While the chase for the new black goes on, Proton is sticking with the basics by dressing up its latest offerings in the 'VIP-ready' shade. The Malaysian carmaker rolled out four cars at once during its virtual launch earlier today. That's two 'Black Edition' models and a pair of R3 Limited Editions. And while the latter look and sound pretty rad at first glance, the end products may have fallen short of the expectations of diehard fans who have long kept their fingers crossed for substantial technical upgrades. 

Tracking back to the Black Edition variants of the Persona and Exora Black Edition; the bodywork is completely dressed in black as the name suggests, complemented by subtle gold accents on the bumpers and alloy wheels. The black treatment continues inside, courtesy of black leatherette seats, door trims and floor console. Exclusive to the Persona is a black headliner, while an overhead monitor for rear passengers bumps up the Exora's value proposition. Both models have a limited production run of 500 units each. 

Moving on to the Iriz and Saga R3 Limited Edition styled to commemorate Proton’s motorsports success; the yellow R3 livery works pretty well with the black bodywork (this is the first time the Iriz is officially sold in black). The numbers ‘82’ and ‘83’ on the side of Saga and Iriz respectively are a nod to the R3 team’s success in the 2019 Sepang 1,000-km endurance race. The Saga rides on matte grey 15-inch wheels while the Iriz gets bigger, 16-inch footwear instead. The R3 treatment also extends to the cabin with a combination of yellow trim, leatherette seats and R3 carpets. Only 500 units of the Iriz are up for grabs while the Saga is more abundant, with a 2,000-unit production run. 

Onto prices, the Saga R3 Limited Edition retails at at RM42,300 (RM4k more than the Saga 35th Anniversary Edition), while the Iriz R3 LE will cost you RM52,900 (RM2.2k more than regular Iriz). As for the Black Edition duo, the Exora starts at RM67,800 (only RM1k more than regular Exora), while the Persona comes in at RM54,700 (RM100 more than regular Persona). 

- Arif Sharif