Maserati Quattroporte, shown but owned
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
In the onslaught of car makers releasing so-called "cheap cars" -- priced under or around Rp 100 million -- the presence of a new premium car gives a different take on the automotive industry in this country.
It is a drastic shift from car for the masses to car for the (extremely) privileged, especially when the car in question is a Maserati, here in Indonesia.
This wide-eyed effect, accompanied by the hush of held breathwas exactly what transpired last Thursday, when PT Citra Langgeng Otomotif introduced the Maserati Quattroporte at the Jakarta Convention Center.
It seemed the company, which also distributes Ferrari locally, could not have picked a better timing for the launch, which coincided with an event called the Bazaar Fashion Concerto. However, it was no wonder, as these two different events were hosted by businesses belonging to the MRA group of companies.
The venue suited the launch well -- too well, actually, as many automotive journalists were directed to the fashion extravaganza instead of to the hidden corner where the Maserati flagship was on exhibit.
Whether the corner spot was intentional or not, the car in it was a beauty, designed by Pininfarina, the same designers of the first Maserati road cars in the late 1940s.
This Italian pride could be yours -- if you are ready to spend US$235,000 plus a documentation fee of Rp 275 million ($30,555) -- with an emphasis on "could", as the five Maserati Quattroporte allotted for Indonesia this year have already been sold.
"Next year, we have a bigger allocation of 10 cars, but we already have people waiting for them," Citra Langgeng Otomotif managing director John A. Junir said.
As an afterthought, he added, "Well, this is not a mass production car, but a limited brand."
Citra sales and marketing manager Arie Christopher said 24 Maserati of all models available since 2001, when the company started operations, were zooming around the country.
"We cannot tell you who the owners are. It is confidential. But I can tell you that there are Maseratis in Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya," he said.
Arie said Quattroporte owners tended to drive the saloon on a daily basis, unlike the Coupe or GranSport.
Among possible competitors to the Quattroporte are the BMW 745 and the Mercedes Benz S430, although the German models had a different approach than the Italian machine.
Powered by a normally aspirated 4,244 cc, 90-degree V8 engine -- a new generation of engine chosen specially for the Quattroporte -- the saloon can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) in just 5.2 seconds, and has a top speed of 275 kph.
The 183-kilogram engine unleashes a maximum 400 horsepower (hp) at 7,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a maximum torque of 451 Newton-meter at 4,500 rpm with 75% of torque delivered at just 2,500 rpm.
Such great speed requires the most advanced safety features, and passengers can sit in the backseat with peace of mind, knowing that the Quattroporte has exceeded even the most rigorous American crash test standards.
Passive safety features include two-stage air bags installed in the front and sides, as well as seat belts with load limiters and pretensioners.
The premium car offers four specifications that can be personalized: color choice, on-board electronics, interior trim and comfort.
So, the next time you see a car with a trident logo, take a good long look as it passes by and disappears over the horizon -- it is not a car for everyone.