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Two new Protons have been spotted testing: they're both due for launch in Malaysia very shortly, with European sales to follow later this summer. The smaller car - the five-door model with flat-backed tailgate - is codenamed TRM, and it's a budget city car to take on the likes of the Kia Picanto, Fiat Panda, Chevrolet Matiz and Perodua Kelisa: expect very competitive prices. In Malaysia, it replaces a model called Tiara, which was a rebadged version of the old Citroen AX in production till 2000, though the Tiara name may not be used again for an all-new car. It will be fitted with a 1.2-litre Renault petrol engine.
Although the SRM is only a three-door, it is actually larger than the TRM: a supermini around the size of - and in a similar style to - the Rover 25/MG ZR, it is built on a shortened version of the Gen-2's platform. It will be marketed as an affordable sporting hatch (Proton is bound to emphasise that it has been developed with help from Lotus) and it will replace the Satria. First models up for launch will be 1.3 and 1.6-litre petrol-engined versions, using the same engines as in the Gen-2, with a more powerful GTi model scheduled for later in the year.
Although the SRM is only a three-door, it is actually larger than the TRM: a supermini around the size of - and in a similar style to - the Rover 25/MG ZR, it is built on a shortened version of the Gen-2's platform. It will be marketed as an affordable sporting hatch (Proton is bound to emphasise that it has been developed with help from Lotus) and it will replace the Satria. First models up for launch will be 1.3 and 1.6-litre petrol-engined versions, using the same engines as in the Gen-2, with a more powerful GTi model scheduled for later in the year.
