Proton Saga - First Generation

The Proton Saga is the first car produced by Malaysian auto manufacturer Proton. Originally based on the 1983 Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore, the Saga first debuted in September 1985 and retained its core design for two decades, before a successor designed in-house by Proton was launched to replace the aging platform in 2008. The Saga is currently the longest surviving model produced by Proton, soldiering on for nearly 22 years.

Since 1985, the Proton Saga and its variants contributed to most of Proton's sales and revenues. The saloon variants of the car are also popular among Malaysian taxi drivers and operators who need cheap vehicles with good fuel economy.

Saga (1985–1991)

The Proton Saga was launched in September 1985 by Malaysia's Prime Minister at that time, Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad. Before the production of Proton Saga, a contest was held to choose the name of the first national car, and the name Saga was chosen from the winner of the contest. The winner of the contestant was Ismail Jaafar[1], a retired military soldier. When asked why he chose this particular name, he replied as "saga" (Abrus precatorius) is a type of seed commonly found in Malaysia, and that the Proton Saga is as strong as the saga seed.

The first Proton Saga that rolled off the production line was presented to the Malaysian National Museum as a symbol of the beginning of the Malaysian automotive industry. Tun Dr. Mahathir also used a new Proton Saga to cross Penang Bridge during the opening ceremony of the bridge on 14 September 1985.

Early Saga models were powered by SOHC 8-valve 4-cylinder petrol engines sourced from Mitsubishi, available in both 1.3- and 1.5-litre displacements. Both engines were available with a 5-speed manual transmission, but a 3-speed Mitsubishi Tri-matic automatic was available with the 1.5-litre engine in 1990.

The Saga was originally offered as a 4-door sedan, followed by the addition of a hatchback variant, introduced in 1988 as the Proton Knight and was later know as Saga Aeroback. The Proton Knight was designed for the European market as the hatchback was more popular in United Kingdom.

In 1989, Proton sold the Saga in the United Kingdom with the slogan Japanese Technology, Malaysian Style. Since then, United Kingdom contributes most of Proton's export sales. The Saga name was not used and it was simply known as the Proton 1.3 or 1.5. The UK models reverted to the dashboard used in the Mitsubishi Lancer, complete with HVAC controls not found in the domestic model.

In 1990, the line-up was revised with the introduction of 12-valve Megavalve engines, which increased power ratings to 75 bhp (56 kW) (from the original 70.5 bhp (53 kW) in the former 8-valve (Magma) version[2]) for the 1.3-litre engine, and 90 bhp (67 kW) for the 1.5-litre engine. On domestic models, the Saga also gained the "Megavalve" moniker. Minor exterior modifications included a new grill and wraparound black trim pieces. In addition, rear seat belts and a third brake light were fitted as standard.

Saga Iswara (1992–2008)

Since the 1990s, the saloon variant of the Proton Saga Iswara dominated as the preferable car model for taxicabs in Malaysia, as seen with these examples in Kuala Lumpur.
Since the 1990s, the saloon variant of the Proton Saga Iswara dominated as the preferable car model for taxicabs in Malaysia, as seen with these examples in Kuala Lumpur.

In 1992, the Saga was given a facelift and its name expanded as Proton Saga Iswara (also known in short as Proton Iswara), after a species of butterfly in Sarawak. Modifications included slimmer headlights, plastic bumpers, side mouldings, coloured door handles, grooved taillight clusters and rear number plate repositioned to the bumper. This particular model is used as taxis in Malaysia and some are converted to NGV. Due to the modification, boot space was reduced by half to accommodate the NGV tank and there are only a few petrol stations by Malaysian oil-giant Petronas in the Klang Valley that sell natural gas, although there are plans underway to increase the number of stations selling it at various locations around Kuala Lumpur.

Models exported to Singapore and the United Kingdom were available with multi-point fuel injection and catalytic converters to meet Euro I emissions standards. This model was known as the Proton MPi in the United Kingdom. The introduction of the Proton Persona in 1993 replaced the corresponding models in the Saga range in the United Kingdom and this continued until the entire range was replaced in 1996.

In 2001, to regain sales and be competitive with Perodua, Proton introduced a special edition of Saga Iswara Sport based on the Aeroback version which included a new bodykit, jewel-effect headlights and Altezza lights, among other changes. It was only available in silver, with a manual transmission and a 1.3-litre engine. The original Saga Iswara Aeroback was still available in a 1.5-litre engine.

While the Iswara Aeroback underwent further modifications in the domestic market to become the Saga LMST in 2003, the saloon variant remained on sale unchanged.

The Proton Saga Iswara Aeroback would later serve as the basis of the re-released Proton Sagas in the 2000s.


Saga (2003–2008)

The 2007 Proton Saga was the second iteration of the re-released Saga.

As a loose successor to the Saga Iswara Sport, Proton gave the Iswara a new facelift and renamed it back to Saga (or know as Saga LMST by local car community) in 2003. The interior has an entirely new dashboard, door panels and an instrument panel with a digital display consisting of an odometer, a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge. Meanwhile, the exterior received new headlights and taillights and colour-coded bumpers and wing mirrors. Proton retuned the 1.3-litre carburettor engine, and fitted a new exhaust system, increasing its power rating to 83 bhp (62 kW). It is only available with the 5-speed manual transmission.

On 5 March, 2007, Proton launched the 50th Merdeka Anniversary Promotion in Malaysia, where the announced new price of the Proton Saga at that time was RM26,999. The promotion was made as a support to Malaysia's 50th Merdeka Day and also to thank Proton's customers for their support since Proton Saga was first launched,[3] receiving several minor cosmetic changes. The move was also an attempt by Proton to steal potential sales from Perodua's then-forthcoming budget supermini, the Viva. That year, the Proton Saga became the second best selling car behind Perodua MyVi and the best selling saloon car in Malaysia, with over 15,000 orders.