Geneva 2010: Proton Emas gets by with a little help from its friends

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Lotus, MISC

ItalDesign-Giugiargo Proton Emas – Click above for high-res image gallery

If Proton is going to make it on the global scene amidst the big players, it’s going to need some help. Fortunately for the Malaysian state-owned automaker, help isn’t far behind.

With the world’s major carmakers bringing more and more of their design and manufacturing work in-house, firms like ItalDesign Giugiaro have been left scrounging for new clients. Proton is one such, and this is what they came up with: the Emas city car concept.

A sharp design – rendered in five-door, three-door and outback-style Country forms – will get Proton only so far. For the mechanical side of things, they had but to turn to their (relatively) recent acquisition, Lotus. The British engineering firm developed the Lotus Range Extender hybrid powertrain propelling the Emas – to say nothing of the new Evora 414E hybrid – and by all indications had a hand in the chassis development as well, a traditional core competence for the makers of the Elise and Exige.

Will the spritely Proton make it to production? There’s no official confirmation yet, but you don’t bring in ringers – some of the best in the field at that – unless you’re planning on making a run for the pennant. While the regular season is in progress, why not have a look at our live shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Proton EMAS