Since the question includes the following assumption:

That if you close Proton, we take away excise tax, then a 2005 Toyota Corolla in the US will do it. IIRC, cost USD16,000, which is around 52k. Of course, no lotus handling, since lotus is owned by Proton.

It's meaningless marketing BS anyway. Lotus cars handle well because they're well balanced lightweight cars. Cars that have good handling with an entry level price include the Mazda 3, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, etc..

I doubt it too. Probably just a few components out of the suspension designed by Lotus, then send back to Proton, where the beancounters take everything they've designed, and ciplak with shit materials and manufacturing tolerances.

They still need some relation to Lotus though, since they sell in the UK, and advertise Lotus handling also. The authorities there do not take kindly to false advertising.

Remove Tongkat, can sell full featured car for less money. Tentu sales hebat.

Now they have to decontent cars to reduce the import value of the car, and thus kena less tax (since tax is a function of percentage).