From day one to today, Proton `s cars are based on the technology transfer from foreign car makers, such as Citroen and Mitsubishi, especially is the latter, which provides virtually the whole design for the Persona sedan / hatchback. Self R&D ability is scarce, although the purchase of Lotus in 1996 secured some specialised facilities in Norfolk - the Malaysian simply relies on Lotus s engineering power rather than learn from them, unlike what Toyota did earlier.