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Earlier this month, tuners and builders from across Indonesia gathered to display their latest creations at the annual Indonesia Modification & Lifestyle Expo (IMX).
After seven events, IMX has become one of the country’s largest automotive gatherings. For every Indonesian enthusiast, it’s an unmissable show. For me, the 2024 event was an opportunity to reconnect with the vibrant car culture of my homeland.
Before even stepping inside the venue – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD City, just outside Jakarta – I was greeted by the sounds of engines on their limiters and tires being tortured from the makeshift drift track, immediately setting the tone for the three-day event. Over the weekend, I darted between the indoor car show and the outdoor drifting just to keep up with everything happening.
IMX brings the best of Indonesia’s tuning scene under one roof, with rows upon rows of super-nice builds in all styles for the local car community to check out.
Japanese performance cars dominated the venue, accurately reflecting the Indonesian tuning scene.
An early standout for me was this FD3S Mazda RX-7. It’s a subtle car that hides a serious powertrain built around a custom four-rotor rotary engine.
As an automotive tuning exhibition, IMX showcases various aftermarket brands and scene personalities. Liberty Walk unveiled two Nissan-based builds: a full carbon fiber version of their Super Silhouette ER34 Skyline and an RZ34 Fairlady Z.
The Liberty Walk booth was a popular spot for spectators, almost always packed with fans eager for Wataru Kato and Toshiro Nishio’s autographs. Both kept the good vibes rolling!
Kato and Toshi weren’t the only overseas guests, either. Ryan Basseri from Rywire and Big Mike, renowned Honda builders from the USA and no strangers to Speedhunters, also made the trip. As did Japanese tuning icons Tatsuru Ichishima from Spoon Sports and Takahiro Ueno from Vertex.
But the most anticipated guest was the ‘Drift King’ himself, Keiichi Tsuchiya.
Tsuchiya-san wasn’t alone, though; he brought his legendary TEC-Art’s-built AE86 Toyota Trueno with him, the first time this car had appeared at an event outside Japan.
IMX also serves as a platform for local companies to shine. One such brand is Coga, which debuted a widebody kit for the electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 at last year’s show. This year, it was back, now refinished in bright yellow.
Coga’s latest work, however, is a complete departure from the Hyundai. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a popular SUV in Indonesia, and Coga’s kit – which features fender flares and spoilers – will surely become a hit on Jakarta’s streets.
California-based, Indonesia-born automotive designer Muso Rio Tjahjono from Musart, also revealed a new build based on the Lamborghini Aventador during the event.
If you’re a fan of time attack racing, you’ll love this freshly completed Honda S2000 from Engine+. The AP1 features a full Voltex body kit with a massive splitter and wing, with power to match under the hood – the original F20C engine has been built up and turbocharged to produce 800hp. Next up for Engine+ is some fine-tuning and track testing.
Think ‘Group A Corolla’ and the AE86 will likely spring to mind. That’s not the only Group A Corolla, though, and this AE101 sedan variant – built to JTCC specifications and raced in Indonesia back in the day – was a real standout at IMX. Check out the huge ram air intake system that dominates the engine bay!
Another show-stopper was this handmade replica of the Aston Martin DB5, crafted by Bali-based coachbuilder Tuksedo Studio. While its BMW M50 powertrain may not be glamorous, the bespoke, hand-beaten exterior work is exquisite. Priced at over US$200,000, Tuksedo Studio’s DB5, Porsche 550 Spyder, and Toyota 2000GT replicas aren’t cheap but are still a fraction of an original’s cost in Indonesia – if you could even find one here.
One brand that stood out at IMX for its sheer numbers was Honda. From the humble Jazz to the legendary NSX, there was a Honda at every corner I turned.
As it is everywhere else, the K-series engine is a clear favorite for local tuners, with examples swapped into nearly every EG Civic at the show, along with a few S2000s and even the compact Honda Brio.
The three-door EG Civic, affectionately known as the ‘Estilo’ in Indonesia, has become a popular base for tuning here, with prices now soaring. This particular Estilo debuted at The Elite Showcase earlier in the year, where its build cost of over 1 billion Indonesian rupiah (about US$64,000) was revealed. A lot of the expense came from the rare, genuine Mugen parts that feature all over the car.
One of my favorite Hondas at IMX was a red EG Civic. While the exterior is fairly standard, the devil is in the details. It features numerous original Mugen parts, from the roll cage and speedometer to the air box and FD2 Civic Mugen RR seats. Under the hood, and sitting in a super-clean engine bay, is a supercharged K24 that makes over 400hp.
In many markets, the Honda Jazz is known as a grandma’s car; in Indonesia, though, it’s a revered tuner machine – if properly modified. This yellow GE8 Jazz is just that, featuring many parts from the Spoon Sports catalog. I’m a big fan of this little Honda!
The most extreme Honda at the show? That would be this 4th-gen Civic. It’s K-swapped, of course, but the tube-frame chassis and inboard suspension set it apart from every other Honda at the show – or in Jakarta, for that matter.
BMW E36s are common in Indonesia, but you never see them looking like this one. With its Apex ARC-8 wheels wrapped in Nankang Sportnex AR-1 tires and a stripped-out interior with a roll cage, the sedan looks like it came straight from Devil’s Diner after a Touristenfahrten lap at the Nürburgring. All it’s missing is an M3 Lightweight (LTW) splitter and wing, but according to its owner, both are in the works. An E36 ‘Ring Tool’ in Indonesia – I never thought I’d see that!
While a few genuine AE86s were on show at IMX, my interest was piqued by a black Daihatsu Charmant converted with Levin parts. I’d never have known it was a Daihatsu if it hadn’t been labeled as such – it passed all of my Hachiroku vibe checks.
Not crazy enough? How about a half Volkswagen T2 Bus, half Beetle!
Ladder-frame diesel SUVs have a massive following in Indonesia, and a few made their way to the Indonesia Convention Exhibition. Thailand’s tuning scene inspired the modifications made to this Toyota Fortuner. Check out the artwork on the underside of the bonnet and the unique carbon fiber weave – just wild.
I hope my 2024 Indonesia Modification & Lifestyle Expo coverage has given you an idea of the automotive diversity in the Indonesian scene. For me, it’s inspiring to see just how far car culture has come in the years since I moved to Germany. Though my trips home may be infrequent, Indonesia’s modified car community will always hold a special place in my heart, and I’ll keep a watchful eye on its evolution.
Steve Edward
Instagram: stevedwrd
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