What's it like to live as a multinational executive? As far as I know, their days begin with a power breakfast at a premium hotel with the board of directors. Next on the agenda is another meeting with business colleagues.
The executive lunch hour is used to meet with potential clients. Making phone calls and replying to emails can be "actioned" around this tight meeting schedule, until the day ends with a gathering with old pals.
With such a hectic life on the run, executives have to contend with Jakarta's worsening traffic - the city administration has warned that traffic will be in gridlock by 2011, three years earlier than the previous estimation.
So, in this scenario, what kind of car do you pick? Definitely something classy but comfortable. Among the choices is the latest Mercedes-Benz S500.
PT Mercedes-Benz Indonesia gave journalists a chance to try the car - and experience for a short while at least the plush lifestyle of an executive. Once inside the car, I first adjusted the leather seat to find the most comfortable position and sought out some music from the surround sound stereo system. Being inside the S500 was like being in an entirely new world.
It was the perfect combination of luxury and exclusiveness.
Powered with an eight-cylinder V-engine - which meets the Euro 4 requirement implemented in Europe since January 2005 - and equipped with 7G-TRONIC transmission, the car was ready to cruise through Jakarta's traffic to catch the private jet waiting at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.
The automatic shock absorber easily adjusted to the road surface to ensure the car's stability when overtaking other vehicles or driving over bumps.
As the car is designed for the power and pleasure of the cr*me de la cr*me, it is equipped with advanced safety equipment - from airbags, belt force limiters, head protection (in case of a collision), PRE-SAFE and a crumple zone at both the front and the rear of the car.
Although, of course, the S-class is designed to avoid accidents in the first place. The car is installed with electronic sensors that can analyze and help guide the driver in critical situations - including turning on an automatic sensor when the driver is exhausted and cannot continue the journey.
The sensor, called Attention Assist, is marked with a coffee mug symbol on the dashboard. If a driver is sleepy, for instance, the steering wheel moves significantly. The sensor "reads" these signs and makes beeping sounds with a sign lighting up saying "Attention Assist. Break!"
Upon our arrival at Halim, we boarded the jet plane and flew over Jakarta for about one hour, discussing current issues and indulging in a bit of chitchat and banter. After lunch at a hotel, we continued our journey back to the starting line.
We entered the inner city toll road to test the work of the "Lane Keeping Assist", another feature of the S500. This tool helps the driver stay on track at a certain distance from the cars in front and behind.
If you are impatient with the city congestion on your usual road, you can try the GPS (global positioning system) and electronic map to help you navigate through alternative routes.
As the sun began to set, the S-class' Adaptive highbeam assist switched on automatically without creating any worries that the Xenon lamps would blind drivers approaching from the opposite direction.
For me personally, it was a tough choice to decide whether I would prefer to sit in the back seat, like most executives, or to be behind the wheel, with a car as easy as this to maneuver.
One thing for sure, though: Trying the elegance and exclusiveness of the latest S-class was a truly unforgettable experience.
Specifications:
Combustion process: Spark-ignition
Number of cylinders/arrangement: 8-cylinder V-engine (90.0*)
Number of valves per cylinder: 4
Displacement (bore x stroke): 5461 cm (98.00 mm x 90.50 mm)
Rated output: 285 kW (388 hp) at 6000 1/min
Rated torque: 530 Nm at 2800 - 4800 1/min
Governed maximum speed: 6500 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.7 : 1
Acceleration:
0-100 km/h: 5.4 s
60-120 km/h (5th gear manual, 3rd gear automatic): 5.6 s
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