FIRST LOOKS

The profile of the Waja looks better in standard form than with an extended wheelbase.

Extra 250 mm is achieved by inserting a new panel in the rear of the cabin floor section (red outline).

Roof is stamped as a single sheet and an extra reinforcement beam is installed

When the Proton Waja was under development in the late 1990s, it was envisioned that its GX platform (now known to have been adapted from the Mitsubishi Carisma/Volvo S40 platform) would be used for more than just a sedan. At the time of the model’s launch in mid-2000, Muhamad Aman, who was then the Waja Program Director, said: “By having our own platform, we can also develop additional variants as and when we wish, such as MPVs and 4WDs. It will depend on what the market wants.” Insiders said that on Proton's drawing boards were another 11 possible variants, besides the 4-door sedan and some would appear in the course of the life of the platform which is expected to be between ten and twelve years.

The Gen2 was one variation of the GX platform which was handled under Vehicle Program C and now comes another variation, an extended wheelbase variant used for a new flagship model that is called the Chancellor. This new model is significant not only because it is the new flagship for the company, taking over from the Perdana, but also the first original long-wheelbase Proton model ever made. Stretched Protons are not new on Malaysian roads; since the late 1980s, EON’s Automotive Conversions Engineering (ACE) unit has been making such special models at its own factory adjacent to the EON Head Office Complex in Glenmarie, Selangor. The first one was the Saga 1.5I Executive and then there was also the Wira Executive and from the late 1990s, the Perdana Executive (which is what the PM and most ministers use these days).

The difference with Proton itself making a long-wheelbase version is that it has developed the model in the same way as it would for any new model and gone through all the R&D and engineering processes. More importantly, the ‘stretching’ has been achieved not by the usual cutting of the vehicle body and then inserting the extra length but by actually stamping the longer body panels. This is how manufacturers do it as they take their engineering seriously and they have the capabilities to do so whereas after-market outfits have to do it the other way.

Development of the Chancellor was not a lengthy process since the platform and body were already done and the project started in 2004. The main areas that were focused during the on were the structural integrity, vehicle dynamics and interfacing of the bigger engine. Extensive testing was conducted to ensure that the longer bodyshell was as durable as a standard Waja and Proton commissioned a testing facility in Spain to run the Chancellor prototype for an equivalent of 200,000 kms on a cobbled surface known as ‘Belgian pave’.

"The facility we used in Spain was one which Lotus also uses frequently for endurance testing. It has a long stretch of Belgian pave surface for the type of testing we wanted to assess the reliability and durability of the vehicle. Our own test track in Shah Alam has such a surface but it is only a short section and using the Spanish track enabled us to complete that exercise faster," explained Tajul Zahari Abu Bakar, Head of Vehicle Program C.

The extra length is all given to the rear passenger who can stretch out his legs.

The extra 250 mm added to the body was done by inserting a specially stamped panel in the rear floor section, extending the overall body length to 4715 mm, which is 105 mm longer than a Perdana. The roof panel is unique to the Chancellor and is stamped as a single piece as are the longer rear doors. Additional sections are also inserted on the sills to make up the extra length.

A longer body means that rigidity will be affected and to maintain the rigidity, reinforcements have been added in important locations. It has not been possible to achieve the same degree of rigidity as the standard Waja but the Chancellor’s rigidity is still better than the Perdana’s. A chart shown to the press indicated that the bending rigidity of the Chancellor is 18% less than the Waja but 12% more than the Perdana while torsional rigidity is just 8% less than the Waja’s (and 12% better than the Perdana).

Reading light on C-pillars and vanity mirrors on ceiling are two of the extra features on the Chancellor.

Extended console for the rear has air-conditioner vents (but not controls) and a DVD player with retractable LCD screen

The rear seating is intended for only two occupants. Backrests can fold flat, extending boot floor length.

Front half of cabin is not much different from standard Waja but ambience is higher class

Exclusive sill plate

Suspension setting have been changed to cope with extra weight as well as different weight distribution, with the emphasis on comfort

This high degree of rigidity benefits vehicle dynamics and more importantly, provides sufficient resistance during an accident. According to Hajjah Nor Shamsiah, an engineer responsible for vehicle integration on the project, the Chancellor can pass the structural criteria for the EuroNCAP and ECE crash tests. However, as airbags are not fitted, it is unlikely to have a score as good as the three stars which the UK airbag-equipped version (known as the Impian) has achieved in an actual EuroNCAP test. It’s puzzling that Proton chose not to install airbags in the Chancellor, a flagship model which it hopes to also sell in other markets. It cannot be said that airbags cannot be fitted since there are Wajas fitted with them. Perhaps the need to complete the program and start production in time to supply the cars for the ASEAN Summit made it impossible to carry out the necessary calibration process for the airbag sensors (due to the different weight of the model, the calibration would be different from that of the standard model).

Because of the increased weight (not revealed), it was only logical to use a more powerful engine and having found it a complex task interfacing the Renault 1.8-litre engine in the Waja, it was probably decided that using a Mitsubishi engine would be safer and faster. The obvious choice was the imported 6A12 24-valve V6 in the Perdana, a proven engine and one which has a decent power output of 110 kW/149.6 ps. However, it was not a case of merely dropping the V6 in because it is a bigger engine and the mounting points are also different from the 1.6-litre engine.

"We had to design a new mounting bracket for the engine and another one for the transmission," said Puan Nor Shamsiah. Incidentally, the transmission is the same as the Perdana’s too, ie a 4-speed electronic unit with fuzzy logic for more intelligent shifting.

Apart from these areas, re-tuning of the suspension was needed since the weight distribution is different. "The tuning was done to optimize vehicle dynamics but biased towards comfort since this type of car would be chauffeur-driven and traveling comfort would be of more importance to the occupants," said Encik Tajul.

The 250 mm of extra length has been given entirely to the rear occupants whose bucket seats are set further back. As a result, there is a lot of extra legroom to stretch out. Only two persons can be accommodated as the custom centre console extends almost to the seats. This console has additional blower vents to bring cool air right to the boss. However, he (or she) has no way to adjust the blower speed nor temperature, which is controlled from the dashboard. The armrest is also fixed with storage space inside and there’s another compartment in the depression where the armrest would normally go. The dimensions of this compartment are not large enough for a wine bottle so it might be meant for a small mineral water bottle. Interestingly, the rear backrests can also fold flat to extend the boot length - something that you don’t usually find in limousines of this sort.

The general ambience of the Chancellor’s cabin reflects its prestigious image as a flagship model that is intended for top management executives. Some extras which you won’t find in the standard model include rear vanity mirrors (illuminated) on the ceiling and reading lights on each rear roof pillar. A DVD player is installed in the rear console with a small LCD screen on top of it.

Whether customers can request for more personalized options is something that remains to be seen although it’s not out of the question. As specified in the catalogue, the Chancellor seems a bit ‘basic’ for this sort of car. Datuk Maruan Said, CEO of Proton Edar, said that if a customer needed to have a fax machine or TV in the car, that could be arranged. After all, the model is a low-volume one – only 3,000 units are planned for production over three years – so customization should be easily done.

With a car like the Chancellor, the real testing should be done in the back seat, not from behind the steering wheel. So Proton arranged a fleet of Chancellors (units earlier used for the ASEAN Summit) to ferry journalists around its plant, visiting the Medium Volume Factory where it is assembled and then to the test track. As expected, the legroom was impressive and even an American basketball player would feel comfortable. The larger side window lets in more light and if the owner manages to get a permit, a dark tint would be a good idea.

Ride comfort was not too bad for a limousine and the longer wheelbase does provide a better ride, However, it did not seem as pliant as would be expected and road imperfections could still be felt coming in. It can’t be the location of the rear seats since they are at the same point in relation to the rear axle as in the standard wheelbase model so it’s probably the damping.

2.0-litre engine is the same as the Perdana V6 but new engine and transmission mounts had to be made to install the bigger engine

Having tested the Saga Executive before, I well remember the flex on the body when it was driven on a twisty road. With the data indicating that the Chancellor has a high degree of rigidity, I did not expect the same negative impression and was not disappointed. For the most part, the car corners like a normal Waja but you still do sense that it is a longer car. Someone who is used to driving one of the larger European models would probably find nothing unusual about the Chancellor’s dynamics.

Power-wise, the Perdana engine is fine though its short-stroke, high-revving character may not be quite in keeping with the image a Chancellor is supposed to have. This sort of car is likely to be driven around town at a modest speed and low-end torque with smooth and refined power delivery would be more appropriate. Since the engine comes with a sealed ECU from Japan, Proton can’t do much about it so it is just something that will have to be accepted.

Visually, it has to be said that the Chancellor does not have the presence a limousine usually has. The styling is fine for a normal mid-sized sedan but with the extra-long doors, it looks a bit odd. In this respect, the Perdana would appear better with an extended wheelbase.

Proton expects to sell 1,000 units a year, mostly in Malaysia, and it is unlikely that there should be any problem. There is already a ‘ready customer’ – the government – and at RM138,888, companies in the private sector would also find it easy enough to buy one. If nothing else, many company owners who may now have a Perdana can upgrade to a Chancellor.

"Team Chancellor" from Vehicle Program C which worked on the flagship model since October 2004.