(JP/Nurhayati)

New prevalent technological designs of vehicle parts, including edgy exterior and interior features made with high-quality materials, may offer a more pleasant driving experience. Drivers still seek the ability and capability to drive safely.

Apart from better engines, carmakers continuously strive to introduce innovative and sophisticated features, both for the exterior and interior of a car. Not all fitted features are overly useful or practical for a driver and passengers, particularly in metropolises like Jakarta where driving a luxury sedan could attract social envy.

In fact, some people believe that stylish features improve a car'€™s safety and offer a pleasant driving experience. In the meantime, carmakers are competing to provide tech-savvy vehicles to lure potential buyers.

Since there are many kinds and models of cars, people should consider what type of car would best suit their needs, while the features can be regarded as complementary. Based on the recent Indonesia Otomotif Awards (Automotive Award) 2014 held by Otomotif tabloid, here are some winners with features that sometimes come with highly curious terms, promoted as useful for drivers and passengers.

Daihatsu

The Daihatsu Ayla won the Rookie of the Year award. This car, categorized as a low-cost green car, has several exterior and interior features. These include a sporty front aero kit, rear parking sensor, alloy rims and chrome ornamentation.

The Ayla, designed in Indonesia using 84 percent local content in its assembly, also has eco-driving support for fuel efficiency. It provides guidance for enjoyable, fuel-efficient driving on the basis of driving condition analysis and an energy-saving route-search feature that recommends the most fuel-efficient route to a destination.

The car also has a rear spoiler with high mounted stop lamp that offers a sporty look and improves visibility when drivers apply the brakes. It ensures that other vehicles notice when the car stops. The Ayla comes with 14-inch alloy wheels, which are lighter than steel wheels but have the same strength and provide better heat conduction and improved cosmetic appearance.

Ford

The All New Ford Focus 2.0 (Best of the Best Sedan) offers one of the most diverse and technologically sophisticated features, including the SYNC hands-free information and entertainment system. With SYNC, drivers can use voice commands to make calls, play music from an iPod and convert incoming text messages into verbal messages.

Users of the sedan can enjoy more amenities such as a customizable color LCD screen. This car has another interesting facility called Ford'€™s Active Park Assist, which can help parallel park the car, requiring only that the driver shift gears and brake when prompted.

Honda

The Honda Mobilio, which won three awards (Car of the Year, Best Small MPV, Best of the Best MPV), has an important safety feature: a dual SRS airbag that inflates immediately upon heavy impact.

Honda claims the car was specifically developed based on research in Indonesia, taking local road and weather conditions as well as customer needs into account.

From a recent test drive by

The Jakarta Post, the 11-centimeter knee clearance in the front, combined with high head room, gives passengers comfort and leaves plenty of room for belongings.

The front semi-bucket seats perfectly hug the back, giving additional comfort. The car is also perfect for a family road trip because the rear seats can be folded down, providing space that can fit a folded bicycle and several large suitcases. The 1.5L Mobilio has tilt steering technology so the driver can adjust the height of the steering wheel. The vehicle has an audio system that is compatible with USB and CDs

Mazda

The Mazda CX-5 2.5 Skyactiv (two awards: Best of the Best SUV and Best High SUV gasoline) is the first Mazda car equipped with Skyactiv Technology, a holistic approach to design focusing on weight reduction and efficiency.

On its website, the carmaker claims that this SUV offers state-of-the-art navigation, so that drivers always have the most efficient routes to their destinations. It also has a Bluetooth hands-free system with voice command, resulting in making and receiving calls being as easy as pushing a button and saying hello. Drivers can also stream music wirelessly using the convenient steering-wheel mounted controls.

Nissan

The All New Nissan Serena (Best of the Best Van) has several advanced safety applications as standard features, including a collision avoidance support system with emergency brake.

Drivers of this van, acclaimed by many customers for its roomy cabin and ease of use as a minivan for the family, enjoy around-view mirrors and moving object detection. Emergency Assist for pedal misapplication and Driver Attention Alert are also features.

To offer more comfort and better user-friendliness, the vehicle is said to have a dynamic exterior design. Various pieces of equipment have been added to this new Serena, which can seat up to eight people.

Among other the features are super UV-cut heat insulated green glass in the front doors, a windscreen with top shade that provides both an open feeling and anti-glare function, and personal tables for third-row seats.

Toyota

The All New Vios from the noted automotive manufacture Toyota won the Best Small Sedan award. This car, called the Soluna when it was first introduced, is promoted as offering fun in driving and joy of ownership. The new sedan has a combined refined exterior with class-leading comfort and high fuel efficiency.

Most noticeable is the vehicle'€™s redesigned exterior, which gives it a more sporty and aggressive look. Vios is equipped with safety features that inspire confidence when driven.

Elements, such as ABS braking and SRS air bags coupled with a high tensile steel structure create enhanced protection against untoward circumstances. The car comes with two air bags that inflate instantly upon impact to protect the driver and front passenger from head and torso injuries.

In a variant, Vios has an '€œacoustic front windscreen'€ that is engineered to eliminate road noise and ensure a smooth drive. Another significant change is the dial screens, now located on the driver'€™s side, so that drivers no longer not need to turn their heads to view speed and RPM.

Almost all automobile producers have created a number of features to pamper drivers and passengers during their journeys. They may make for a pleasant car ride, but again, such sophisticated features do not determine a person'€™s ability to drive safely. It'€™s the capability of a driver that counts in staying safe on the road. (I. Christianto)

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