CUSCO CONFIRMS BUYING 30 SATRIA NEO AS RALLY CAR

YOKOHAMA, May 20 (Bernama) -- Cusco, a renowned Japanese after market
automotive parts company, has confirmed the purchase of 30 units of Proton
Satria Neo as a Group N Rally car to be sold to any interested parties.

According to well informed Proton source here, sales and negotiations in the
future would be based on as and when Cusco makes an order.

"At the moment, Cusco has confirmed the purchase of 30 units of Satria Neo,"
he told Bernama on the last day of the Malaysia Automotive Industry Exhibition
(MAIE) which is being held concurrently with the Automotive Engineering
Exposition (AEE) here.

At this point, Proton would send the car to Cusco in Japan in completely
built-up (CBU) form, he said, adding that, prior to this, Proton had never
exported its car to the Japanese market before.

He confirmed that the car would be used as a rally car, not only by
enthusiasts, but also by professional rally teams.

"There are currently two Satria Neo Group N Rally cars competing in the FIA
Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2011, and one vehicle participating in the All
Japan Rally Championship 2011," he said.

He said it would export under its original name -- Proton Satria Neo.

He, however, explained that the current sales of Satria Neo to Japan was due
to Proton's International rally involvement with the Satria Neo Super 2000
(S2000) and not through its participation in 2007 exhibition in Japan.

"Whilst competing against the Cusco Rally Team and other professional teams
in the Asia-Pacific region, including one round in Japan, the team gained much
media coverage and spectators' interest wherever it went."

"This has directly led Cusco to explore the possibility of converting and
selling the Satria Neo as a Group N Rally car to any interested parties," he
said.

Meanwhile, the "Tuah" concept car, which was now on display at MAIE/AEE
continue to attract the interest of visitors at the exhibition.

"TUAH" is a concept sporty saloon, inspired from nautical and aeronautical
designs.

It is a design concept that balances function and aesthetics and
incorporates cues from Proton’s new design direction.

Among some of its features are a photo-chromatic glass roof which darkens
automatically at varying degrees, LED fog lamps for clearer and more natural
lighting with low power consumption, modern LED rear combi lamps which promote
safety.

Concealed and illuminated door handles for ease of use during low light
conditions, adaptive spoiler which balances the vehicle during high speed for a
safer ride, adaptive headlamps which turn in relation to the steering wheel for
a more dynamic driving experience.

The Proton source said that "TUAH" is one of the concept cars in the
Pahlawan Series that were showcased for the first time at the 2010 Kuala Lumpur
International Motor Show.

By definition, he said the term "concept car" refers to a concept vehicle, a
show vehicle or a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling,
technology and more.

"They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and
radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced," he added.