We don't really see Protons much here in America, and by "much" I mean "absolutely never at all ever ever." Like many things foreign and unseen in the US, they don't really enjoy a very good reputation. But maybe this car will open some minds.

I'm going to try something new here. Occasionally, I have vivid waking dreams of possible futures of cars and our lives with cars. Usually, these happen while I'm driving. But this time, while winching my car out of that ditch, I decided to sketch the vision.

Any kid who had Hot Wheels or Matchbox car tracks as a kid knows that cars only make it safely through the loop-the-loop about one time out of ten. Definitely worth yelling for your brother to show him when it happens, then never being able to duplicate it. Sadly, the promoters of this Proton/Lotus driving exhibition…

A woman in Kuala Lumpur crashed into a store full of superbikes after having already reversed into three other cars. Frightened and confused after the initial crashes, she accelerated straight into the bike storefront, causing an estimated $165,000 in damages.

For the 2011 season, a Malaysian team in black and gold livery named Lotus will be joined by a Malaysian team in black and gold livery named Lotus. Don't panic, we've got the org chart.

Former GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has been recruited by Lotus for its "Advisory Council," a trio of wizened auto execs who will tell Lotus and Malaysian parent Proton how to keep it real.

Like Isuzu before them, Proton occasionally utilizes their ownership of Lotus to create tuned Malaysian vehicles. In this case, Lotus is turning their experience to the Mazda5-esque Proton Exora MPV. Respect the van.

Detroit Electric closed up shop in 1939, but Zap Electric and China Youngman Automobile Group resurrected the nameplate in 2007 and are planning to bring two practical, Proton-based electric cars to the market next year.

Aussie Envy Day at Jalopnik continues. We've brought you the R3 Satria, the FPV GT and the 2008 Ford FG Falcons. And while most of these cars are drool-worthy, not everyone can afford to shell out that kind of cash. For the Ute-lover on a budget there's the Malaysian built Proton Jumbuck, which can be had for slightly…

In addition to building a car for the Islamic world, Malaysian car company Proton also builds a number of cars for the Australian market, including the popular Satria GTi. As a way of previewing the next GTi, Proton will be showing off the R3 Satria, which was tuned with the help of Proton's motorsports arm. If you're…

Reader Franzouse has pulled our coats about this fine automobile from those Malaysian maniacs at Proton. Introducing the Europestar Lotus RCR! It's based on the Gen-2, with a bunch of Lotus poured into the mix to confuse matters; the RCR will be assembed- and presumably sold- in China and gets a mighty 112-horse…

Who knew cars could be religious? Apparently Proton's making a car they plan to build in Malaysia, Iran and Turkey — highlighted by an order to supply 5000 taxis to Teheran. Proton's claiming the car they'll be using to fill the order will be an "Islamic car." What makes it so religiously tag-lined? How about that…

While protons may be absolutely essential subatomic bits of your joe-schmoe lotus, who knew that Proton was planning to diversify and outsource its Hethel acquisition's creations? But Malaysia's Proton is doing just that, giving China's Jinhua Neoplan the go-ahead to build two Lotus models, which may be the Europa and…

What happens when Lotus develops a Proton exotic and then has it handed back to itself? The answer, unfortunately, is not Tesla. Nor is it Exige. Or Elise. Or even submarine Esprit. If the Inside Line-types ensconced in the Edmunds compound are to be believed, the new Europa S fits into a no-man's land that isn't…

The 2006 Lotus Elise and Exige feature a new seat design that saves weight, corrects posture and costs less than earlier designs. ProBax, a concept patented by a prostheticist, worked with Colin Chapman's wacky kids to come up with a seat that dispenses with lumbar mechanisms, thus lightening the seat. And you know…

Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, Lotus Group's CEO for the last two years has stepped down, leaving a void at the resurgent sports-car manufacturer. Who to fill his shoes? None other than Michael Kimberley, marking his second turn at the helm of the company. His last stint was from '83 to '91, which is closely associated in our…

Oh, how we love MV Agusta's motorcycles. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, and they sound wonderful. Friends who've ridden them sing their praises. But the company's bleeding red ink like a stuck pig in a tub of leaches and Malaysian automaker Proton's decided to divest itself of its 57.57% share of the company, which…