Pour one out for the Proton Irizmanufacturing of which has apparently ended this week with the final physique, #97576, having been churned out by the Tanjong Malim plant on September 9. That’s in accordance with the above picture that has surfaced on the Proton Iriz Membership Malaysia (PICM) Fb Groupquashing any hope of the hatchback receiving a Saga-style makeover.
Whereas the nationwide carmaker has but to announce the information publicly (and the automobile remains to be listed on the official web site), it’s possible that gross sales will finish quietly, as was the case with the Exora mpv in 2023. Which means Proton will quickly be with no hatch in its lineup for the primary time because it launched the Mitsubishi Mirage-based Satria manner again in 1994.
It’s a case of what may have been for the Iriz, which was launched with a lot fanfare nearly precisely 11 years in the past because the automobile that may take the Proton title abroad and save the corporate. You’ll be able to hint the mannequin’s roots all the best way again to 2010 with the Giugiaro-Designed Emas Idea (to not be confused with the not 7 EV that took the title 14 years later) that made headlines on the Geneva Motor Present that 12 months.
Not a lot of Proton’s splashy interval truly got here to fruition – do not forget that it was additionally throughout this time that it introduced vary extender EVs to the UK and made the now-infamous announcement to launch 5 new Lotus fashions on the Paris present. However simply three years later, the world would catch a glimpse of what the EMAS was turning into with the first spyshots of what was then generally known as the International Small Automobile (GSC).
Yours really joined paultan.org in early 2014, simply as growth of the automobile was correctly gaining pace, with photographs of disguised prototypes being despatched to our inbox seemingly each week. It was a really astonishing interval as we learnt increasingly more in regards to the automobile because the months progressed, with whispers of “Myvi killer” suggesting that Proton was critical about attempting to beat Perodua at its personal recreation.
The Iriz finally made its debut on September 25 that 12 months (who may overlook the tagline “Betul2 Onz”?). Provided in 1.3 and 1.6 litre variations and retailing between RM42,438 to RM62,888, it was priced to deal with the Myvi head-on and specced to beat it – significantly the place security was involved. I even managed to change into one of many first individuals to drive the automobile on the launch, describing it as a promising however flawed machine.
Sadly for Proton, Perodua reduce its legs from underneath it by launching the smaller and cheaper Axia simply ten days earlier than it, stealing its thunder. Solely one among these two vehicles ever obtained a second technology – take a guess as to which one.
In the long run, the Iriz by no means fairly managed to satisfy the frankly unrealistic expectations it was burdened with. That brought about a dramatic curbing of its future plans – it by no means did handle to get exported to the UK, Australia or Europe (though it did find yourself being become an R5 rally automobile within the UKreaching modest success), and it additionally by no means obtained the driver help package deal it was examined withwhilst Perodua rolled out its personal Superior Security Help (ASA) expertise throughout its lineup.
To its credit score, Proton did give the Iriz a number of updates over time to handle points with refinement and CVT efficiency. These included two important facelifts in 2019 and 2021 because of Geely funding, the final one turning it right into a surprisingly engaging automobile and eventually bringing the rugged-looking Lively variant into manufacturing (albeit in considerably watered-down type).
The Iriz additionally sired a sedan model in 2016 within the form of the third-generation Persona. That automobile ended up turning into extra profitable, repeating the impact seen on the earlier mannequin versus the Gen.2 and indicating that Proton arguably ought to have led with the four-door model first. As but, there isn’t a information about whether or not manufacturing of the Persona would finish alongside the Iriz, though we suspect it’ll soldier on for a pair extra years not less than.
I feel we’ve mentioned sufficient in regards to the Iriz, which will likely be fondly remembered (our personal Hafriz Shah will – he even purchased one!) regardless of not setting the gross sales charts on hearth. Take a bow, you likeable not-so-International Small Automobile, and revel in your well-deserved retirement.
Gallery: 2021 Proton Iriz Lively in Malaysia
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