and Surprima S never really lived up to expectations, the 2016 Persona feels like a more ‘finished’ project.

The missing piece of the jigsaw is now the price. There are projections about this, but let’s not forget we only to wait until 23 August to know.