Report: Proton Emas plug-in hybrid minicar to hit the streets by late 2012

Proton is an automotive nameplate that few in the United States will recognize since none of the company's cars have ever been sold here. However, the Malaysian automaker, which has largely made do with cast-off Mitsubishi platforms, wants to make a splash with something more modern. Proton has owned UK-based Lotus for more than a decade and wants to leverage that company's growing expertise in alternative powertrains.

Within two and a half years, Proton hopes to launch a production version of the Emas mini-car concept that it showed in Geneva this week. The plan is for a plug-in hybrid version similar to the concept to the lead the way, followed by a version with a conventional powertrain. Proton has big plans for the small car, and said it hopes to sell 150,000 copies of the Emas annually.

Photos by Noah Joseph / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]