1 Oct 1997
By CHRIS HARRIS
Proton facelifted and revised the old Mitsubishi CC Lancer two-door coupe to create the M21 Coupe, hoping that it would lift the image of the economy car maker from Malaysia.
In fact the M21 Coupe was better in many ways than the Lancer original, with a gutsy 99kW/163Nm 1.8-litre DOHC 16V four-cylinder engine engaged to a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox, providing plenty of performance.
Equipment levels were high (and included a driver’s airbag, anti-lock brakes, air-con, a CD player, power windows, sports seats, alloy wheels and power steering), but ride comfort and the dated cabin ambience weren’t.
But buyer apathy prompted Proton to pull the M21 plug in late ’00.
