Proton developing hybrid drive for Exora MPV with Lotus

Posted by Jacob

December 3, 2009

According to a published report by Malaysian news agency Bernama, Proton is developing a hybrid drive system for the the Exora MPV with Lotus. The prototype cars are currently being tested in the UK and Proton’s managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Syed Mohamad Tahir has tried them out. These hybrid Exoras are expected to arrive in Malaysia for further testing by the end of this month or latest by early next year.

The hybrid Exora is scheduled to be introduced into the market sometime in 2011. The word of Proton developing a hybrid system for its vehicles isn’t actually new. The automaker showcased a Proton GEN2 EVE Hybrid Concept back in 2007 in which the 1.6 liter Campro was paired with a 40hp electric motor. The concept featured a CVT transmission. Total power output was rated at 141hp and torque was figured at 233Nm from as low as 1,500 revs.

Earlier this year Proton gave us a glimpse of a range-extending hybrid system. It basically uses an electric motor as the main drive and a 1.2 liter 3-cylinder engine is used solely as a generator.

Source 1 | Source 2