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Crapwagon Outtake: The Malaysian Accord

by Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
November 6th, 2014 10:02 AM
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The last time we heard about Proton, our own Jack Baruth was flying nearly 23,000 miles to go drive a diminutive, Mitsubishi-based Proton hatchback in a Malaysian time-trial series. Proton may be best associated with their Mitsubishi partnership, but the two parties went their separate ways long ago. Today’s news bulletins saw Proton and Honda announce a possible partnership. What this means is that Honda vehicles would be assembled in Malaysian by the state-owned auto maker and sold at rock bottom prices, free of the onerous levies that “imported” cars face in the country.But if you’re a Malaysian civil servant, you don’t have to wait. The Proton Perdana is a last-generation Accord that is available only to government bigwigs. The Malaysian Prime Minister is chauffeured around in a long-wheelbase version.Government officials get to enjoy 2.0L and 2.4L engines, which are positively enormous by Malaysia’s taxation standards. When the car is approved for sale to the general public, it will likely have to make due with smaller displacement units designed by Petronas, Malaysia’s state energy company.
Published November 6th, 2014 10:02 AM
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Hate to bring bad news to you fellers, but in most of those countries, regular folk get to ride scooters, only "middle class" get to have more than 2 wheels.
The stupid thing about this is, Thailand also makes American-style Accords, and it's right next door. Thai cars are apparently good enough to be sold in the US by Ford and Mitsubishi, but Malaysians would rather have a product from an industry just getting off the ground.
A stretch accord might be interesting.
Earth's circumference is approximately 24,900 miles depending on where it is measured. If Jack Baruth flew nearly 23,000 miles, he should get a new travel agent.