First look: Proton's Savvy is a bargain

PROTON Cars Australia is confident its Savvy hatchback will benefit from the current small-car boom when its goes on sale from April 1 with a $13,990 recommended retail price.

Unveiled at the Melbourne International Motor Show earlier this month, the five-door Savvy will be fitted with a high level of standard equipment, including alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, power windows, an alarm, central locking, reverse-parking sensors, air-conditioning and power steering.

The Savvy uses a Renault-developed 55kW/105Nm 1.2-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine that endows the car with a 0-100km/h time of 12.6 seconds and top speed of 175km/h. The automatic version costs another $1000 and uses what Proton calls an "auto manual transmission" or pseudo-automated manual.

The manual's combined fuel consumption figure is an impressive 5.3L/100km.

Proton Cars Australia believes the Savvy can snare between 160 and 200 sales per month.

"With the emphasis on fuel efficiency – you just have to look at the success of the Hyundai Getz ... we are very hopeful," said Proton Cars Australia sales and marketing general manager, Steven Thomas.