Pour one out for the Proton Iriz, manufacturing 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 based on the above picture that has surfaced on the Proton Iriz Membership Malaysia (PICM) Fb group, quashing any hope of the hatchback receiving a Saga-style makeover.
Whereas the nationwide carmaker has but to announce the information publicly (and the automobile continues to be listed on the official web site), it’s doubtless that gross sales will finish quietly, as was the case with the Exora MPV in 2023. Which means that Proton will quickly be with no hatch in its lineup for the primary time because it launched the Mitsubishi Mirage-based Satria approach again in 1994.
It’s a case of what might have been for the Iriz, which was launched with a lot fanfare nearly precisely 11 years in the past because the automobile that might take the Proton identify abroad and save the corporate. You may hint the mannequin’s roots all the best way again to 2010 with the Giugiaro-designed EMAS idea (to not be confused with the eMas 7 EV that took the identify 14 years later) that made headlines on the Geneva Motor Present that yr.
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 referred to as the International Small Automotive (GSC).
Yours really joined paultan.org in early 2014, simply as growth of the automobile was correctly gaining velocity, with images of disguised prototypes being despatched to our inbox seemingly each week. It was a very astonishing interval as we learnt an increasing number of concerning the automobile because the months progressed, with whispers of “Myvi killer” suggesting that Proton was critical about making an attempt to beat Perodua at its personal recreation.
The Iriz finally made its debut on September 25 that yr (who might neglect the tagline “Betul2 Onz”?). Supplied 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 – notably the place security was involved. I even managed to turn into one of many first folks 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 certainly one of these two automobiles ever acquired a second technology – take a guess as to which one.
Ultimately, the Iriz by no means fairly managed to fulfill the frankly unrealistic expectations it was burdened with. That brought on 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 became an R5 rally automobile within the UK, reaching modest success), and it additionally by no means acquired the driver help bundle it was examined with, whilst Perodua rolled out its personal Superior Security Help (ASA) know-how throughout its lineup.
Neither did the Iriz obtain the electrical model that it was designed for – and which resulted within the automobile’s tallboy design – nor the sportier turbocharged engine (paired with a six-speed handbook gearbox, no much less) that was teased; these Proton firsts ended up going to later Geely-developed merchandise. We nonetheless haven’t forgiven the corporate for denying us the pukka Iriz R3 of our goals.
To its credit score, Proton did give the Iriz a number of updates over time to deal with 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 at last bringing the rugged-looking Lively variant into manufacturing (albeit in considerably watered-down kind).
The Iriz additionally sired a sedan model in 2016 within the form of the third-generation Persona. That automobile ended up changing 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 is no such thing as a information about whether or not manufacturing of the Persona would finish alongside the Iriz, though we suspect it’s going to soldier on for a pair extra years at the very least.
I believe we’ve mentioned sufficient concerning 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 fireplace. Take a bow, you likeable not-so-International Small Automotive, and revel in your well-deserved retirement.
GALLERY: 2021 Proton Iriz Lively in Malaysia
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