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Satria Neo CPS - A handsome devil

29 JULY 2009 8 COMMENTS BY TRAFFIC MAG

While it’s easy to justify what really is our favourite or not, we didn’t have a clear result while debating on the new Satria Neo CPS. Sure enough, almost every time the car is brought onto the dining table, we’d be listening to one side saying the car is perfect, while the other side will say that it doesn’t fit their physical attribute.

While many would probably know by now that the car is running on the new CPS (Cam Profile Switching) engine, which spurts out 125hp at 6500rpm and 150Nm of torque at 4500rpm, we have to understand that this is a revised CamPro engine. To the motorheads out there, you’ll probably already know that it’ll take some hard revving to get the most out of the car.

The CPS engine will run on low cam profiling under 4400rpm and will switch to high cam profiling once the rev meter reaches 4400rpm. This will give a sudden boost of power. Because it runs on low cam profile at the lower range and only switches to high cam profiling late in the rev range, the driver will need to shift gears quite late to stay in the powerband. The engine will struggle a little to get back in the powerband if you were to hit, let say around 3500rpm, every when you shift gear.

It’ll be interesting to know whether the user can set the switch themselves, probably to a lower range, but it’ll defeat the purpose of having an economical engine in the first place.

Yes, the Neo CPS is an economical car. Because it runs only on low cam profiling at most of the time, the fuel needed is lesser. Obviously, more power means more fuel. So when the rev meter reaches 4400rpm and the high cam profiling kicks in, fuel usage will be increased.

While we can debate endlessly on the engine, it is important to note that the Neo CPS is tuned by Lotus. We have tested the car to its limit and, as expected with Lotus behind the glass, the car delivers to each and every one of our torments. This is one fun car.

If you’ve driven the Satria GTi, you’ll definitely remember how the car handles. Well, we can safely say that the car handles better than the Satria GTi, with more surprises on its wheels. While handling is a lot better, sadly we can’t say the same for the engine.

Apart from the handling, the engine, the new 16” alloys, the GTi spoiler, the rear diffuser and a few here and there other upgrades on the Neo CPS, it’s pretty much similar to the previous Neo. But having said that, the Neo CPS still deserve to be looked at and considered as the car’s performance, both in handling and power, is not similar at all to the normal Neo.

Now we’ve reached the deciding factor of the car.

Some drivers, such as me for instance, thought that driving the Neo is more fun than driving his father’s old car, but other people would beg to differ quite strongly. While we can hear comments like it’ll give headaches when driven because of the windshield, or the roof is too low, or too many blind spots, or the seats are uncomfortable, or the cheap-looking interior, or the size is a tad too small, or the left feet keep hitting the footrest, remember that the Neo in general is not aimed toward drivers reaching their fifties.

These comments came from both petite and huge drivers, but I’m not that small either. I do know others who drives a Neo and did so quite comfortably.

So where do the differences start?

Well, sadly it’ll go all the way back to preferences. You will need to sit in it, drive it around and feel the car for yourself before passing a judgement. Sure, the car might look nice, but it might not fit you. As for me, I enjoyed driving the Neo CPS and hoping to own it one day, prereferably with a turbocharger or better still a supercharger sitting in the engine bay, 18” wheels slammed to scrap the tarmac, smoked lights and Clarion sound system brightening up my day.

More info on Proton Neo CPS website.

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