Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XJ compete in premium car market
Mercedes S-Class and Jaguar XJ compete in premium car market
The premium car market in Indonesia heated up in the last week of
April when two major car manufacturers launched their latest
models.
The DaimlerChrysler group launched its new Mercedes Benz S-
Class on April 24, followed by Jaguar's XJ Type the next day.
Both companies called the new models the flagships for their
brands.
The S-Class offers Pre-Safe technology, which DaimlerChrysler
said allowed the car to detect a collision in advance using
sensors and to take necessary precautions.
These precautions include, among other things, closing the
sunroof, tightening the seat belts and returning the seats to
normal position.
"We intend to remain the technology leader in the future. This
is our declared ambition and firmly anchored in our corporate
strategy," the president director of DaimlerChrysler Group
Indonesia, Friedel Engisch, told reporters during the launch of
the latest model S-Class at the Shangri-La Hotel.
"One of our most important new features is the 'Vision of
accident-free driving'. The car of the future should be able to
predict a possible accident, warn the driver and if necessary
support his or her reactions," he said.
The new Mercedes Benz S-Class is represented by two models
which are only available in Indonesia and Thailand: the S-280L
and the S-350L models.
The "L" means that the models have a longer wheelbase than
their predecessors.
In addition to the Pre-Safe technology, the S-350L also
carries another important difference in its engine capacity.
Instead of using a 3,500 cc engine, it relies on a larger 3,700
cc engine.
"The S-350L is replacing the S-320 model and it comes longer
and with a more powerful engine," said PT DaimlerChrysler
Indonesia deputy director of marketing, Anto Nurdiyanto.
"Interested customers can also order larger models of the S-
Class: the S-500 and S-600 models, although they have to wait a
little bit longer," he added.
The S-280L and S-350L models are locally assembled with about
10 percent local content, while the larger models are imported in
completely-built-up (CBU) form.
The S-280L will cost a customer some Rp 1.197 billion
(US$136,000) while the S-350L is tagged at Rp 1.65 billion.
"The price may look more expensive but these two models are
actually cheaper than the older ones, with all the features and
the long wheelbase," Anto said.
"We are sure that we will be able to sell 150 units this
year," he added.
Meanwhile, Jaguar is promising better fuel consumption as its
latest XJ Type, the seventh generation since its first appearance
in 1968, uses an aluminum structure that reduces the weight by up
to 40 percent, while also increasing structure stiffness by 60
percent.
Despite the innovative aluminum structure, the designers made
sure that the car looks like a Jaguar.
"The customers want a Jaguar that is instantly recognizable.
The shape of a model has to belong to a Jaguar," chief operating
officer of PT Grandauto Dinamika, the sole distributor for Jaguar
in Indonesia, Darwin Maspolim, said during the XJ Type's
unveiling at its Jl. S. Parman showroom.
"The new XJ is still an XJ, only better looking," he said.
Darwin said his company would provide only two of the five
variants available on the new XJ Type. The two variants use the
3.0 V6 and 4.2 supercharged (SC) V8 engine, respectively.
The 3.5, 4.2 and XJR variants, however, are still available to
interested customers, though the delivery period will be longer.
"The decision to provide only two variants was based on
economic considerations, because it would be too expensive if we
provided all five variants," said Darwin.
"The 3.0 engine is similar to the one used in the X Type while
the 4.2 SC engine is the same as the S Type's engine. So we
already have all the parts needed in case of maintenance," he
said.
The XJ 3.0 costs Rp 1.2 billion while the XJ 4.2 SC is sold
for Rp 1.9 billion.
Darwis expects to sell some 40 XJs this year.
-- Novan Iman Santosa