IIMS 2017: Of shiny new cars and sweet ceweks

Here we are at the end of our live coverage of the 2017 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS), which started last week. The annual show at its traditional downtown Jakarta home of JIEXpo in Kemayoran has one more weekend to go – it closes this Sunday night.

The show took up all the available floor space at JIExpo this year, both indoor and outdoor, and the physically larger show had no shortage of interesting machines on display.

On the new car front, we kicked off proceedings with the facelifted Daihatsu Ayla and its Toyota Agya twin. The refreshed LCGC (low cost green car) duo is of course the Indonesia’s version of Malaysia’s best selling car, the Perodua Axia, which itself was facelifted earlier this year. Is the grass greener on the other side? You decide.

The new Honda CR-V is being introduced in ASEAN this year, and the Indonesian launch happened at IIMS. Unlike in Thailand, where the CR-V gets a diesel option, Indonesia’s 1.5L Turbo (seven seats) and 2.0L NA (five seats) variants should be closer to what we’ll be getting later this year.

Also coming this year is the new Kia Rio, which had its local market launch at IIMS. We’ll also get the 1.4L engine and four-speed auto combo, but without the 6MT option and with a much higher level of equipment.

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is now locally assembled in Indonesia, and the CKD variant comes with a surprising level of active safety kit, including Forward Collision Mitigation System, Blind Spot Warning, Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System and Adaptive Cruise Control, along with seven airbags.

Later this year, the production version of the Mitsubishi XM concept will roll out of MMC’s Bekasi plant, bringing something different to this market’s core “Low MPV” segment that houses the Toyota Avanza and Honda Mobilio, among other seven-seaters.

Of the many cars vying for customers at IIMS, the Suzuki Ignis was the one that this writer wished he could buy. Imported from India, the Ignis retains the funky concept car design of the JDM car with an equally offbeat interior. The featherweight “SUV” is powered by a 1.2L four-cylinder rated at 23 km/l and there’s even a manual option. If only.

Unlike Bangkok, IIMS is fun because there’s more than just shiny new metal, and this year’s edition over-delivered in the variety department. Show organisers Dyandra Promosindo (DP) set out to create a “car-nival” atmosphere, and constructed an old-style “high street” in the outdoor square, with matching classic cars parked on the “sidewalk” as props.

Inside, top builds from Indonesia’s two big custom car shows (Indonesia Automodified and Hot Import Nights) showcased the creativity and vibrancy of the tuner scene in ASEAN’s largest auto market – it had everything from McLarens to Datsuns. Crazy custom bikes, too.

The 2017 edition of the IIMS could yet set a record for visitors and transactions (DP’s target is 450,000 visitors and 3.1 trillion rupiah of sales, the latter powered by main sponsor Bank BCA’s special hire purchase rates offered only during the show), and the contingent of cewek manis you see below would have played their part in adding charm to the colourful event.

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