PROTON is planning to drive into the next century with a completely new product range. The Malaysian company's next-generation line-up will include an upper medium car spawning variants which will include estate, cabriolet and even a van, revealed chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel at Frankfurt.

'Development departments at Proton and Lotus, our subsidiary, are working flat out on the range. It is our intention to launch it at the next Frankfurt event,' he said. Mahaleel unveiled the company's Satria Cabriolet concept and described it as a taste of things to come. Based on the Compact, the cabrio has been jointly designed with a US firm and is now being assessed for production viability.

Said a spokesman: 'We have little doubt that this car will reach the UK market next year and it is likely to be offered with a choice of 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6-litre engines.'