Mask Man專頁推介重點文章:踢爆Proton燒錢計劃
Honda Accord移花接木變成Proton Perdana
馬哈迪再次把全民當成冤大頭
文字整理:Mask Man
2014年1月即將推出市場的【革新版普騰將相】Proton Perdana,終於亮相了。一如所料,它就是本田雅閣Honda Accord的翻版,而且是舊款Accord的翻版!
因為Honda Accord即將在明年推出更新改良的車款,目前銷售的車款將自動停產。而Proton拿到的就是現在這個即將要被淘汰的Accord生產線。
原來我們的國產車計劃實行了30年,還是連一款像樣的汽車都設計不出來。說得難聽一點,連一個屬於自己的汽車引擎都做不出來。
30年前國產車剛剛問世的時候,從外表到內在,完全採用日本三菱汽車款式,只是改掉標誌Logo就變成Proton Saga;這個大家還能諒解,畢竟萬事起頭難。
30年前,韓國的汽車工業也跟大馬一樣剛剛起步,那時候韓國品牌有現代Hyundai,起亞Kia,大宇Daiwoo等等。
30年後的今天,韓國現代汽車工業在國內已經一統天下,吞併了起亞汽車,快速發展成為世界第四大汽車工業集團;它自己研發和生產獨有的引擎、自己設計各種劃時代的新車款式,幾乎每一種車款都廣受世界歡迎。即使在大馬市場,現代汽車也是深受歡迎的品牌。
而我們的國家投下了近千億資金推行的國產車,卻竟然還在原地踏步!不但一個像樣的引擎也生產不出來,現在連設計車款外殼的功能也完全沒有;只能不斷花大錢向日本購買生產線,悲哉!
還記得幾年前國產車推出的Inspira車款嗎?原裝就是日本三菱Mitsubishi Lancer;Proton花費馬幣3億5千萬,向日本三菱買下這個車款的一條生產線,轉移到馬來西亞,換上Proton標誌,換個Inspira名字就變成了Proton新車。
結果事實證明這是一個失敗的車款,銷售成績遠遠不如預期;嚴重虧損到不得不停產。蒙受了多少損失?誰來買單?還不是全民買單?
現在,顯然的,Proton並沒有從失敗中汲取經驗(或者應該說是他們別無選擇,只能繼續錯下去);因為政府打算換官車了,於是Proton又來這種移花接木的招數,硬是把本田雅閣的標誌換成國產將相,就當做Proton新車推出市場。別人是換皮不換骨(只用外來引擎,外殼自己設計),我們的國產車卻連皮也懶得換了。
還有,更教人泄氣的是,這個本田雅閣還是屬於即將被淘汰的車款!因為日本本田已經計劃明年推出更新款的雅閣了!
這一次向本田購買雅閣車款的成本,又花掉了多少個億?唉唉唉。。。
說會Proton Perdana.事實上,這個車款早已停產多年,為什麼忽然又死灰復燃?這裡頭大有文章。
原來,話說由於國陣政府給予內閣成員、法官、各種高級公務員使用的普騰將相已經老舊;必須淘汰換新的座駕。據說今年4月,Proton已經奉命著手研發改良版本的Perdana。但是,眾所周知,那些關聯公司的大老爺們都是只會講不會做,講就天下無敵,做就無心無力。研究了幾個月,一篇像樣的報告都做不出來,始終停留在紙上談兵的階段。
這樣一來,納吉惱火了,於是今年8月公開宣布政府各級官員將從明年一月起換新車,而且指明將把普騰將相換成本田雅閣。內閣成員、高庭法官、A級公務員、州行政議員也各部門總監,都將獲得更換Honda Accord 2.4;而比較次等的公務員則更換使用Honda Accord 2.0。
據說,身為普騰汽車工業顧問的馬哈迪聽到消息之後十分震怒,認為國陣政府這樣做,令國產車非常丟臉;也令國家的顏面盡失。無論如何必須阻止這種事發生。
但是,國陣政府的換新車計劃明年一月肯定要實行了,短短4個月時間,就算是世界第一的豐田Toyota都不可能在這麼短的時間內完成設計和投產新的車款。怎麼辦?
結果馬哈迪還是決定飲鴆止渴,明知不可為而為之。決定用回Inspira的模式:向Honda買下Accord的一條生產線,搬到馬來西亞的Proton車廠,引擎和各種內部設計統統保留,外殼進行一點點象徵式的改動。當然,最重要的就是換成Proton的標誌,讓Honda變成Proton!
Inspira的模式已經確定是一個失敗的模式,虧掉Proton數以億計的資金;但是馬哈迪為了霸占政府更換新車的合約,不惜再用同樣的招數燒錢!
在馬哈迪而言,Proton燒錢他根本不在乎,因為Proton又不是沒有虧本過。過去30年,倒有一半的時間是出於虧本中。不過,反正後台就是國陣政府,虧光了就去國庫搬錢。反正國庫的錢源源不絕,虧不完的。要是賺了錢,當然首先進他和朋黨們的口袋。【賺錢就進私人口袋,虧本就全民承擔】這一招,屢試不爽。
老馬通過各種管道向納吉施壓,強要納吉接受【購買本田雅閣生產線,換成普騰將相革新版】的計劃,迫使政府大轉彎。
於是,今年10月首相署副部長拿督哈敏沙姆里Datuk Hamim Samuri在國會宣布:【普騰已經成功在本田雅閣車款上開發出革新版的普騰將相,因此政府決定將改用這新款將相取代原定的本田雅閣】。
政府高官改用移花接木的所謂新款普騰將相,準備花多少錢?足夠支付普騰購買【舊款本田雅閣生產線】的費用嗎?
再說,本田雅閣2.4現有的售價是介於馬幣18萬左右,變成普騰將相之後要賣多少錢?15萬?16萬?買得起這種價位新車的高收入一族,會為此而放棄本田改買普騰嗎?從過去Proton Inspira的失敗例子,相信不難找到答案。
Here’s a first look at the car that government officials will be using as their daily ride in the future – the Proton Perdana Replacement Model based on the previous-generation Honda Accord, and not the current Accord. This black mule was sighted at R&R Gombak by sharp-eyed reader Khai RULE Cultus.
The government fleet story is a lengthy one full of twists and turns. The government currently uses the aging Proton Perdana V6 Executive for the speaker and deputy speaker of the Parliament, judges, members of the administration and selected Grade A civil servants. Selected Grade B and C category civil servants get the Proton Inspira.
With Proton concentrating on more affordable segments, there has been no focus on producing a D-segment car, and most would agree rightfully so, considering the lower sales volume involved, as well as the positioning of the Proton brand.
Over the years, there have been many candidates for a donor car to be badge-engineered as a Proton Perdana replacement – we』ve had rumours of the Mitsubishi 380, Nissan Fuga a.k.a. Infiniti M, and most recently the Honda Accord.
We first heard news of Proton using the Honda Accord chassis for the new Perdana in April this year, a follow up to an agreement between Honda and Proton to study the matter in October 2012. But then perhaps the government got fed up of waiting – it was announced in August this year that the Perdana Executive and Inspira will be replaced by the Honda Accord 2.4 and 2.0 respectively.
Then there was a sudden about-turn in October, when MITI deputy minister Datuk Hamim Samuri revealed in the Parliament that Proton had developed a replacement for the Perdana based on a Honda chassis, and that government officials had already inspected the car and decided to use it instead of the Accord.
This Proton-badged Accord has very minimal disguise, and still looks largely like a Honda Accord. The grille is covered up, which suggests that Proton has its own take on the car’s nose. The alloy wheels on this car look similar to those on the Proton Exora Prime.
Inside, there are minimal changes, with the Honda badge on the steering wheel simply replaced by a Proton badge. Visible cues such as paddle shifters and VSA switch means that the donor form is the 2.4 VTi-L variant. We also see some kind of ballast in the rear to simulate rear occupant load weight balance – in tandem with wired sensors on the air-conditioning vents, the car is likely undergoing AC evaluation trials under load. Also, the stock redline on the tachometer infers no change in engine, and should put rumours of the Petronas E01e engine being under that hood to rest.
The previous-gen Honda Accord took part in our D-segment shootout with the Camry and Teana. Will the 「Accordana」 (or if you prefer, 「Percord」) be similar in the driving department, or will Proton infuse its much-touted ride and handling qualities into the package?