After seven years of studying automotive history, Tuksedo Studio is ready to create a car of its own. Designed and handcrafted in Bali, Firstlady marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indonesian automotive artistry.
There is a particular kind of confidence required to build a car from scratch. Not to assemble, modify or restore one, but to begin with an idea, translate it into a design, engineer its structure and eventually bring an entirely new automobile to life.
For Tuksedo Studio, that ambition has existed since its founding. The Bali-based automotive atelier was established with the goal of creating original cars under its own brand, built according to its own vision. But before that could happen, the studio needed to learn.
For nearly seven years, Tuksedo studied some of the most celebrated automobiles in history, producing handmade recreations and reimagined models inspired by legendary marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Toyota. Through reverse engineering, the team developed a deeper understanding of automotive design, engineering, materials and craftsmanship. It was an apprenticeship to automotive history. First Lady is the result of that education.
Described by Tuksedo as Indonesia’s first luxury handmade car, First Lady is a two-seater Grand Tourer designed around the pleasure of driving. Its purpose extends beyond transportation. The car is intended to create a sense of connection between driver and machine, allowing performance and design to become a personal experience.
Its character is defined by what Tuksedo calls “classic futuristic”, a design philosophy that draws from the visual confidence of earlier automotive eras while looking towards the future. The studio is particularly inspired by the 1970s and 1980s, when cars often possessed distinctive silhouettes and strong individual identities.
As automotive manufacturing became increasingly industrialised from the late 1990s onwards, standardisation and mass production began to shape the way cars looked and were built. First Lady seeks to reconnect with a time when craftsmanship and design played a more visible role in an automobile’s identity.
That philosophy extends to its construction. The car will be made from aluminium sheet, a lightweight material associated with performance and racing applications, and fabricated entirely by hand in Bali. Every panel, curve and transition requires the judgement and patience of skilled craftspeople.
For Tuksedo, the handmade process is what allows each automobile to develop its own personality.
The name First Lady carries several meanings. It refers to the studio’s first original automobile, but also reflects Tuksedo’s belief that every man needs his own First Lady. The name suggests a car with presence, character and a personal relationship with its owner.
Yet the significance of First Lady extends beyond its design or name. Indonesia is one of the world’s major automotive markets, with a vibrant custom culture and deep enthusiasm for cars. What remains less developed is an indigenous industry capable of creating original automobiles at a high level of design and craftsmanship. Tuksedo hopes to contribute to that future.
First Lady is a statement that Indonesia can move from studying the world’s automotive heritage to contributing to it. Designed and fabricated in Bali, it brings engineering, artistry and Indonesian craftsmanship into the same conversation. First Lady is Tuksedo Studio’s first step into original automotive design, and a glimpse of what Indonesian craftsmanship might be capable of when it takes the wheel.
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