Two traditions collide in BMW X3 Yogyakarta test drive

M. Taufiqurrahman, Yogyakarta

The main tourist destinations of Yogyakarta and neighboring Central Java offer a range of attractions, from majestic cultural heritage sites to wild and magnificent nature -- which may have been the draw for PT BMW Indonesia when it picked the region to test drive its new X3.

The subsidiary of the Munich-based Bayerische Motoren Werke launched the BMW X3 earlier this month, a vehicle that claims to be the first premium Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) in its class.

Designed to meet the need of people with active lifestyles, the X3 blends smooth on-road performance and athletic off-road capabilities -- characteristics it would show off impressively during the test drive.

As BMW Indonesia president director Josef Honsel said, the living cultural heritage of Yogyakarta perfectly matched the carmaker's 75-year-old tradition of making state-of-the-art automobiles. Meanwhile, Central Java's natural wonders provided a perfect setting through which to drive the X3 in comfort and pleasure, as well as a test field for the car's agility.

The first indication of comfort came when the car hit the roads of Yogyakarta. Traversing the sultanate town's slow traffic and narrow streets, through the interstices of ever-flowing motorcycles and bicycles, the X3 cruised smoothly on at a moderate speed. A sound system with eight speakers and CD changer made the city drive a more enjoyable and soothing one.

After stopping for a lunch at an historical half-Dutch, half- Javanese house behind the sultan's palace, the test drive turned into a magical journey through the natural beauty of Central Java.

On the way to Amanjiwo Resort in the vicinity of the largest Buddhist structure in the world -- the Borobudur Temple in Magelang -- the X3 wound past never-ending, mesmerizing fields of tobacco and rice and in between rows of coconut trees under a late-afternoon sun.

With Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 wafting through the spacious, air-conditioned interior, the journey seemed almost ethereal.

The jaunt that put the X3's to the real test was an incursion to the Dieng Plateau, situated 2,000 meters above sea level and 100 kilometers from Borobudur, and well known for its age-old temples -- the legacy of an ancient Javanese kingdom. Colorful lakes and volcanic craters constantly bellowing sulfuric steam added to the rugged ride.

The superb handling and agility of the X3 was no longer confined to the carmaker's slogan when our driver drove off onto the beaten tracks leading to hidden lakes and craters.

The six-cylinder, 3.0-liter engine of the X3 produces 231 bhp with a maximum torque of 300 Newton meters at 3,500 revolutions per minute, and combined with the world's most advanced four- wheel technological innovation, the xDrive, the vehicle ran at an unbelievable 100 kph along the plateau's steep and twisting roads.

The xDrive, which is based on the Dynamic Stability Control system, including the yaw rate and steering angle, senses any loss of traction to react in milliseconds, allowing the X3 to respond with sharp reflexes and minimizing significantly both under- and oversteer.

The rough and sometimes rocky roads on the descent from the plateau was safer and more enjoyable, thanks to BMW's Hill Descent Control function for loose ground and even slippery surfaces. In addition, the X3 is equipped with 10 front and side air bags as well as the Head Protection System to protect its occupants.

The safety features also provided the same comfort and security during an earlier trip to the slopes of Mount Merapi, the most active volcano on Java -- and a sacred, legendary mountain.

On a bumpy ride to the closest point to Merapi's crater possible by car, the X3 climbed along rocky roads bordering the banks of gigantic canals to channel overflowing lava in the event of an eruption.

The SAV sometimes overtook large dump trucks transporting their haul from a sand mine, and once again demonstrated its agility when we buckled up for a trip to the 1,800 meter summit of Mount Telomoyo near the Losari Resort and coffee plantation in Grabag, Magelang.

Zigzagging along the only road to the peak -- built by state telecommunications company PT Telkom to reach its satellite dishes dotting the terrain -- the ride was indeed breathtaking, as to the left of the narrow gravel road was a sheer drop into a gaping ravine, ready to swallow any vehicle at the slightest slip.

The harrowing trip paid off at the summit, where we were granted with a panoramic view of Central Java's three highest mountains -- Merapi, Sindoro and Sumbing -- shrouded by radiant white clouds.

After this 400 km-plus trip through the grandeur of Central Java, the journey ended in the provincial capital of Semarang, a bustling port city, from where we departed to Jakarta from Ahmad Yani Airport.

The trip may have been a physically exhausting one for its human passengers, but the X3 endured it all, cruising in comfort and style.