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Malaysian car company Proton has broadened its product base in Australia with the launch of the new Jumbuck utility.
The Jumbuck is described as a cross activity vehicle and will fill a niche left dormant in the Australian market for the past ten years or more.
The compact four- cylinder Jumbuck has been designed to deliver passenger car comfort and safety levels while meeting the demands of a workhorse vehicle.
Jumbuck will prove ideal for a wide variety of uses from city delivery operations, to tradesman's ute, farm vehicle and even as an economical and stylish lifestyle transport for urban dwellers.
Proton will bring the new Jumbuck to market in a choice of two models with a starting price of just $15,490 for the base GLi model and $17,990 for the high spec GLSi.
According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari Jumbuck will prove an attractive and practical alternative for a wide number of buyers.
"Jumbuck is well priced, well engineered and practical and is already generating enormous interest with our loyal dealer network in Australia," said Mr Startari.
"We are confident Jumbuck's strong pricing and unique place in the market can generate improved sales volume across our dealer network and provide a strong base for an expanded range of Proton cars over the next two years," he added.
"There have been no small four cylinder passenger car based utilities available in Australia since the now extinct Subaru Brumby and before that the Datsun 1200 ute.
"While Jumbuck does not boast 4WD our research has shown that many current Brumby owners would consider the Jumbuck as a logical replacement," he added.
"Good ground clearance, a roomy and very useable load area and a strong payload makes Jumbuck a strong proposition in both the city and the country," Mr Startari said.
The Jumbuck boasts a load capacity of 0.817 cubic metres with its 1.63 metre long tray and deep 415mm sides as well as a 550kg payload.
Jumbuck's tailgate has been engineered to take a load of up to 300kgs adding to its practical load area.
The competitive pricing and high equipment levels add to Jumbuck's appeal.
The Jumbuck GLi comes equipped with factory fitted air-conditioning, power steering, AM/FM CD audio system, central locking, remote keyless entry, alarm and panic button as standard.
The higher spec Jumbuck GLSi is equipped with cloth trim, shadow tone metallic paint, 14" alloy wheels, electric remote mirrors and power windows along with a four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system at a price of $17,990.
Both are powered by Proton's well proven 1.5 litre, 12 valve OHC fuel injected four-cylinder and are available with five-speed manual transmission only.
The Jumbuck comes with Proton's Quality Care package, which includes a 3-year/100,000 kilometre warranty along with 24 hour roadside assistance for the first three years of ownership.
Jumbuck Delivers Strong Engineering Package to Cope With Australian Conditions
Proton and Lotus engineers have used an innovative ‘torquebox' connection to meld the passenger car monocoque of the Proton Persona to a ladder type rear frame to create the Proton Jumbuck utility.
The transverse torque box concept was the engineering solution needed to create the Jumbuck and make it strong enough to cope with load carrying, rough roads and tough treatment.
The result is Jumbuck delivers a payload of 550kg, rivalling many bigger and more expensive passenger based utes.
The use of the transverse torque box has enabled engineers to achieve a strong, rigid and durable body structure with a 50 percent improvement in torsional rigidity compared with the Persona it is based on.
The Jumbuck was also designed with safety in mind and meets all current crash test legislation.
Jumbuck meets and exceeds ADR 69 requirements for full frontal crash absorption at a speed of 48km/h as well as meeting and exceeding ADR 72 and ECER 95 for side impact at 50km/h.
Using advanced CAD/CAE systems engineers explored the limits of the Jumbuck's bending and torsional stiffness to ensure its durability and handling across a variety of conditions.
The need for Jumbuck to cope with a wide spectrum of road surfaces from rough bush tracks in the back blocks of a Malaysian jungle or the outback of Australian to the smooth motorway conditions of Europe meant suspension tuning was an imperative.
The Jumbuck uses a McPherson Strut front suspension set up at the front and beam axle with single parabolic leaf springs and gas filled shock absorbers at the rear.
Ground clearance has been increased by 20mm over its passenger car sibling the Persona without adversely affecting its handling and ride characteristics.
Jumbuck boasts ground clearance of 170mm, almost 40mm more than Holden's Ute.
This has been achieved by using a longer front strut body with longer travel shock absorbers which also provide better wheel articulation and sure-footedness.
Proton's front engine, front drive configuration, with the engine over the drive wheels, delivers strong traction and stability in a range of conditions.
Lotus played a key role in ensuring Jumbuck delivers passenger car levels of on road and off road handling and stability.
Large diameter 256mm disc brakes using the same callipers as the Proton Waja are used at the front with 229mm drums at the rear coupled with a Load Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) to ensure uniform braking no matter what the load.
Jumbuck Marks Start of a New Beginning for Proton in Australia
Proton's new Jumbuck cross activity vehicle marks the start of a re-launch of the Proton marque in Australia, building a strong volume base for the Malaysian company ahead of an array of new models to be launched over the next two years.
The Jumbuck will provide a boost in sales volume by up to 2000 units per year and give the marque a valuable niche in the market.
According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari, new revitalised products will be the platform from which Proton will launch its corporate branding and image in Australia.
"It is fair to say that Proton has had several false starts in Australia and made a number of mistakes, however there is now a plan in place to move forward and create an awareness of the brand around its new products," said Mr Startari.
"It is a staged plan which will see the company build its profile and dealer network on a state by state basis gathering marketing thrust and volume on the way," he added.
"Clearly to spend vast amounts of money on marketing the current range of re-engineered Mitsubishi platforms would have been folly and so the company has been in a holding pattern for the past year or so.
"There is still a way to go however the Jumbuck is the start of the build up towards being a strong medium volume player in the Australian market."
Proton has declared it does not want to be a player in the high volume, low margin market instead looking toward slowly building its reputation for strong engineering and innovation using the resources of its subsidiary Lotus.
The first step according to John Startari will be the appointment of additional dealers starting in Queensland and moving to Victoria, South Australia and WA on a state by state basis.
"We have to walk before we can run and building on the strengths in those regions is the first step," he said.
"Proton's plans for the biggest and most difficult market in Sydney and NSW will be rolled out once some of the new model line-up capable of interesting strong dealers and the buying public is revealed.
"I envisage this will be around late 2004 or early 2005 and will be critical in positioning Proton for the future," he said.
"The Proton Cars Direct experiment in Sydney has been rolled back, which while not working as well as had been expected here, has been a success in Malaysia."
Mr Startari concedes that the low awareness levels and low sales volumes of Proton at the moment make it difficult for the marque to be taken seriously in the volume conscious Australian market.
"However while some industry pundits may dismiss Proton as irrelevant in this market, they have not seen the company's future product plans," said Mr Startari.
"The reality is there is a total car park of almost 20,000 Protons to service in Australia and to have pulled down the shutters would have not only alienated the customers, but made it three times as difficult to come back in the future.
"Proton has reduced the size of its headquarters operation in Sydney, lowered costs and improved efficiencies and learned a lot for the future," he said.
A new greenfields manufacturing site currently underway north of Kuala Lumpur as well as other improvements in efficiencies and costs will mean bringing product to market with a much more competitive pricing structure.
"There has already been evidence of this with Jumbuck and with the re-positioning of Waja and more is to come," he concluded.
The Jumbuck comes ahead of the following new model launches by Proton in Australia.
— New competitively priced 1.8 and CAMPRO 1.6 engined Waja sedans 3rd quarter 2003
— New Proton designed B class five door hatch (Persona replacement) 1st quarter 2004
— New Proton designed A class 3 door hatch (Satria replacement)
3rd quarter 2004
— New Proton designed baby car 1st quarter 2005
— Sports coupe and mid size D class sedan mid 2005
— Small 4WD and people mover late 2005.
Jumbuck Has the Space and Capacity to Do the Job
Proton's new Jumbuck utility has a load area and weight capacity that belies its compact external dimensions.
Although Jumbuck's overall external dimensions are half a metre shorter and 100mm narrower than Ford's Falcon Ute the compact Proton has a cargo carrying area that is only 188mm shorter and just 4mm narrower.
In addition the practical Proton tray is 5mm deeper than the Falcon and boasts a cubic capacity of 0.81 cubic metres, just 0.08cubic metres less than the big Ford.
The compact externals coupled with the capacious load area will make the Proton Jumbuck popular with inner city delivery drivers including couriers and merchants as well as with tradesmen needing to get into tight situations.
According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari the Jumbuck will surprise with its versatility and practicality.
"Clearly we are not chasing the Ford and Holden buyers but until now if you wanted a car-based utility in Australia they were your only choice," said Mr Startari.
"Jumbuck means that you can now have the comfort and safety of a passenger car based utility in an economical four cylinder package without compromising on room or capacity," he added.
With a payload of 550kgs Jumbuck delivers strongly for a small ute, a factor that will prove popular with courier and delivery drivers but also extend its appeal to the farm sector, automotive repair shops and spare parts operations.
Jumbuck's payload represents 52 percent of its overall kerb mass putting it on par with Holden's Ute and three percent better than the Falcon.
In addition to its spacious load tray the Jumbuck's rear tailgate is rated at 300kgs allowing secured longer loads to be carried with the gate in the down position increasing its practicality
While enjoying an advantage over its bigger rivals in external dimensions the Jumbuck's cabin also offers substantial leg, head and shoulder room making it a comfortable place for driver and passenger alike.
Lotus Plays Major Role in Development of Proton Jumbuck
Proton's wholly owned subsidiary Lotus Engineering has played a key role in the development of the new Proton Jumbuck.
Lotus provided solutions to a number of key engineering challenges in bringing the Jumbuck concept to fruition.
Proton's brief to Lotus was based around developing a vehicle which would be built in relatively low volumes, with minimal investment in additional tooling and alteration to existing manufacturing facilities and procedures.
Lotus responded by closely considering materials, design for manufacture and cost implications.
The use of Lotus Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) techniques enabled Proton to achieve a 49 percent increase in payload without significant changes to the front half of the vehicle.
According to Rupert Wilkins, Lotus Engineering's project leader on the Jumbuck assignment, maintaining structural integrity was the key design criteria.
"Integrating the newly designed load tray rear end of the Jumbuck with the existing front end of the Proton Persona required a solution that maintained structural integrity particularly given the need to carry significantly increased payload," said Mr Wilkins.
Design and engineering for Jumbuck was conducted in parallel using digital 2D/3D styling data, integrated with a simultaneous engineering process based on Catia CAD software.
Throughout this process Lotus' manufacturing engineers were integrated into the overall project, developing design feasibility and process planning requirements, to ensure the design was compatible with Proton's manufacturing equipment methods.
The design and materials that the Lotus engineers developed for Jumbuck enabled the assembly process to operate on a low volume basis with little incremental investment in manufacturing plant.
Lotus also carried out development on ride and handling, brakes and NVH reduction as well as directing the Jumbuck's durability testing program.
Computer modelling using a CAE package allowed simulated scenario testing of the gearbox to ensure suitability for projected payload and usage patterns in the real world.
"This project has demonstrated how Proton's use of its Lotus Engineering resource can achieve robust solutions to whole vehicle engineering challenges," said Rupert Wilkins.
"By exploiting our steel-body capabilities and vehicle engineering expertise we have enabled Proton to bring a new vehicle to market quickly and efficiently," Mr Wilkins added.
Lotus Engineering is a division of Lotus Group PLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton Cars.
It is an internationally recognised automotive design consultant headquartered at Hethel in Norfolk UK with additional operations in Ann Arbor, Michigan USA and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Louts Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the World's leading car manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development to full production prototype build.
Recent projects include turn-key design and development of the GM L850 world engine and the Aston Martin Vanquish demonstrating Lotus flair for innovative product design.
Projects currently underway include design and development of a camless engine, turn-key design of a V8 diesel engine, turn-key design and development of a new ‘B' class car and the design of a dramatic family of niche vehicles for MY2005 and beyond.
Lotus Engineering Malaysia Ltd is based at Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) in Kuala Lumpur enabling Lotus to capitalise upon the facility's highly developed IT infrastructure.
This facilitates fast data communications with all of Lotus' worldwide sites ensure that projects are carried out across several time zones with global project management.
Lotus Malaysia has recruited highly educated graduate and postgraduate engineers and integrated them in to its innovative ways and technologies. The goal is to help to build Malaysia as a world leading R&D centre which will both work in partnership and complement the existing mature manufacturing base.
Range of Accessories to Add Versatility to New Jumbuck Ute
A range of innovative canopies, roll bars, ladder bars and tray liners will be available as factory fitted accessories adding versatility to Proton's new Jumbuck Utility.
An innovative fast back fibreglass canopy featuring gas lift struts and integrated lock is the most striking accessory in the range, turning the load tray of the Jumbuck into an enclosed cabin where luggage, tools and other valuable equipment can be stored with confidence.
A solid fibreglass tonneau lid for the Jumbuck load tray will also be available again providing an integrated lock and sealing strip for security and weatherproofing.
A traditional vinyl tonneau cover as well as a tough polyethylene tray liner to prevent damage and scratches while carrying abrasive loads.
Factory designed ‘rollbars' as well as specially designed ladder bars will ensure that longer loads from surfboards to extension ladders will be available from Proton dealers for the Jumbuck.
Bonnet and headlamp protectors, drivers window weathershields, nudge bars, tow bars and window tints will be available as genuine accessories through Proton dealers.
According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari the accessory line-up has been developed in Malaysia and Australia in answer to particular market demands.
"Jumbuck is going to be used for a wide range of operations from carrying told to toting surfboards so we have tried to provide as many practical accessories to facilitate as many different uses as possible," said Mr Startari.
"Both the GLi base model and GLSi boast high levels of standard equipment particularly in the cabin where features such as air-conditioning, power steering and AM/FM/CD audio system make it an attractive package," he added.
"We have tried to include accessories that add versatility and ensure it appeals to a wide cross section of people," he said.
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