The Malaysian carmaker Proton desperately tried to make an MPV, and they repeatedly tried until they succeeded in offering a decent minivan on the market: the 2009 Exora.
Proton was on the verge of introducing new vehicles on the market. The high demand for multi-purpose vehicles determined them to try a licensed based Mitsubishi Town Box, but that was not a good recipe for the Malaysian market, and it failed after just two years. But the designers and engineers worked around the clock and revealed the Exora six years after the Proton Juara failed.

The car was designed with some inspiration from the Mitsubishi Grandis but in a good way. Exora’s front end with its ascending hood and raked A-pillars left room for a long cabin fit for up to seven passengers and a trunk in the back. There were some limitations due to the Proton P1 platform, but those were passed, and the result was a convincing-looking vehicle. In the rear, the high-mounted taillights kept them safe from small bumps and increased the vehicle’s visibility from behind.

Inside, the Exora could fit up to seven passengers. It was the first MPV designed in Malaysia, and the Proton team tried hard not to let its customers down. The interior featured a modern design, with rounded edges, soft materials, and leather seats as an option.

Under the hood, Proton installed a 1.6-liter gasoline engine mated as standard to a 5-speed manual. A 4-speed automatic was on the options list.