A leading car rental...
A leading car rental firm has reported a drop in the number of its customers prosecuted for speeding – but the number of general road fines has rocketed. National Car Rental, which has 40,000 vehicles in the UK and forwards penalties to the hirer, says the number of traffic fines is twice as high as last year.
Auto Express magazine...
Auto Express magazine can reveal the newcomer undisguised. Called the SRM, the three-door shown in the mag is in flagship high-performance trim, thought to be designated by the "SRM 24" number plates.
Based on the same platform as the larger Gen2, the newcomer is the Satria hatchback replacement model, hence the SRM designation. The car will represent a huge improvement over its predecessor, which struggled for sales.
And as our pictures show, it has a sharp, modern look. Under the bonnet, entry-level models are likely to be powered by a new 1.4-litre version of Proton"s CamPro engine, which appears in 1.6-litre form in the Gen2. Buyers can expect vastly improved underpinnings, but to ensure it offers the ride and handling UK buyers expect, Proton has called in the experts. Engineers at Lotus - which the Malaysian firm owns - have fine-tuned the chassis. The SRM is expected to appear before the end of the year, along with the new compact five-door TRM city car.