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Cut-price GTI for SA

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The Proton "SRM" undergoing development. No official pictures, or a name, are yet available for the car.
The Proton "SRM" undergoing development. No official pictures, or a name, are yet available for the car.

Insiders tell me the new GTI, currently dubbed SRM - for Satria Replacement Model - will be part of a lineup of SRM models that will start to come into SA from April or May this year.

However, the GTI version is not expected until more towards the end of 2006.

We have spy pictures of the new cars, and they feature modern and crisp styling, with smoothly contoured hatchback styling and steeply sloping windscreens for better aerodynamics.

Built on a shortened version of the Proton Gen-2's platform, the cars will be marketed as affordable sporting hatch to replace the Satria, which rapidly built up a cult following in markets where it is sold.

First models up for launch will get 1.3 and 1.6-litre petrol engines from the Gen-2, with the more powerful GTI model - complete with a 140 kW 1.8-litre turbo unit scheduled for later in the year, and possibly sourced from the previous model Audi A4.

No name has yet been announced for the new cars.

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