Proton Wira

The Proton Wira is a car manufactured by Malaysian carmaker Proton. Wira is a Malay word (derived from Sanskrit) that translates into English as "Hero".

The Wira was intended as a newer alternative to the Proton Saga Iswara, a facelifted version of Proton's first model, the Proton Saga, as a flagship compact model for Proton. The Saga continued to receive minor updated until 2008, when a second generation Saga was introduced as a sub-compact model instead. The Wira was later planned to be replaced by two similar in-house designed Proton cars: The Proton Gen-2 (launched in 2003 to replace the "Aeroback" hatchback variant) and the Proton Persona (launched in 2007 to replace the saloon variant). The Proton Waja, a saloon compact, was also launched in 2001 as a earlier successor to the Wira saloon, but currently caters slightly towards more upmarket demand, below the Proton Perdana.

PERFORMANCE
In its first series, a 1.3-litre 12-valve engine was available on basic-specification Wiras. The Mitsubishi 4G15 1.5-litre 12-valve engine used in the Iswara and its predecessor the Saga was carried over unchanged. The Mitsubishi 4G92 112 PS (110 hp/82 kW) 1.6L 16-valve SOHC engine with multi-point fuel injection was introduced together with an optional 4-speed automatic transmission (and power windows for all 4 doors), a first in Proton's history. The multi-point injection versions were badged as MPi, although this was only used on the engine, and never on the trim levels (unlike 1.5 MPi GLS in the previous car, the Saga, the trim levels were simply 1.5 GLS etc.).

In 1995, the Mitsubishi 4G13 1.3-litre 12-valve engine also used in the Saga was introduced for the Wira. This was followed in 1996 by the 133 bhp (99 kW) 1.8L 16-valve DOHC engine with multi-point fuel injection, marking a first in which a Proton car was powered by a DOHC engine. At the same time, a 2.0-litre diesel-powered variant (badged as the 2.0D, or the SDi in some markets) was also offered but was later phased out in later years due to lack of interest from consumers. The diesel-powered Wira is to date the first and only diesel vehicle produced by Proton. From 1999, all engine options for the Wira in Malaysian market were fuel-injected and carbureted models were phased out.

In 2001 the Wira received suspension tuning from Lotus.