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isitors at motor shows are always eager to see concept cars, special editions and new models ready to enter the market. The Jakarta Post’s Rangga D. Fadillah and Iman Mahditama compiled a report on concept cars and new models on display at the 2011 Indonesia International Motor Show, which opened Friday and will run until July 31.

Responding to the exhibition’s theme of “Sustainable Green Technology”, some carmakers displayed concept cars that are more environmentally friendly than those roaming the streets today, but it is unclear whether they will ever make it to the production line.

The largest automotive brand in Indonesia, Toyota, has three concept cars on display this year: FT-86 Concept, A-BAT and 1/X.

Those who attended the Bangkok International Motor Show in March would be familiar with FT-86 Concept, which is jointly manufactured by Subaru. The coupe, however, looks more like a production car rather than a car from the future.

First introduced at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show (TMS), this car is indeed intended for mass production instead.

Meanwhile, the 1/X looks more like a concept car than the FT-86. First shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, the compact car uses a petrol-electric hybrid configuration with plug-in technology.

The 1/X weighs only 420 kilograms but its exterior is as spacious as the Prius, Toyota’s popular hybrid car. Extensive use of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic allows the 1/X to be lightweight while at the same time strong. Toyota has even pondered making a version from seaweed.

A 500cc engine sits under the rear seats, driving the rear wheels, allowing the car to drive 960 kilometers on only 15 liters of gasoline.

A rather bulky and muscular specimen is the A-BAT, a concept truck first introduced in December 2007 and officially debuted one month later at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Similar in size to Toyota’s compact SUV RAV4, the A-BAT combines a four-cylinder engine with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Another Japanese carmaker, Honda, offers a different approach in applying green technology.

While Toyota is showcasing a hybrid solution, Honda relies on an coaxial electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery.

The Honda Fit EV, based on the popular Fit or Jazz hatchback, was first introduced in November 2010 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Fit EV can reach a top speed of more than 140 km per hour, and has a range of 160 km.

The battery can be charged with either a 12-volt power outlet — which will take up to 12 hours of charging — or a 240-volt power outlet, with which charging time will be reduced to around six hours.

Honda says the car will be the carmaker’s benchmark in creating future electricity-based cars, which would be introduced in Japan and the United States in 2012.

The premium brand of Nissan, Infiniti, showcases its own concept car, the Essence, which was revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show to celebrate the brand’s 20th anniversary.

Infiniti said they picked Indonesia as the first destination in Southeast Asia to showcase Essence, which runs on a V6, 3.7-liter gasoline engine with twin turbochargers coupled with an electric motor capable of producing 120 kilowatt of electricity.

A concept car is generally thought of as a platform to showcase the pinnacle of automotive technology.

However, Daihatsu’s A-Concept, a five-seater hatchback, is a different case.

The concept car deserves attention as it was developed and designed by Indonesians with the help of Japanese technology.

PT Astra Daihatsu Motor president director Sudirman MR said the car was intended to be produced as a government-backed low-cost vehicle.

Sudirman, however, declined to give any further details about the car as it was still in development.

And for most carmakers, such an event is the time to reap huge sales by introducing new models, including face-lifts.

The organizer expects to attract 300,000 visitors this year, up from 282,331 visitors in 2010, and reaps total transactions of Rp 2.7 trillion (US$316.76 million), an 8 percent increase from last year’s figure of Rp 2.5 trillion.

Mazda officially debuts the Mazda8 premium MPV and the Mazda MX 5 two-seater sports car, priced at Rp 498 million and Rp 590 million, respectively.

The company also showcased the limited edition version of its Mazda2 sedan. Only 17 units of the vehicle are available and they can only be purchased at the show.

Meanwhile, BMW Indonesia officially launched the MINI line of products during the show.

Three MINI models were introduced: The MINI Cooper S Hatch, the MINI Cooper S Cabrio, and the MINI John Cooper Works Hatch.

Toyota Astra Motor also introduces face-lifted versions of its popular Kijang Innova MPV and Fortuner SUV.