All-new Timor to rely on South Korean origins<\/p>\n
By Russell Williamson<\/p>\n
Indonesia's first national cars to be produced by PT Timor
\nPutra Nasional, are likely to be little more than thinly
\ndisguised versions of the Kia models from which they are derived.<\/p>\n
Despite Timor Putra's \"pioneer status\" as a national carmaker,
\nthe first batch of cars to be delivered are expected to be
\nlocally assembled from semi knocked down kits of the Kia product
\nimported from its factory in South Korea.<\/p>\n
Although the first cars to go on sale in September will be
\nlittle different from the Kia product, Timor Putra have said that
\nthe next generation of cars will be fully developed in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
PT Timor Putra Nasional is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
\nHumpuss Group, whose chairman is Hutomo Mandala Putra, President
\nSoeharto's youngest son.<\/p>\n
The company was awarded pioneer status to help drive
\nIndonesia's automotive industry forward and aid the development
\nof a solid component and sedan car manufacturing base.<\/p>\n
Under the terms of the pioneer status classification, Timor
\nPutra must be 100 percent Indonesian owned, produce cars with
\ntheir own Indonesian brand name (Timor) and reach a 60 percent
\nlocal content level within three years.<\/p>\n
In return for meeting these conditions, Timor Putra has been
\ngiven exemption from all import duties and luxury car taxes,
\nwhich will enable the company to sell its cars for about Rp 35
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The cars will be built at a new factory at Cikampek, near
\nJakarta, which is expected to have a capacity of 100,000 cars per
\nyear by 1998.<\/p>\n
This year, however, Timor Putra have more modest aspirations
\nand are only expecting to assemble 16,000 cars.<\/p>\n
Timor Putra's first vehicles to go on sale will be the 1.5
\nliter S515 and S515i sedans, based on the Kia Sephia, and the
\nT520i recreational vehicle which will be based on the Sportage.<\/p>\n
The 1.5-liter Sephia has a four-cylinder 16-valve engine that
\nsits sideways and drives the front wheels.<\/p>\n
Maximum power is a modest 66 kilowatts at 5,500rpm with 128
\nnewton metres of torque at 4,000 rpm.<\/p>\n
In traffic, the Sephia is nippy and quite able to keep up with
\ntraffic flow, although the slick but vague five-speed manual
\ngearbox has to be worked to get the power through.<\/p>\n
The engine is quiet at modest speeds but gets noisy when
\nextended for any length of time.<\/p>\n
Inside, the Sephia is roomy enough, comparable to the Hyundai
\nElantra, and well finished, although some of the lighter plastics
\nlook a bit cheap.<\/p>\n
The dash is neat with all controls logically placed, while the
\ncabin is relatively comfortable, although the driver's seat lacks
\nsufficient lateral, lumbar and under-thigh support.<\/p>\n
Overall though, the cabin design and fixtures look smart and
\ncertainly look better integrated than those in Malaysia's
\nnational car, the Proton.<\/p>\n
The ride is soft, perhaps a bit too soft as the Sephia tends
\nto float a bit on undulating motorways. Traveling at speeds over
\n110 kmh, the small sedan feels composed but the steering fails to
\ncommunicate, always feeling too light and lifeless on straight
\nroads.<\/p>\n
Cornering presents no surprises. It is a mildly understeering
\ncar that leans a bit on hard cornering. But put the power on
\nmidbend or enter a corner too fast and the front end will display
\nits preference for a straight line as front tires scrabble for
\ngrip. Lift-off, or partially close the throttle and it returns to
\nthe chosen line.<\/p>\n
Brakes invite little comment. Antilock brakes and a driver's
\nside air bag are available, although whether these make it into
\nthe Timor models is debatable given the expected price.<\/p>\n
Build quality is good with tight panel fits and the paint
\nfinish is also up to standard. The car feels more solid than many
\nof its Japanese rivals but it lacks their overall finesse.<\/p>\n
While the Sephia may get lost in the crowd with its generic,
\nsmall sedan styling, the same cannot be said for the Sportage.<\/p>\n
Combining soft, gentle curves with its obvious
\noff-road\/military style origins, the Sportage is a very
\nattractive package.<\/p>\n
Despite the sedan car-like soft rounded lines, the vehicle's
\nshort front and rear overhangs, large tires and generous wheel
\nclearance give plenty of indication of its off-road potential.<\/p>\n
Inside, the competence of its styling is echoed in a neat,
\npleasant cabin. It is roomy, airy and, in Korean-made versions,
\nhas a very high standard of fit and finish.<\/p>\n
Its size is a little larger than the Suzuki Escudo wagon and
\nalthough the seats need better under-thigh and lateral support,
\nthe driving position is good and the controls fall readily to
\nhand.<\/p>\n
Under the bonnet is a double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve,
\n2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with multipoint fuel injection.<\/p>\n
The engine, which develops a maximum power of 98 kilowatts at
\n5,500rpm and 172 newton metres of torque at 4,000rpm, normally
\ndrives the rear wheels but four-wheel drive can be engaged on the
\nmove at low speeds.<\/p>\n
The five-speed manual gearbox is a smooth unit while a dual mode
\n(Power and Normal) four-speed automatic transmission is also
\navailable.<\/p>\n
Acceleration is brisk rather than quick and allows the
\nSportage to easily keep up with traffic flow.<\/p>\n
Suspension at the front consists of a double wishbone\/coil
\nspring setup, making the ride on paved road very good for this
\ntype of vehicle.<\/p>\n
On the rear, in place of the typical live axle-leaf spring
\narrangement usually seen on the type of vehicle, the Sportage
\nuses a sophisticated four-link suspension.<\/p>\n
Off the tarmac, the Sportage's smooth ride became more
\ncompromised but didn't deteriorate alarmingly.<\/p>\n
Steering is via a recirculating ball and nut system which
\nappears too light and lacks feel.<\/p>\n
This becomes more of a handicap off the sealed highway as its
\nlack of talk-back ability means the driver has little idea of
\nwhat the front wheels are doing. There is an upside of this,
\nhowever, as there is also little kickback.<\/p>\n
The suspension makes itself heard and there's some trace of
\nsteering rack clatter but the vehicle remains free of rattles and
\nsqueaks, which points to its solid build and the quality of
\nmanufacture.<\/p>\n
While the impact of the budget-priced Sephia-based Timor is
\nyet to be seen, the Sportage could compete on its own merits with
\nor without Timor Putra's tax concessions.<\/p>\n
This 4WD has the looks, power and specification to give rivals
\nsuch as the Escudo and Feroza a difficult time.<\/p>",
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