(Courtesy of Audi)

First impressions last. As I set eyes on my ride — an Audi A6 2.8 FSI — two words came to my mind: comfort and luxury.

As I settled inside, my initial impression remained and grew even stronger.

I was not only wowed by the car’s advanced entertainment and technology features, but as the German car maneuvered through Jakarta’s rush hour traffic, I could feel that deep down, it was burning with power.

With its 8-speed multitronic transmission, the premium car’s powerful V6 engine — dubbed as one of the finest engines money can buy — the car sped up to 180 kph and beyond along the Cipularang toll road in no time, reaching the West Java capital of Bandung for the Audi experience event in just about one-and-a-half hours.

Features: The car’s exterior is elegant with long and sleek lines, something that is sure to impress business counterparts and make out-of-town jaunts a real pleasure.

Its Xenon-plus halogen headlights and LED tail lights do not only make sure that you can clearly see road ahead at night, but also make the car handsomely eye-catching even in the daytime.

Inside, the four-seat car has a functional and comfortable cabin, with an impressive but straight-forward dashboard.

The impeccable sound system with Bluetooth connectivity ensures a pleasant atmosphere for any road trip.

The car also makes life easier with its Audi drive select and front and rear parking system, something that comes in handy in busy parking spaces.

With a Rp 885 million (US$95,161, off the road) price tag, this Audi A6 offers all the bells and whistles you would expect of the premium brand, plenty of space to handle large luggage or countless shopping bags and plenty of power to get from A to B.

Engine: For those with a need for speed, this Audi’s Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) technology, which was reportedly adopted by Audi from its Le Mans-winning cars, pushes its maximum speed to 240 kph and helps it crank out 280 Nm of torque at 3,000-5,000 rpm to go from 0 to 100 kph in just 7.7 seconds.

During the event, the test car flexed its muscles, climbing Bandung’s scenic hillsides smoothly and at ease for dinner at The Valley or The Peak restaurant and for coffee break at the Selasar Sunaryo Art Space.

The car also showed off its sporty side when maneuvering through Bandung’s traffic jams on the way to the city’s signature coffee factory Kopi Aroma and along the smaller roads on the way to the Ciwidey tea plantation area.

Safety: With the A6, safety is given five-star treatment. With all of its sophisticated features, the car comes well-prepared. The brakes, for instance, boast a variety of safety features, from the dual-circuit brake system with diagonal split, ESP, brake servo, hydraulic brake assist to the electromechanical parking brake.

In the event of accident, passengers are well-protected by side-guard curtain airbags and side airbags. Two-stage airbags and active head restrain are also provided for those sitting in the front seats.

Buyers: Entering the Indonesian market through Indomobil Group’s subsidiary PT Garuda Mataram Motor in 1997 with the Audi A4, the brand immediately won loyal customers.

Though the company briefly ceased operations in 1998 due to economic crisis, it was back in business in 2000, directly importing Audis from Germany.

In the past three years alone, Audi recorded a 128 percent increase in sales, from 146 units in 2010 to 334 last year.
This year, the company sets its sales target at 600 cars.

The company’s head of marketing and public relations, Wanny Bhakti AP, said the biggest contribution to sales came from the A4 model, followed by the A6 and the Q5. Other models, including the Audi A5, A8, Q3, Q7 and TTS also contributed to sales.

Wanny said Audi customers, primarily top executives and businesspeople aged between 40 and 65, chose the brand for its top-quality performance and reputation for advanced technology.

Each Audi model also comes with 24-hour emergency service, three years of free service and a solid warranty.

“Audi has loyal customers — those who know the brand. Once they drive an Audi, they do not want anything else,” she said. “Our buyers are usually not followers, or those who buy things that other people buy. Our customers are people who know what they want in life.”

The time when I left Bandung to return to Jakarta, I could not agree more. Once you have had a taste of top-quality, it leaves a lasting impression.

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