323. Top-10 cars from the 2012 Indonesia International Motor Show.

The 2012 Indonesia International Motor Show was a grand affair with many manufacturers coming out in force to show off their latest cars. It's a testament to the growing affluence of Indonesia's middle class that so many new cars were put on display and there was even a word debut at the JI Expo show grounds. So, we've picked the ten most important cars at IIMS 2012 and presented them in the following slide show.

The Malaysian built XV will debut in Malaysia in December, but we got to drive it for a it in Indonesia. Despite being P1 examples (pre-production) the test cars already meet stringent standards set by Subaru parent company FHI. Power is directed to all four wheels via Subaru's symmetrical AWD system with power provided by a 2.0-litre Boxer-4 that produces 150PS and 196Nm. The gearbox is a CVT so expect lots of practicality to be married to ease of use and decent performance. 

Aimed at buyers looking at cars from the Perodua Viva class, the twins from Daihatsu and Toyota measure only 3580mm in length. Both are powered by a 65bhp three-cylinder 997cc engine and come with either a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual gearbox. The Ayla and Agya will be built in Indonesia with a local content target of 84 per cent, which should make it a perfect candidate for an ASEAN car. Malaysians are unlikely to get it though.

Thai made and equipped with cute looks, the Mirage, has been a mega seller in Thailand and looks to replicate the success in Indonesia too. Equipped with a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder MIVEC engine, it produces 78PS and 100Nm and has a claimed fuel consumption figure of just 21km/l or less than 5-litres/100km. Combined that with a cheap selling price and you have a sure fire best seller. The best part for Malaysians is the car is now available for viewing at all Mitsubishi Malaysia showrooms so get your orders in now. 

The first hybrid sportscar in the world, the CR-Z has been a sales phenomenon in all the markets it's available in. Honda even saw it fit to use IIMS 2012 as the venue for the unveiling of its face-lifted model, which came as a surprise as the much bigger Paris Motor Show was held shortly after. The engine (1.5-litre VTEC + IMA) and gearbox options remain (CVT or 6-manual) as the changes concentrate on the styling. There is a reshaped front bumper, HID headlights, new rear lights and a different 17-inch wheel design. Still the one to get if you want some fun from your hybrid.

Due to arrive in Malaysia in the near future, the Hyundai Santa Fe has been rolling out on a regional basis as markets gradually launch Hyundai's flagship SUV. Performance from the 194bhp 2.2-litre turbo diesel was never an issue so it gets carried over unchanged. The chassis has been upgraded and together with the 6-speed auto gearbox now has a better chance of handling the performance potential available. Together with the improved looks, Hyundai just might carve out a bigger slice of the SUV market with the Santa Fe.

Built in Indonesia and aimed at buyers of the Toyota Avanza, the Chevrolet Spin is a seven-seat mini-MPV and will be equipped with a six-speed auto. Little else is known but South American cars get a 1.8-litre Econo Flex engine with 108bhp. The interior has 710-litre of load space if used as a five-seater so practicality levels are high. No word yet on the availability of the spin in Malaysia but it looks like a worthy step up for Toyota Avanza and Nissan Grand Livina owners.

Malaysia may be the regional hub for Peugeot but it looks like Indonesia may be getting the new 208 before we do. Launched to an adoring fan base, the 208 recaptures the essence of Peugeot's small cars with styling that appeals to both male and female buyers. There will be a number of engine options but expect Malaysian market cars to use 1.4VTI and 1.6 VTI engines mated to a 6-speed auto gearbox. There may even be a manual for the performance oriented 208 GTI model so enthusiasts should get ready to place their orders. 

Already available in Malaysia, the 3rd generation Focus is now truly a global car. ASEAN countries will source their cars from Thailand and the only model thus far is the 2.0 Ti-VCT, which produces 168bhp and has a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. We've driven the car and find it to be the best handling and family sedan/hatch in the market, including the all-new Honda Civic. As with any Ford passenger car, the problem will be convincing people to buy it over inferior Japanese rivals.

Chrysler's face lifted 300C made its Indonesian debut. Gone are the brash looks of the original replaced by a much sleeker and modern design. Personally, we prefer the old looks and find the new car a bit mundane to look at, but it'll still turn heads wherever you go. Opt for the SRT-V8 version and you'll have the rumble and performance to match the looks but don't expect to be chasing the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. It's more boulevard cruiser than back road burner. 

It's relatively old and everyone knows what it is but the Subaru BRZ is still new enough to turn heads. The twin-sister to the Toyota 86 marries Subaru engine technology to Toyota's chassis expertise to create one of the best handling Japanese cars ever. Sales are strong throughout the region but prices in markets like Indonesia and Malaysia are relatively high so only well-heeled enthusiasts need apply.

Sumber: my.news