Mobil Rakyat...new cars

[Jaime C]

I do like the new 508...

Only the (sabre tiger) daylight running lights are a bit too much I think. The interior is rather luxurious:

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Even in a more basic outfit, without any options it doesn't look bad:

As so often, there is a longer version for the Chinese market. Still, I don't think it will be a big success.
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That model looks much nicer than the versions I see in Indonesia.

 

[jstar]

Of course French cars had a terrible image concerning rust. Now that is under control but people don't forget so easily, see what happens with the Fiat/Alfa reintroduction in the US. And you see their oldtimers rotting away while looking at them. It's a shame since the 504 coupé and convertible are real (Pininfarina) beauties.

Engine wise, they are very good. As well as the VM engines used by the FCA (Fiat) group. And that's probably why old French cars with 500.000+ km still could be used in Africa and the Middle East. Only the W123 (Mercedes 200D) could match up to that.

The PSA Group (Peugeot/Citroën)* doesn't seem very interested in the Indonesian market. They call this area India-Pacific. So you know which country gets most attention. China obviously, is a big focus. There they want to score with their new luxury brand, the DS. That started very badly, esp. in Europe. The main reason was they just rebatched a Citroën instead of introducing a completely new model. Now they learned from their mistake.

* They took over Opel/Vauxhall from General Motors.

 

[jstar]

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Lexus has introduced a new SUV, the UX.

This is also available as hybrid. One of the biggest advantages -next to quality- of Lexus is the amazing low amortization. Worldwide btw, the rest value in Europe etc. of their second hand cars is also very high.

The car is in the class of a CX-3 or HR-V. (Or BMW X1 and MB GLA.) So it's a rather small SUV.

Now guess its price (answer under the pictures)....

Between 855 (UX 200) and 920 (UX 250h) Juta!!!!

A bit expensive for a priority parking at Mal Kelapa Gading (they have a dedicated section only for Lexus owners).
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[jstar]

Finally some news from the electric front:

First of all, Bluebird/Silverbird will soon operate 29 electric cars, namely 25 BYD and 4 Tesla Model X. Starting in May.

Also, there are plans to lower the electricity bill during certain hours of the day if it's used to charge electric vehicles. I don't know how they plan to control/check that.

 

[rabbit_39]

Also, there are plans to lower the electricity bill during certain hours of the day if it's used to charge electric vehicles. I don't know how they plan to control/check that.

Probably a specific circuit and meter for the charging unit? Wouldn't be able to reliably check if someone was using a regular residential circuit for charging.

 

[jstar]

In the International Motor Show, Honda is presenting the facelifted BR-V.

Naturally with LED daylight running lights and a new front and rear lights.

 

[jstar]

Finally some news from the electric front:

First of all, Bluebird/Silverbird will soon operate 29 electric cars, namely 25 BYD and 4 Tesla Model X. Starting in May.

 

[Dave70]

Finally some news from the electric front:

First of all, Bluebird/Silverbird will soon operate 29 electric cars, namely 25 BYD and 4 Tesla Model X. Starting in May.

Also, there are plans to lower the electricity bill during certain hours of the day if it's used to charge electric vehicles. I don't know how they plan to control/check that.

I hope BYD is better/safer than Tesla https://www.insider.com/tesla-criticized-in-times-square-billboards-by-shenma-zhuanche-2019-4

 

[jstar]

An important thing with electric cars is cooling the batteries. And not to forget; train the fire brigade since it is a very different process to put out fires.

The Tesla model 3 is still going very strong btw, esp. in newer markets as Europe. Also because they (finally) came with the cheaper and more affordable version. ($35K)

What I do like about them and despise about 'old auto', is that after so many years the existing Tesla's still perform much better concerning Range than the competition. What a blamage.

 

[Wisnu]

Dacia Sander or known as Renault Sandero in some country, not sure if available in Indonesia, is a real Mobil rakyat, probably the cheapest European car in the market.
We are in Croatia right now, just returned this car after 6 days traveling 935 km from Zagreb, Slunj, Plitvice, Skradin, Knin, Zadar and back to Zagreb.
Not too bad for a small car, although a bit noisy and not comfy at more than 100 km/hr. Anyway I would not complain for the car with base rental price of less than euro 15/day. But next time I will choose more powerful full-size car. The max speed on toll road here is 130 km/h and most people drives above this limit.

 

[jstar]

Good rental price ya.

Dacia is a low cost Romanian subbrand of Renault, a bit comparable to Skoda of the VW group or Datsun of Nissan. Rather popular in Europe. They used to build copies of (older models) Renaults before, now they have their own line of cars.

There is only one Dacia for sale in Indonesia, the Duster. (What's in a name.) They chose to badge it here as Renault though. And honestly, I've only seen in (for sale) in the mall or in the car expo, never on the road.

I drove the Logan MCV once, it was definitely not bad. Very spacious but the 900 cc engine was indeed somewhat 'light'. Esp. in hilly areas you could feel that.

 

[jstar]

In practically the whole world the Diesel engines got a very bad rep and esp. the older models are being banned in many cities and populated areas. Of course this is pollution related, then we talk about the somewhat older EURO 1 - EURO 4 engine types. And at the gas stations, because of taxes the price has surpassed the most expensive gasoline.

But the weird thing is, that the governments only force the car industry to lower the global CO2 emissions of their cars. And that is exactly where Diesel engines are much better than their gasoline counterparts. NOx (fine dust) etc. is another story, although it has been improving a lot.

In Indonesia, you won't feel this trend as consumer that much. On the contrary; the Solar (Diesel) at your Pertamina gas station is still very cheap. And it even seems there is some kind of Diesel revival.

If we look at one of the most popular MPV's, the Toyota Innova, we see that the Diesel version suddenly outsells the gasoline engine. Of the 5.000 sold cars last month, 3.000 were equipped with the Diesel engine!

Which is also a bit weird, since worldwide Toyota (and esp. Lexus) has made statements committing to abandon Diesel in the short term future and the company has a huge lead in the hybrid technology. (They're also one of the few manufacturers with hydrogen vehicles btw.)

In the mean time, to meet the demand of the consumers and governments, the (mainly German) competition is desperately trying to catch up on the electric front, and equipping their most sporty high end models with...... Diesel engines.

 

[El_Goretto]

Well, let's hope that with the introduction of bluebird electric vehicles, we might see a bigger push for electric cars and bike in Indonesia.

Also, conveniently, having an electric vehicle will provide yet another good excuse for tardiness. Alongside macet, ban kempes, and saldo e-toll habis, we will now have batterainya habis, bos! Lama kalau di cas, bos!

 

[jstar]

Finally some news from the electric front

the (mainly German) competition is desperately trying to catch up on the electric front,

Well, let's hope that with the introduction of bluebird electric vehicles, we might see a bigger push for electric cars and bike in Indonesia.

Big news in car country: Volkswagen has announced the I.D.3, a full electric vehicle. Size-wise a VW Golf, range comparable to the KIA/HYUNDAI EV's.

The first edition will be 30.000 cars worldwide. You can make a reservation and pre-order for €1.000 and then expect the car in the second half of next year. Yes, end of 2020. Full specs of the car will be made available during the Frankfurt car expo in September.

You will get 6 years of free maintenance but if the brakes, tires and windscreen wipers are not included, it makes you wonder what is (with no combustion engine).

We'll see.

 

[El_Goretto]

Big news in car country: Volkswagen has announced the I.D.3, a full electric vehicle. Size-wise a VW Golf, range comparable to the KIA/HYUNDAI EV's.

The first edition will be 30.000 cars worldwide. You can make a reservation and pre-order for €1.000 and then expect the car in the second half of next year. Yes, end of 2020. Full specs of the car will be made available during the Frankfurt car expo in September.

You will get 6 years of free maintenance but if the brakes, tires and windscreen wipers are not included, it makes you wonder what is (with no combustion engine).

We'll see.

Doesn't look horrible (aside from the paint pattern).

 

[jstar]

Yeah, with those camouflage stickers it's difficult to predict how it will look like. Some inventive photo-shoppers think it will be like these:

Obviously a radiator grille is no longer necessary. But that is so standard that Audi and Jaguar still chose to have one on their EV's.

 

[harryopal1]

With humps. bumps and holes in the road I can't imagine buying any car so low to the ground.

 

[vocalneal]

Well, let's hope that with the introduction of bluebird electric vehicles, we might see a bigger push for electric cars and bike in Indonesia.

What is the average household connection power rating in Indonesia? Where would anyone charge their electric car?
In the US there is not enough electricity generated for everyone to own an electric car. I suspect Indonesia is worse?

 

[jstar]

I can't imagine buying any car so low to the ground.

On these spy shots and prototypes they always lower the car and add huge rims. Esp. for extending the range of the car, but also from a cost perspective, the production version will have smaller wheels with thicker tires And meeting the current trend it will have a higher (seating) position.

 

[jstar]

What is the average household connection power rating in Indonesia? Where would anyone charge their electric car?
In the US there is not enough electricity generated for everyone to own an electric car. I suspect Indonesia is worse?

On the contrary, most residential dwellings have multiple car parkings integrated. And with a power wall like that from Tesla for instance, it would not be difficult to integrate with.....solar.

See the Australian solutions I published in this thread before.