The second generation Proton Saga is a 4-door
subcompact
Subcompact car is a North American classification for cars smaller than a compact car. It is broadly equivalent to the B-segment (Europe), supermini (Great Britain) or A0-class (China) classifications.
According to the U.S. Environmental Prot ...
sedan produced by Malaysian car manufacturer
Proton which launched on 18 January 2008.
It succeeds the
first generation Proton Saga
The first generation Proton Saga is the first car produced by Malaysian automobile manufacturer, PROTON Holdings, Proton. It is based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Mirage#1983, Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore as a result of a joint venture between DRB-HICOM, HI ...
as the company's flagship model. The second generation Proton Saga is based on a stretched
Proton Savvy
The Proton Savvy is a supermini hatchback produced by Malaysian carmaker Proton. The car was introduced in June 2005, as an indirect successor to Proton Tiara. It was discontinued in 2011 due to slow sales compared to the Perodua Myvi.
Hist ...
platform and was developed in-house by Proton with technical support from
Lotus Cars and
LG CNS
LG CNS Co., Ltd. (Korean: 주식회사 엘지씨엔에스) is a subsidiary of LG Corporation founded in 1987 that provides information technology services including consulting, System Integration, Network Integration, Business Process Outsourcing ...
.
Proton launched a mid-life facelift model called the Proton Saga FL on 30 November 2010.
A further improved model called the Proton Saga FLX was launched eight months later.
The second generation Saga was succeeded by the
third generation Saga in September 2016. Over 500,000 units of the second generation Saga were produced.
Proton Saga (2008–2010)
The second generation Proton Saga, also called the Saga BLM (Base Line Model) launched on 18 January 2008.
Previously, the
first generation Proton Saga
The first generation Proton Saga is the first car produced by Malaysian automobile manufacturer, PROTON Holdings, Proton. It is based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Mirage#1983, Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore as a result of a joint venture between DRB-HICOM, HI ...
was Proton's most successful model, having a 23-year-long lifespan, the longest of all Proton models to date. The second generation Saga was indigenously designed and became the first model to wear Proton's new corporate logo.
It launched with 3 variants, the N-Line, B-Line and M-Line which were priced between RM31,498 and RM39,998 respectively. All variants were powered by Proton's 1.3 litre CamPro IAFM engine. Also showcased during the launch ceremony was a concept model called the Proton Saga RED. The new Saga was a great sales success for Proton, having received over 23,000 bookings in less than two weeks since launch. Furthermore, it replaced the older
Saga Iswara as
Malaysia's taxi of choice from 2008 to 2010. These taxi variants were equipped with more powerful 1.6 litre 110 bhp CamPro engines and were later converted to
NGVs.
![Proton Saga (second generation) (rear), Serdang](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Proton_Saga_%28second_generation%29_%28rear%29%2C_Serdang.jpg)
In June 2009, the Proton Saga 1.6 B-Line was launched. It shared the engine found in the Saga taxi variant, but lacked many features, including a driver's
airbag. One month later, the Proton Saga SE was unveiled. Priced between RM43,000 and RM45,500, it was sold as a premium variant with just 2 colour options and a unique body kit, mated to the CamPro 1.3 engine found in the other models. On 16 July 2009, Proton showcased the emission-free Saga EV Concept in
Universiti Putra Malaysia
University of Putra Malaysia ( Malay: ''Universiti Putra Malaysia''), abbreviated as UPM, is a Malaysian public research university located in Serdang, Selangor. Formerly it was named Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Agricultural University o ...
,
Serdang. Powered by a 125 kW (168 hp)
DC motor mated to a 5 speed manual transmission, it had a maximum range of 109 kilometres (68 miles) and could be charged over a standard household outlet.
On the Christmas eve of 2009, Proton launched the S16 in the Australian market. There was no official reason why Proton chose to rename the Saga as the S16 in Australia. Nonetheless, the S16 is identical to its Malaysian counterpart, but featured the newer 110 bhp CamPro 1.6 engine instead. At the time, it retailed for AUD$11,990, making it the cheapest new car in the Australian market. That title has since been passed on to China's
Chery J1
The Chery A1 is a supermini car produced by the Chinese manufacturer Chery from 2007 to 2015.
Engines and equipment Engines
It was available with a 1.3-litre Acteco SQR473F engine, that has double overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder, g ...
. The launch of the S16 was endorsed by
Miss Universe Australia
Miss Universe Australia is a national beauty pageant that selects Australia's representative to the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Universe Australia is not only a beauty pageant but a self-development program that provides a platform for the coun ...
beauty pageant
Rachael Finch
Rachael Finch (born 8 July 1988) is an Australian TV host, model, and beauty pageant titleholder. She was awarded the 'People's Choice Award' for the 2006 Miss Teen Australia and finished as 3rd runner-up at Miss Universe 2009.
Career Modelli ...
, Proton's official Australian ambassador for 2009.
In July 2010, a limited edition model called the Proton Saga 25th Anniversary Edition was unveiled. Priced at RM54,500, it offered leather upholstery, dual airbags and quad power windows along with a custom set of alloy rims and paint job. Only 25 examples were made, in-line with Proton's 25 years of automotive history.
In Indonesia, two variants are available in two variants: M-LINE MT and M-LINE AT with the choice of seven colors: Solid White, Tranquility Black, Chili Red, Granite Grey, Genetic Silver, Mountain Blue and Zircon Green. It comes with a 3 year or 100,000 km warranty.
Proton Saga FL (2010–2011)
On 30 November 2010, Proton unveiled a mid-life facelift of the Proton Saga at the
Thai International Motor Expo 2010.
It was called the Proton Saga FL, where 'FL' stood for facelift. The Saga FL received mostly exterior changes such a redesigned front and rear bumper, grille, rims,
head lamp
A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for ...
s and tail lamps among others. The turn signal indicators were fused into the wing mirrors and the brake lamps utilised
LED technology. Interior wise, the Saga FL included power windows for all four doors, a new
Clarion
Clarion may refer to:
Music
* Clarion (instrument), a type of trumpet used in the Middle Ages
* The register of a clarinet that ranges from B4 to C6
* A trumpet organ stop that usually plays an octave above unison pitch
* "Clarion" (song), a 2 ...
audio system with
USB
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...
and AUX ports, steering wheel audio controls, and dual
airbags
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. T ...
. The technical specifications for the Saga FL remain mostly unchanged from the pre-facelift Saga. Also present during the Saga FL launch in Thailand was the Saga R3 Concept. It was designed by Proton's Race, Rally, Research (R3) division and featured a sporty body kit, unique rims and custom paint job. Its technical specifications are not known. A couple of days later, the Proton Kasturi Concept was showcased at the 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show. The Saga FL- based Kasturi was created by Proton Design and many of its features later materialized in upcoming models.
![Proton Saga in Pattaya](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Proton_Saga_in_Pattaya.JPG)
The Saga FL was launched in Malaysia two weeks after its Thai unveil. It was available in two trim lines for the Malaysian market, the Standard and Executive variants respectively. Both trim lines were available in 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmissions. Every Proton Saga FL came standard with 4 power windows, a feature which was warmly welcome. Later in May 2011, a more powerful model called the Proton Saga FL 1.6 Executive was launched. As its name implies, it was powered by the 110 bhp CamPro IAFM 1.6 engine which could only be mated to the 4-speed automatic transmission. The Saga FL 1.6 came with unique alloy rims and body stickers to help distinguish it from the crowd.
Proton Saga FLX (2011–2016)
Eight months after the launch of the Saga FL, Proton added to its line-up the Saga FLX, codenamed P2-11C.
The additional 'X' stands for extra. As with the previous iteration, the FLX is available in Standard and Executive trim lines. Both versions are equipped with the updated CamPro IAFM+ engine which can mated to a choice of either manual or CVT drivetrains. The Belgian-made Punch Powertrain CVT provides smooth, shiftless acceleration in addition to better fuel economy compared to the older 4-speed automatic. Furthermore, the old 5-speed Aichi Kikai manual transmission was replaced with a newer 5-speed
Getrag
Getrag (), stylized as GETRAG, was a major supplier of transmission systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the ''Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik ...
manual. Safety wise, the Saga FLX now comes with dual airbags and
anti-lock braking system (ABS) with
electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). However, these features are only available in the more expensive Executive variant. The handling has been vastly improved with a new suspension setup which features stiffer springs, a thicker front anti-roll bar and revised shocks which strike a balance between ride comfort and handling performance. A new colour option, Elegant Brown was made available and the Saga FLX is competitively priced between RM38,370
and RM45,220.
The exterior of the Saga FLX is identical to the Saga FL.
![2013 Proton Saga FLX SE in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (04)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/2013_Proton_Saga_FLX_SE_in_Cyberjaya%2C_Malaysia_%2804%29.jpg)
Proton participated in the
RAC Future Car Challenge on 6 November 2011 with
plug-in electric versions of the Saga,
Exora and
Persona
A persona (plural personae or personas), depending on the context, is the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional character. The word derives from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatr ...
, in which the company claimed 2 awards despite their shortcomings.
The Proton Saga FLX SE was launched on 30 November 2011. It is powered by a 108 hp
CamPro IAFM+ 1.6 litre engine, paired to a CVT. Driver and passenger airbags as well as ABS with EBD come standard. A new body kit, smoked rear lamps and 15-inch alloy wheels give the FLX SE a sportier, more aggressive look. Leather upholstery and red stitching is present on the interior. It is only available in two colours, Solid White and Fire Red, and tentatively priced at RM49,899, around RM6,500 less than its primary competitor, the Perodua MyVi SE 1.5 automatic.
![Proton Saga EV at the RAC Future Car Challenge 2011, U](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Proton_Saga_EV_at_the_RAC_Future_Car_Challenge_2011%2C_U.K.jpg)
The Saga FLX entered the Australian market in June 2012, where it was renamed the S16 FLX. It replaces the old S16 in Proton Australia's fleet. The S16 FLX comes in two variants, the GX and GXR, each with manual and CVT drivetrain options respectively. Dual airbags, ABS and EBD and ESC are standard on all S16 FLX variants, and a new colour, Solid Red was introduced. ESC was never made available in Malaysia delivered Saga FLX's. It is priced between AUD$13,990 and AUD$16,990.
On 15 June 2013, Proton introduced a new sub-variant of the Saga FLX, called the Saga SV. ''SV'' is an acronym for ''Super Value'', with prices starting from just RM33,438 for the manual transmission variant, making it over RM8,000 less than its closest rival, the
Perodua Myvi 1.3 SX and around RM5,000 cheaper than the Saga FLX Standard 1.3. Despite the reduction in price, the Saga SV offers improved safety standards with
dual airbags and a reinforced frame with only minimal exterior changes when compared to the Saga FLX Standard.
On 14 August 2015, Proton unveiled the Saga Plus, the latest variant in the Saga FLX family.
The Saga Plus replaces the Saga SV and incorporates cosmetic upgrades from the more upmarket Saga Executive and Saga SE variants. The cosmetic enhancements include the body-coloured bodykit, bootlid spoiler and 14-inch six-spoke alloy wheels from the Saga Executive, as well as a painted rear bootlid garnish and a 'Plus' badge on the upper left side of the boot.
However, the Saga Plus lacks front fog lights, painted door handles, Bluetooth connectivity, powered mirrors and steering wheel controls, all of which were previously offered on the Saga Executive.
The Saga Plus is fitted with two front airbags and three-point seat belts on all five seats, but it lacks ABS and EBD.
There are no significant mechanical changes; the 1.3 litre CamPro IAFM+ four-cylinder engine with 94 hp at 5,750 rpm and 120 Nm of torque, paired to either the 5-speed Getrag manual or the Punch CVT gearboxes carry on unchanged from the Saga SV.
The Saga Plus is produced in five colours, namely Tranquility Black, Fire Red, Genetic Silver, Solid White and Elegant Brown. Despite the added cosmetic upgrades, prices for the Saga Plus remain unchanged from the Saga SV, ranging from RM33,242 for the manual with solid paint to RM36,577 for the CVT with metallic paint, all of which are on-the-road prices with insurance.
A three-year or 100,000 km warranty is also offered.
The second generation Saga FLX is also sold in Egypt in a sole executive variant with either manual or CVT transmission. The specifications mirror those of the Malaysian market but to note that the Saga sold in Egypt is left-hand drive. A batch of Proton cars including the Saga departed Malaysia in September 2018 and arrived in Egypt in October 2018. It is unknown when the Egyptian market Saga's were assembled.
Based on the outgoing Saga FLX platform,
the third generation Proton Saga was officially launched on 28 September 2016 at Setia City Convention Centre in
Shah Alam
Shah Alam () is a city and the state capital of Selangor, Malaysia and situated within the Petaling District and a small portion of the neighbouring Klang District. Shah Alam replaced Kuala Lumpur as the capital city of the state of Selangor ...
, Malaysia.
Specifications
Awards
* 2008 Best Compact / People's car of the year – Asian Auto-VCA Auto Industry Awards
* 2008 Entry Level Category Winner –
NST /
Maybank COTY Awards 2008
* 2009 Best Model of the Year (Malaysia) –
Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan is an American business consulting firm. It offers market research and analysis, growth strategy consulting, and corporate training. It has about 45 offices in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe; the principal office is in Sa ...
Asia Pacific 2009 Automotive Awards
* 2010 Best Passenger Car Model of the Year –
Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan is an American business consulting firm. It offers market research and analysis, growth strategy consulting, and corporate training. It has about 45 offices in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe; the principal office is in Sa ...
Malaysia Excellence Award 2010
* 2011 Best People's Car and Best Value for Money Family Car Awards – Asian Auto – Auto Industry Awards 2011
* 2012 Special Mention Award – Best Value Compact Sedan of the Year –
NST /
Maybank COTY Awards 2012
References
External links
Proton Saga microsite
{{Proton vehicles
Saga
Subcompact cars
Vehicles with CVT transmission
2010s cars
Cars introduced in 2008