Just like sheep that are herded by physical boundaries, so are the responses of many when they hear of the brand Proton. Associating it as a cheaply manufacturer of vehicles, the impressions of some are laced with distaste, passing scoffing remarks that the manufacturer would never make its mark; ever.

So take that back now; 31 years since its establishment by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the brand has since expanded beyond initial beliefs of a domestic brand that only provides citizens with affordable vehicle options. Now serving South East Asian countries, China, Australia, the Middle East and even the United Kingdom and South Africa, Proton has since gained much credibility and international recognition among the automotive community.



The company’s ambitious plans to create its unique motorsports lineage resulted in the creation of sporty cars, such as the Proton Satria, a hatchback coupe that reflected the brand’s ideals for a lightweight automobile that could deliver punchy acceleration and sharp handling characteristics.



To prove that the Satria was not “all show, no go”, Proton put its motorsports-inclined coupe to the test; on the proving grounds of the rally and touring car stages, such as the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and the British Touring Car Championship, where it withstood stiff competition from the likes of Mitsubishi, Subaru and Honda to clinch victories in both stages. REV’s Feature Car in today’s spotlight is Yilong’s Satria Neo, the second and latest incarnation of Proton’s sporty coupe. Packing a 1.6 naturally aspirated DOHC engine, this seemingly trivial machine has more to its bark than it looks. Looking to prove detractors wrong, Yilong faithfully stands by the Malaysian coupe with a formidable looking list of tuning options, after scouring through parts available locally and across the border...



The twin-CAMPRO engine gets heaps of tuning, starting with a stainless steel open pod intake from Simota, paired with upgraded fuel stats from a Works Engineering fuel regulator and strong amperage from Aerospeed spark plug cables and upgraded NGK spark plugs, this strong tripartite is sealed with a tuned Unichip Q system. Delving deeper into the engine mechanics, high compression pistons and a set of high-revving camshafts by Matspeed and a matching camshaft gear by Works Engineering provide stronger driving power in the mid-high end RPM range, much to Yilong’s joy of driving stick shifts.



This enthusiasm is further amplified by a lightened ZerOne lightened crank pulley that reduces parasitic engine loads.Putting a cooling lid on rising issues in our equatorial climate, the high-revving 1.6-litre engine is kept swell with an enlarged Synergy aluminum radiator, linked across with Samco silicon hoses. Soaring oil temperatures under prolonged driving conditions is quelled with an Autobahn88 10-row oil cooler.Capitalising further on its great handling characteristics, Yilong fitting a deserving Gab SS Series coilover on the Satria Neo, allowing cornering speeds to be greatly increased while reducing nagging body-rolls with a full set of chassis enhancement from Ultra Racing. Braking feel is also massively improved with a simple upgrade of stainless steel braking hoses.

 

Adequate footwork is provided with a set of lightweight 15” TE37-like rims wearing sticky, all-weather Toyo Proxes R1R tyres in 195/55/15 dimensions.Keeping the exterior void of unnecessary add-ons, Yilong chose to relieve understeer on the front-end with a lightweight carbon-fibre bonnet, while adding a simple carbon-fibre spoiler for the purpose of gentle rear downforce, while adding a simple aesthetic touch to the otherwise bland-looking grey hatchback.



The interior gets more loving though, since this is going to be where Yilong will be spending most of his time in. Since this was going to be a daily drive, bucket seats were a big no-no, so the stock fabric seats get rewrapped in classy upholstery. Not all is kept OEM though, with a Sparco L777 steering wheel to complete the tuner feel and matching Sparco driving pedals for sheer ergonomic touch. A short-shifter linkage assembly is refined with a properly weighted Blox gearknob, while driving stats, pressure and temperatures are digitally displayed, thanks to a premium ZD Clubsport display package by Defi.Not discounting that he might be taking the Satria Neo further up North to the final stage that is that of Sepang, Yilong has plans that he intends to reveal in time when the car nears the impending end of its COE-lifespan.

While that is still all shrouded in secrecy, REV can’t wait to have a second look at the Satria Neo’s renewed lease of life when the time comes!