Top Rank: Ten heroically rare Proton Wira models

The Proton Wira was Proton’s second-ever model right after the Saga and just like the first national car, the Wira sold like hotcakes. In fact, between its introduction in 1993 to its final year of production in 2009, 952,216 units of the heroically-named model were sold.

Based on the fourth-generation Mitsubishi Lancer, Proton utilised the platform of the Wira on various other models including the Satria, Putra, and Arena. The Wira was also one of the first widely exported Proton models.

The history of the Wira definitely deserves its own article but apart from the usual sedan and Aeroback guises, it was also sold with various engines and unique, limited edition variants.

For now, we’d like to specifically focus on those rare and unique models. We’ve managed to find ten of them for our list, so without any delays, let’s start with the tenth most unique Wira model.

10. Proton Wira 2.0 Diesel

Diesel passenger cars weren’t and still aren’t popular in Malaysia but Proton still produced the first locally-produced diesel passenger car in 1996 with the Wira 2.0 Diesel.

Powering it is a 2.0-litre SOHC 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated 4D68 engine. The 4D68 was, like most of Proton’s engines at the time, sourced from Mitsubishi and was called the Sirius Diesel, producing 64 PS.

The engine was Euro 1 compliant and there was even a turbodiesel variant (TD or TDi) that was only offered in Europe which produced 80 PS.

To appeal to buyers, the Wira Diesel was entitled to a 50% road tax as a cleaner and more value-saving choice. However, even with the incentive, sales were generally poor as the road tax rate was still higher on diesel-powered private vehicles than petrol-powered ones of the same displacement (until the tax was revised in 2008).

Not even fleet sales were helping for the Wira Diesel and the variant was discontinued in 2000 after only 4 years. At the time of launch, the Wira Diesel started from RM 56,567.95 (solid) and RM 57,249.81 (metallic).

9. Proton Wira Special Edition (WiSE)

The 1.5 Special Edition, which is also known as the SE or WiSE by Wira fans, is probably the raciest-looking Wira Aeroback to have been released by Proton. It featured a more aerodynamic exterior which was recognised by its sports skirts and optional huge GT rear wing that was more for show than substance.

Elsewhere, the WiSE also came with bucket seats, a sports exhaust, a tuned suspension, a red speedometer, an aluminium gear knob, aluminium pedals, and 16-inch GTi-spec wheels.

Power coming from the tried and tested 4G15 MPI engine was boosted by 8%, which produced 90 PS @ 6,000 rpm and 126 Nm @3,000 rpm. The WiSE was offered with 2 transmissions, a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.

Starting from RM 49,000 during its launch in 2004, we still think that, despite the riced-out looks, the WiSE offered buyers value and made the Wira looked more modern. Bear in mind, the Wira was showing its age, so this injection of youthfulness was just what the doctor ordered. The WiSE only came in two colours, Racing Red and Black Rider.

8. Proton Wira 1.6 Millennium Edition

20 years ago, the world entered the new millennium, and to celebrate that, Proton released a special edition of the Wira Aeroback that was given a very cool metallic Lake Green paint job.

Proton added some trims to enhance the looks of the Wira Aeroback for the new millennium including a revised grille, a front skirt, a bee-sting antenna, and new sports rims aside from the paintwork.

The Millennium Edition was powered by a standard 1.6-litre 4G92 (113 PS/137 Nm) that was mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. It’s a fairly forgotten special edition of the Wira and this would be followed up by its sedan twin that was released a year later.

7. Proton Wira 1.6 Thomas Cup Edition (TCE)

The 2000 Thomas Cup was held in Malaysia eight years after the capital last hosted the premier badminton competition. While the Malaysian team’s win couldn’t be repeated, EON released a special edition to commemorate the host nation.

Widely seen as the sedan twin to the Millennium edition, the Wira 1.6 Thomas Cup Edition was based on the popular 1.6 XLi variant with an exquisite metallic blue paintjob. At RM 63,182.67 (inclusive of insurance), the TCE is priced similar to the Wira 1.6 XLi but comes with some enhanced features.

These include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, semi-bucket leather seats, front skirting, special Thomas Cup sticker decals, and a bee-sting antenna. Only 300 units of the TCE were made.

6. Proton Wira Executive 1.5/1.6

Proton’s three first sedan models, the Saga, the Wira, and the Perdana, interestingly, each had a long-wheelbase (LWB) variant. What made the Wira more unique than its two sedan siblings was that the LWB was also available for the Wira Aeroback.

Proton called the LWB Wira variants the Executive which extended the wheelbase by 254 mm compared to the standard Wira (2,500 mm).

The Wira Executive had bigger rear legroom but apart from a few additional wood trims, the interior remained looking like the standard Wira.

Proton offered 2 engine choices for the Wira Executive which were the 1.6-litre 4G92P (113 PS/137 Nm) and the 1.5-litre 4G15P (85 PS/123 Nm). These were paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and a 3-speed automatic transmission respectively.

The Wira Executive range in 1996 are priced below:

• 1.5 GL Sedan – RM 71,969.58
• 1.6 XLi Sedan – RM 80,981.67
• 1.6 XLi Aeroback – RM 79,160.80
• 1.6 XLi Aeroback (with accessories) – RM 83,073.02

5. Proton Wira Grand Limousine 1.6

What if you saw the Executive and thought it needs to be longer to satisfy your needs? Well, here’s the ultra-rare Proton Wira Grand Limousine, of which 25 units were built, making it rarer than the Proton Satria R3.

It has an additional wheelbase length of 915 mm from the standard Wira sedan. Adding to the Wira limo’s legend is the fact that they were assembled by a coachbuilder in Australia, not locally.

While the outside of the Wira Grand Limousine looks like a stretched Wira with a vinyl roof, step inside and you get some exquisitely luxurious features including:

• Television with video player
• Boomerang TV antenna
• Connolly leather upholstery
• Ottoman seat rests
• Privacy glass divider between front and rear occupants

• Driver intercom
• Wool carpets
• Dash wood trims
• Individual rear reading lamps
• Soft-touch PVC roof lining

In terms of powertrains, the Wira Grand Limousine is powered solely by a 1.6-litre 4G93 engine (113 PS/137 Nm). EON listed the Wira Grand Limousine at RM 108,358.97 in 1996. Accounting for inflation, the Wira Grand Limousine would cost RM183,400.23 in today’s money. So, the rare ride we featured once sounded like a bargain now, doesn’t it?

4. Proton Wira 1.8 EXi PERT (C99S)

With the infamous goal post spoiler delete and the same metallic Lake Green colour as the Wira Millennium, the 1.8 EXi PERT definitely looked like a sleeper.

As a matter of fact, this Wira shared some similarities with the Wira TCE, down to its front splitter, bee-sting antenna, transparent signal lights, and sport rims.

However, despite the PERT name, this wasn’t as potent as the Wira ‘tiang gol’. The PERT edition was powered by the same 1.8-litre DOHC 4G93, but mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission instead.

Inside, it felt more luxurious too with leather seats and silver trim around the instrument panel and radio. All that placed the 1.8 EXi PERT at a slightly more budget price of RM 71,947.86 in 2003 compared to the 1.8 EXi LE.

3. Proton Wira 1.8 EXi LE RS (C99S)

Here’s the more exquisite version of the 1.8 EXi LE, the RS (Racing Sport/Rally Sport) variant which was catered for the more hardcore of Wira fans. With 50 units made, twice more than the Grand Limousine, the RS was a lightweight Wira with most equipment deleted including the power windows.

That’s not all, Proton even threw out the Recaro seats, and Momo gear knob and steering wheel which resulted in the RS to only weigh 1,030 kg. Basically, the interior is the same as Wira 1.3.

To make it competitive in motorsports, Proton claims the ECU in the RS utilised an MMC circuit board which was tweaked by Proton Motorsport. As a result, there were no rev cuts or even speed cuts which saw the RS capable of reaching 9,000 rpm and a speedometer that maxed out at 260 km/h. Needless to say, it’s the most hardcore of all the Wiras.

2. Proton Wira 1.8 EXi LE (C99S)

Of course, no list about the rarest of Malaysia’s automotive hero is incomplete without the legendary 1.8 EXi LE. Considered as the holy grail among Proton Wira fans, the Wira C99 is recognisable by its goalpost wing which we ranked among the wildest wings on a production car.

Built specifically to fulfill the FIA’s homologation requirement of a minimum of 2,500 road-legal units in order to qualify for the Group N World Rally Championship, the Wira C99 was Proton’s first model to be equipped with a DOHC engine when it was launched in 1996.

Besides the kitted-out aesthetics, twin exhaust tailpipes, 14-inch 5-spoke AAC wheels, and bigger front and rear brakes, the bodyshell was toughened thanks to 20-point double stitch welds throughout as well as a reinforcement bar. These reinforcements also helped to reduce body roll to a minimum.

Powering this Wira that’s straight outta competition is a naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre 4G93P that produces 140 PS @ 6,500 rpm and 167 Nm @ 5,500 rpm, paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Enhancing the competition pedigree are Recaro Njoy semi-bucket seats with Recaro fabric trims, a Momo Daytona 3-spoke steering wheel, and a leather Momo gearshift knob. The price for all of this? RM 72,235.10 including insurance in 1998. A worthy price for a worthy hero.

1. Proton Sembilu

Surely, you’re surprised that the Proton Wira 1.8 EXi LE took the second spot in our list but there really is a more potent edition of the Wira and it is called the Proton Sembilu.

This often-forgotten edition of the Wira is not only the most unique here but it’s also possibly the rarest one of them all. We have covered a full story on this exquisite Wira right here.

Unveiled in 1994, the Sembilu was considered as the father to the Wira C99 and also a tale of what could have been. It might look like a dressed-up Wira but really that’s just hiding what’s underneath it.

Powering the Sembilu is a turbocharged 2.0-litre 4G63T taken from none other than the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Even maddening is the all-wheel drive system which is carried over from the Evo as well. Talk about a special Wiralution!

While the Sembilu’s tech was carried over into Proton’s own PERT rally project, it’s a shame that the public never got to experience Proton’s own Lancer Evolution. The project was killed off after the higher-ups at JPJ deemed the Sembilu to be too much for Malaysians. Absolute killjoys.

On the bright side, what rose from the Sembilu’s canned project was the holy grail with its iconic goalpost spoiler, the Wira C99.

Conclusion

Those are the truly rare and unique Wira models that were launched throughout its 17 years in production. With nearly a million sold, the Wira was definitely highly sought after by Malaysians, with its effect even resonating among criminals, unfortunately.

While the Wira officially ended sales in 2009, it continued to be sold alongside its replacements, the Gen.2 (Aeroback) which was launched in 2004, and the Persona (Sedan) in 2007. Thus, proving the model's popularity among Malaysians.

The Proton Wira’s legacy will truly last through the test of time and remains a Malaysian hero in Malaysia’s automotive history. Which of these rare Proton Wiras do you fancy?