Hunting at the 1ST Jakarta ASEAN Car Expo
On this monday morning, weather is bit cloudy since the rain season should be already started this month and lucky enough isnt raining or the traffic gonna be chaotic since those biker will hogging the road by parking their bike on any place that they can take shelter from rain. however this morning im not gonna commute to Tanggerang to deal with catering or reservation, i’ve take permission from my dad to take my day off until this Friday since he need me handling the site and instead i’ll leave my house a bit later to avoid traffic jam spot and drive to Jakarta International Expo. JACE execution just rather weird if you compared to any expo or any fair since instead taking place in mid especially during school holiday JACE is taking place on 5 December where no body have their holiday started yet.
i arrive at JACE around half past eleven, i can see the opening ceremony just ended judging by how many balloon and paper scattered around the entrace ground. since i dont know how many cars that they display here i would rather go straight to test drive area before go to exhibition so i can know the car handle. the test drive is shared sadly due limited space however this one rather large, the layout is prety much remind me to driving test course with those traffic signs and they installed those weird bump test area, there also a long back straight to return the parking lot. Of course we cant speeding or doing stupid thing, any of that probably will result problem and internet drama material.
Skipping to Wednesday, after countless number of test drive for any car i could i had enough for now, i’ve also visit some of their booth to take some brochure or pamphlet.there many unique car that i never seen before and most of them are new model that just released this year. i have some note about them in my phone but not detailed one, mostly just their photos, how it feels to drive them, engine spec, transmission, and fuel.
Wagon Section
@Madrias - Storm Krait GT-R
The Krait GT-R looks is pretty much agressive but the weird upper vent around the badge, is not like i hate it. Rear side pretty much remind me to modern retro style US cars especially with their muscle. Engine wise is unique for sport car on its size, 1.3L i6 with turbocharger with 11.000 redline with 255HP on peak, a high RPM even on its displacement class for today road engine plus it has 7 speed sequential. For a low cost green car(LCGC) like engine(since it has under 1,3L engine) that drink Premium it can still punch much harder than my Pajero Sport
In proving ground aka test drive course, the suspension setup a bit stiff but still good for bump test in low speed, pretty much expected from a perfomance oriented road car. However when i put the gear into high gears and you would notice that the turbo spoil a bit late but it can bes justified since it have very long RPM range so i can enjoy the power, i prefer if they spoil more earlier since i dont used with it. but interior wise pretty much almost same as the Pajero Sport but with much more features.
@TR8R – FOA Countryman
Different from the Krait, Countryman looks tamer instead showing agresiveness ,though the quad circle taillights and side vents say different thing but it still looks a lot tame especially with dark green. Engine spec wise, Countryman have a rather big turbocharged I4, 2.9L, probably the biggest one that i can remember. However it has lesser power than the Krait, only 232HP with very low RPM and it needs Pertalite to run with one gear lower too. But we have AWD car here so doesnt really matter.
How it feels when i drive it? Pretty much same except the front suspension seems really hate receiving bump. However the gearing is a lot shorter and the engine act tamer, the early turbo spoil also feeling nice and doesnt break the car character. However for a car that have tame looks it pretty much have the same interior and entertaiment features are pretty much same like the Krait though is heavier for some reason.
@theultimated00m – Wagooner
Along of many car that i see today, this one is my liking in terms of looking, i dont really know how to describe it but i have the same feeling as seeing the Stagea but for strange reason it have two really big muffler which kinda a let down for 3L V6 car. However the fuel figure pretty much not on my liking since it has low fuel millage while Wagoneer need the Pertamax Turbo to run it, and its displayed in Black. Still, i pretty much fall in love at first sight. Though its still AWD, Wagooner has automatic transmission with a lot gearing, 8 gears man but it should be mean i dont need to worry about the clutch pedal anymore.
Engine spec wise is also more promising than previous one, 381HP with 7000 RPM limit. While the suspension is again a bit stiffer like previous wagons but drive better, the disappointment risen as the the the turbo doesnt spoil until i hit the pedal harder, though this one have smoother torque it still pretty much dont justify it. The entertaiment wise is quite downgrade but seating is still on par as other previous wagons.
@Nialloftara – Centauri Kord Estate
The Kord Estate body styling looks more ‘serious’ looking rather than and thoose fog light setup kinda remind me of thoose early 2000’s car where having more lights means ‘sportier’ especially with the hood styling, it works perfectly with the car in general and again sadly they displayed it in black colour, should ask if they have another colour. Paper wise is on bright side, 2.5L turbo V6 with 400HP with 6 speed sequential plus AWD drivetrain and pretty good fuel millage, the 88 octane rating gonna help so much.
During drive test, it follow the same trend on stiffer suspension so you can optimize the road perfomance. The turbo spoil at mid range so i cant feel it until hit the pedal harder if you want feel the torque. Interior and entertaiment are pretty much fancy as other many wagon. It doesnt feely any different other any wagon so not sure what to say.
@Thecarlover - Canada Motors Ontario LXW Borealis
Ontario LXW styling is pretty much like modern luxury car, it can be showed by how they choose the headlight, taillight, and both bumpers. The orange colour with those black plastic(?) on the bottom doesnt make the car look cheaper, in fact instead looks like a Nissan Livinna this one looks good as today Lexus SUV. Engine Spec wise is powered with 3L V6 Turbo that produce 381HP with 88 octane rate and equiped with 7 gears sequential with AWD setup.
Suspension again is on stiff side, i should really get used with this suspension stiffness. The turbo however is spoiling on mid range RPM again, seems we having trend with this turbo setup but i dont know why they dont spoil it much earlier. Interior pretty much above the Pajero again like most of the wagon except the giant sunroof. The car weight is also on heavier side however the interior have a bit of improvement other than previous wagon.
@cpufreak101- Any
The Any looks pretty much like you typical SUV (except this one is a dark red wagon), angry-looks front end with big grilles and vents in the front but the two big exhaust in the rear kinda bother me, they looks like a muffler can that get cut in half so you can see the inside, i dont know why some people think big exhaust is look cool. Spec wise is kinda different, a FWD with 1.3 I4 that produce 162HP with high fuel millage however it need Pertamax to run, almost like your typical cheap family car in here except the power output.
Suspension wise it’s a lot softer than any other wagon that already test, seems scrapping a very little bit when hitting big bumps but overall it make me dont need to worry about bad road. Interior there less fancy leathers design and very simple radio setup, is this a top trim Nissan Livinna or what? however is a lot cheaper and lighter than any other wagon that i’ve test today.
@airjordan – Smooth Predator
As the name say, Predator have mean looking in the front, the tailight looks tamer if you compare to the front one but it fit nicely for the car styling. What wonder me why they dont merge the sunroof. Moving to engine spec, now we have a rather small V8, 3L one that can produce 401HP along with AWD drivetrain and 6 speed sequential. Running with pertamax, the fuel millage is bit lower compared to other wagon however still better than my Pajero.
Moving to drive test course, suspension is softer than most if any other wagon but still rather hard for the bumps , for engine characteristic finally we have turbo that spoil more early again and also the torque was rather flat too. Move to interior now we have sportier styling interior sdesign, seating for 5 people and rather fancy entertaiment system, Predator seems trying cut some weight since the seating doesnt feel nice as other car but i still like it.
@rcracer11m – Mott Work Cassini
Cassiniis is another looking looking car that i spotted today especially with bright red colour, styling wise is rather simplistic even with modern looking tailight with very noticeable is big double muffler however i like how they design the front bumper. Spec wise, we have Manual RWD with small NA V12 engine with 10500 RPM limit, a 3L one that can produce 360HP, millage is quite good with 88 octane rate and capable to drink Premium.
In the test drive course, suspension is quite stiff but still okay for bumps. Engine characteristic , the torque feel kicking in mid range with not so flat torque. For interior we have those 5 seater fancy leather with fancy entertaiment again.
@Rk38 – Maeshima Avellca SXR
Avellca looks is pretty much sharp and quite modern luxury car except this one is more sharper and on sportier side with those light setup and vents. The rear light however kinda remind me to Nissan Livinna. Moving to spec, we got a manual AWD with turbo 2.5 I4 engine that capable to produce 242HP, millage is also good as another wagons but this one need Pertamax Turbo.
On test drive course, the suspesion is rather stiff while the engine is pretty much able to spoil the turbo early with somehow rough torque. For the interior is pretty much today standard car choice which pretty much fancy on every side.
SUV Section
@dracoautomation – Satana
Satana is quite big SUV i do say, even bigger than the Cadillac Escalade if im correct. For a such big and tall vehicle is weird to see a lips in the front bumper, however for styling is kinda exclusive though the bright orange doesnt fit perfectly, they should find darker colour. What make me suprise this SUV doesnt have a big V8 with AWD like the typical big SUV, just a 2.5L Turbocharged V6 with 400HP with FWD drivetrain, a quite strange combination Satana body size hurting the fuel economy and it gonna be bit problematic since it can only drink Pertamax.
Moving the test drive course, as i expect from SUV, it can handle the bumps very well even on higher speed. The turbo spoil bit late though the curve is quite smooth However the seat only designed for 6 people with drive inlcuded, who cares, whoever sit the middle cant complain. Interior wise is fancy as the Pajero sport along with the entertaiment.
@JohnWaldock – JHW Huntress
The Huntress is a rather sporty looking SUV, seems quite influenced with the Porsche, much smaller than my Pajero Sport looks like, however the back side was rather simple compared to the front end. However this one rather weird with thin tyre width for a SUV, however the white colour withvery little of any chrome or plastic element in the car body seems make the car looks empty but the front side. Running in the 90 octane the slightly over 2.2 I6 engine can produce about 230HP and quite high RPM and its a NA. equiped with AWD drivetrain and 6 speed sequential.
Moving to test drive course, the suspension is not that soft but it handle very nice for slalom, the torque also kick in much earlier which is nice. Interior wise is pretty much improvement especially the entertaiment system that probably gonna be a shame if you switch it. However the fanciness doesnt really cover the seat count, is only ideal for 4 people so anyone in the middle cant complain.
@CadillacDave – Brivio Scalatore Indo
Scalatore is quite weird looking car, those chrome and headlight setup is rather weird absurd especially the tiny light above the main headlight, i dont remember of any car that do that as their styling. However i like the rear design and the skidtray on both side which looks more a lot neat. Moving to the engine we have another Pertalite drinker, 176HP is produced from turbo 1.9 I6 Engine with decent fuel economy which its been a while since i can find any car with inline 6 with displacement under 2L. however now we have a 7 speed sequential transmission with AWD drivetrain.
Now to proving ground, suspension was on harder side and not able receiving bumps good as previous SUV, the curve is also feel flat and the better thing is the turbo doesnt spoil late. In the interior i found another fancy seating with fancy entertaiment, many people seems trying to optimize the absent of import with putting the budget into interior.
@NormanVauxhall – Iurlaro Cleopatra 6 Special
Cleopatra looks is feels classy with those square with rounded corner and giving aura of those mid 90’s SUV back then. Rear side is bit different, i giant panels of chrome across the back side, the lack of any yellow glasses on the the taillight element is make the taillight doesnt really stand as the the chrome panels, on weird side this one have thin tyres. Engine spec wise we have the turbocharged 2.5L I6 engine with 205HP power output with low RPM limit. And again we have the 7 speed seqeuential with AWD, however it can drink premium.
Moving to proving ground, the suspension isnt that soft. The turbo is spoil early with very flat torque so it drive nicely and rather tame. Interior wise is another fancy seating with fancy entertaiment however with that it feels just ordinary if you compared to other car that i tested.
@Strop – Empyrean Veritas IGS
Veritas is a rather sleek modern looking SUV not agressive as the Ontario but the Veritas is more like European SUV with those vents. Engine wise is powered with turbo 3L Inline 6 that produce 368HP, which make the biggest number for the SUV i’ve tested so far and it have 7 speed sequential AWD setup.
To the test drive site, suspension is on rather hard and the engine characteristic the turbo spoil early and it can kick in twice though second one isnt really big. Interior wise we have 5 seater with fancy setup but Veritas seems have a little improvement compared to other.
Sport
@Gridghost – Scarab Ceres
As a rear engined sport car the Scarab Ceres is looking sharp especially the rear end, not sure about the tripple stack on side vent but overall i like what they do with the styling. For this however we have manual turbocharged V6 with 400HP, however the fuel economy is rather on low side and it need Pertamax to run the engine.
In the proving ground, Ceres suspesion is not hard or even soft, however the engine kick really hard when the turbo spoil in mid range RPM so i need be careful to not step the pedal to make sure i not doing stupid thing in here. Inside the car seems trying to keep in comfort side rather than trying to keep the weight lower.
@Ornate – Sunshine
Now we have tiny sport car that probably i can fit into bedroom, Sunshine is one of them, however Sunshine styling is rather opposite from its look since it look angry though the rear side is bit neutral. Engine is also small, turbocharged 1.3L I4 that produce 278HP, which rather big if you compared it Miata which have bigger dimension but it doesnt bother me. Sunshine also packed with sequential transmision and AWD system which i find strange for small car having AWD. Though it has very good fuel millage the sunshine need Pertamax Turbo to run
In test drive course the suspension is on soft side so it can handle the bump very well while the engine is acting pretty much same as the Ceres but with smaller output. For the interior wise i can see how they try make the interior doesnt add weight especially with those simple entertaiment setup.
@abg7 – WMD Pyrite 3.0T
WMD Pyrite is rather on big side for now, it just like your typical long nosed sport car from europe. Styling wise is rather looks like those modern looking car with those lights and grills setup. Moving to paper, we have manual RWD car with 3L I6 that produce 354HP with decent fuel millage and it drink Pertamax. i was expecting with this look will have bigger power output.
In test drive course is rather on hard side, however i kinda expec t it for vehicle like this so i cant really protest. For the engine the turbo is spoil quite early and it feel flat. For interior is the fancy one like as many other cars that i’ve found today.
@bobloblaw – Petoskey Montauk Rally
Montauk styling is pretty much retro modern muscle car, sharp headlight that blend alongside with the front grills then completed with big bumper on both side, the taillight however seems doesnt really take the retro apporach. Spec wise is kinda expected from muslce car,automatic RWD with 5L V8 that produce 444HP which IIRC is pretty much average number for muscle car nowaday. It can drink pertamax however and doesnt have fat fuel millage as i expect.
On test drive course, Montauk suspension is quite stiff and engine wise there a kick on early RPM but the torque doesnt seems very rough. The interior however is rather on lower side compared to other but still comfy to my prefrence to enjoy and it have 5 seater but im not sure anyone can enjoy sit back there.
@Zabhawkin Sambal
Sambal it just like the 90’s Camaro, it looks like a catfish which funny enough is my favourite combination if i want to eat sambal ulek. Otherwise Sambal styling is pretty much like the US 90’s car back then but taking simplistic apporach. Moving to spec, we have manual FWD 1.3 I6, which pretty much small for a I6, with power output is 156HP and octane rating 91. The fuel millage is also pretty good
In test drive course, suspension is rather on stiff especially the front one while the engine curve is quite smooth with mid range engine kick. Moving to interior, we have 2 seater with same quality as the Montauk and the car is quite light for its size.
@highoctanelove – Boyliq Slyde Nano
Another tiny sport car, except Slyde is a convertible car and even more aggresive compared to previous one with those vents with very weird side signal placement, but still very mean looking little car i guess. Spec wise this one is manual RWD 1.3L I4 with tubor that produce189HP. The millage is also very good and only required Premium to run.
On proving ground we have the suspension on softer side surprisingly for a car with this looking. For the engine, the turbo is spoil in early RPM range. For interior however the Slyde the seating is pretty much on sport looking side and very comfortable to sit on for its looking and for entertaiment is very good too.
@lordvader – Castro
Castro is looks like of those later level convertible exclusive car for some reason, main reason is probably because how big it is for a coupe however. Styling is somewhere european car enough or even Japanese/Korean car just like how Toyota did the Lexus in 90’s. spec wise we have another small turbocharged I6 engine that produce 225HP. This one however is RWD Manual 6 speed clutch with pertamax as requirement to run.
Moving to test drive course, we have another balanced suspension for the bump, for the engine it can can kick twice however the turbo setup is spoil at mid range. Moving to interior with these kind fancy interior and entertaiment make Castro feels pretty much like your typical “im super rich kid that drive alone” car just like most Mini Cooper driver i meet on road.
@koolkei - Blacbuck
Another tiny sport car but Blackbuck rather on exlusive side for the styling instead aggresive especially with the sunroof, the triangle grilles and those LED on vents just kinda remind me to those european car while the rear side is bit on sporty which make it kinda different but not that much. Spec wise, is another RWD small 1.3L I4 with turbo that produce 175HP which make the Blackbuck is the smallest however this one have sequential transmision and can only drink pertamax and above.
On the test drive the suspension is on soft side which perfect the car image while the torque isnt that flat but the turbo is spoil early however it doesnt break the car image. For interior we have those fancy seat and entertaiment system again which many of car i’ve tested have this kind of setup.
@ramthecowy – Cavarella Stratocumulus
Stratocumulus looks is like your typical limited number supercar expcept this one mass produced(i think), lightnight that mixed in with vents/grill lining and almost every corner have sharp angle instead curvy. On the spec, we have manual with NA 2.5L V6 engine that produce 225HP and have very good fuel economy with Pertamax as requirement to run the engine.
On proving ground the suspension is soft for some reason and the engine torque is rather rough and since its NA you there no big torque kick whatsoever. In the interior however is expected, 2 sport looking seat with fancy entertainment.
as for direct comparison and result i will start writing them on Sunday.