The early days of the car industry was dictated by Europe and America. Germany invented the combustion engine and the automobile, Italy made the best bodies, while USA pioneered mass production and market segmentation. Although Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu – the earliest of Japanese manufacturers - traced their history back to the 1930s, Japan didn’t enter the automotive industry in a big way until the ‘60s. Intervention by the Japanese military government prior to World War 2 had force
May 31, 2020
If you think that the Drive68 body kit on the all-new Nissan Almera is just a little too tame for you, then take a load of this ultra-aggressive LUMGA body kit created by body kit company Amotriz in Thailand. At first glance, the futuristic and aggressive body kit reminds one of the sporty kits on the Honda Civic Type-R and Nissan GT-R R35. The body kit includes a modified front bumper, sharp side skirting, a choice of massive rear spoiler or a ducktail style spoiler, and a rear bumper that make
Sep 14, 2020
With the upcoming 2021 W223 Mercedes-Benz S-Class about to be launched in September 2020, Mercedes-Benz has been teasing some of the newest technology and features of the flagship sedan through their Meet the S-Class Digital web series. In the latest update, Mercedes-Benz has revealed that the W223 will feature the E-Active Body Control active suspension system as an option. This feature is also seen in the GLE SUV. It adds semi-supporting pneumatics to the air suspension and is connected to a 4
Jul 30, 2020
Michael Mauer is Porsche’s head of design since 2004. He’s the man responsible for pretty much all Porsche models you see today, from the Porsche Cayenne to the 918 Spyder. As we’re all under the Movement Control Order (MCO), perhaps you’ve been thinking of attempting some car sketches of your own. But where do you even begin? Well, Michael Mauer is sharing some of the tricks. First you start with the wheels. One of the challenges of drawing a car is defining the wheelbase and the correct propor
Apr 17, 2020
The JNCAP has rated the Toyota Raize’s rigid DNGA platform with 5 stars in the collision safety performance evaluation. The Raize managed to achieve the top rank even though JNCAP has revised their collision safety performance evaluation criteria. The new Raize is the first compact car built on Daihatsu’s DNGA platform. Daihatsu and Toyota created the platform with a goal of providing car passengers with the best driving performance, luxury, safety, and peace of mind. Daihatsu has certainly achi
May 28, 2020
Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) introduces a quick update for the Ford Ranger XLT Plus variant. The new facelift will now feature a new front design and new Bi-LED headlamps for a price of RM 129,888 on the road without insurance. The Ford Ranger XLT Plus facelift comes with enhanced features similar to the Ranger WildTrak and Raptor – new high-performance Bi-LED headlamps that deliver 17 percent greater lighting penetration for better visibility while driving at night. Its new body-coloured bu
Sep 21, 2020
During the recently concluded 2020 Autocar Awards, Mazda’s Ikuo Maeda was named the Design Hero of the year. The award is handed to Maeda in recognition of how Mazda designs have evolved throughout the years to become beautiful cars that it is now. There is no denying that Mazdas are one of the most beautiful cars you can buy now on the market. But a look back in the history books, and you are reminded Mazda don’t always have beautiful and emotional cars to boast. Under the watchful eye of desig
Jul 9, 2020
As you may already know, WapCar held the first-ever Car of the Year awards where you, our readers, get to decide which cars deserved to win. At the same time, each member of WapCar editorial team has also chosen his/her very own favourite car of the year. My pick was the Volvo S60 T8 R-Design. Let me start with a confession: the initial pick for my favourite car of the year was the G20 BMW 3 Series. That is, until I’ve spent a night with the Volvo S60 T8. And boy, was I glad to have experienced
Jan 14, 2021
The 10th generation, all-new 2020 Honda Accord has just been launched in Malaysia. It is priced from RM 185,900 to RM 195,900, locally-assembled at Honda Malaysia’s plant in Pegoh, Melaka. We have covered the topic quite extensively but there is minor detail that we’ve yet to discuss. If you take look a closer look at the 2020 Honda Accord’s roof, you will notice that the roof is missing a rubber strip that’s usually found on most cars. The rubber strip does not serve any real purpose but it’s n
Feb 28, 2020
With the Road and Transport Department (JPJ) waiting for the official green light to start issuing fines for not using a child car seat, many parents are rushing to purchase a seat to avoid needing to pay the expensive fine. But unfortunately, many are looking to second-hand child seats or hand-me-downs from friends and families. Did you know that these child car seats have an expiry date? Yes, all child car seats have an expiry date or shelf life as we call it. There are many factors contributi
Aug 8, 2020
The 2020 Kia Optima gets a radical change in its design from the outgoing generation, now with a fastback sloping roofline akin to an Audi A7. Inspired by the texture of shark skin, the grille is said to give a powerful and sporty image. The headlamps are seamlessly intergrated with the grille, featuring a unique daytime running light signature, which Kia calls ‘heartbeat’. Further enhancing its four-door coupe appeal are the frameless doors, with the chrome trim now extending around the rear of
Nov 18, 2019
The newly launched 2021 Hyundai Elantra now has a new accolade under its belt as it was recognised by the panel of judges at the 2020 Good Design awards. But the Elantra is not the only winner from Hyundai that won an award. The seventh-generation Hyundai Elantra won hearts at the awards thanks to its Parametric Dynamics design elements like the parametric-jewel-pattern grille and H-tail lamp. It was also credited for its 10-inch touchscreen display and an infotainment system that comes with And
Jan 4, 2021
Nearly half a year after its global debut Down Under, Mazda launched the all-new 2021 Mazda BT-50 in Thailand. As we had reported before, the all-new BT-50 is basically the all-new Isuzu D-Max that has been injected with Mazda’s Kodo design. The all-new BT-50 is marketed as an urban pick-up, unlike the more utilitarian D-Max. As such, the classy and elegant Kodo design blends well with the functional design aesthetics of a pick-up truck. In Thailand, the all-new BT-50 is available with two body
Dec 21, 2020
It’s tough work to create something astonishing. You have to combine the best resources, be far better than the competition, pay attention to every single detail, and leave a great and lasting impression. It would be a stretch to call the Volvo S60 T8 astonishing, but having tried it, I must say, it’s almost there. It’s a shame that some of us could not think beyond Mercedes-Benz or BMW when it comes to a luxury car. Yes, the three-point star is great for making an impression, and the Bavarian m
Jan 9, 2021
Ter Studios, a Thai body kit supplier, recently gave the 2020 Honda City a visual makeover with the Drive68 body kit. Up front, the front bumper extension gives off an aggressive visual intake on the fog lamp section. The lip features integrated reflective extensions on the corners of the bumpers. The rear bumper extension have been fitted with chrome-tipped exhausts that only serve as eye-candy. Paired with the faux exhausts is an inconspicuous diffuser-like element, complemented with a mesh-fi
Jun 10, 2020
The locally assembled Volvo S60 T8 R-Design is officially launched with a slight revision to the specifications. Now we’re bringing you to the showroom with photos we’ve taken after checking out the car ourselves. Volvo S60 It is mostly identical to the fully imported (CBU) model and from the outside, it is virtually impossible to tell them apart. Like the CBU unit, it is propelled by the T8 plug-in hybrid powertrain and finished in R-Design trim. Speaking of power, the T8 powertrain makes a com
May 27, 2020
This Modellista body kit is designed specifically for the Toyota Raize - aka Daihatsu Rocky - in Japan, but does this mean it will fit on the upcoming Perodua D55L which is based on the Rocky? Wing Hin Motorsports' Facebook page has hinted the availability of the styling package in Malaysia. In theory, the package should allow D55L owners a chance to upgrade the looks of their B-segment SUV. The Modellista Advance Blast Style is an official body kit offered by Toyota for the Raize. It features a
Dec 17, 2020
Perodua has successfully held its first-ever Body & Paint (B&P) Skill Contest in a move to step up its human capital development efforts and provide higher standards of B&P service to its customers. Established in 2009, Perodua’s B&P business deals with the repair and restoration of vehicles that have been involved in collisions. “Our B&P business aims to take much of the hassle away from the repair of collision-involved vehicles, with work carried out to the highest possible standards of qualit
Jul 23, 2019
DreamEdge will be in charge Daihatsu to provide technical knowledge Goes on sales in March 2021 Last week, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Darell Leiking revealed the company responsible for the third national car company is DreamEdge. According to the slides provided during the press conference, the first mock-up will be shown towards the end of August 2019. By March 2020, the first prototype model will be completed, and the car is expected to be launched by March 2021. Apart
Aug 15, 2019
Toyota Harrier Toyota Racing Development telahpun mengeluarkan set body kit rasmi dengan jenama Gazoo Racing (GR) untuk model Toyota Harrier 2020 terbaru. Aksesori kosmetik Set body kit tersebut datang dalam 16 bahagian yang merangkumi spoiler bumper depan dan belakang, skirt sisi, hiasan bumper depan, spoiler pintu belakang dan beberapa pelekat decal bahagian luar. Anda boleh menambah lagi pilihan yang ada. Terdapat 4 ekzos palsu keluli tahan karat, jalur merah, rim aloi 20 inci multispoke hita
Jun 25, 2020
It looks like Kia has been busy recruiting some of the best talents from BMW. The latest recruit to Kia Motors is Jochen Paesen, a former BMW interior designer. The Belgian-born Paesen will become Kia’s vice president of interior design, reporting under a team led by Karim Habib - himself a former BMW head of design. Coincidence? Maybe not. With Paesen's appointment, this marks Kia’s third major recruitment from BMW over the past years. Along with Karim Habib, this also includes Albert Biermann,
Mar 30, 2020
If the 2020 Toyota Harrier isn’t enough for your taste, Gazoo Racing (GR) just released a sporty-looking body kit only available in Japan. Form over Function The body kit adds a sporty-looking front and rear diffuser, side visor fins, side skirts and a rear spoiler. You can further add on air intakes on the bumpers, 4 stainless steel-tipped faux exhausts, red racing stripes, 20-inch black multispoke alloy rims and tinted windows. So is there anything functional? An anti-sway bar made by Yamaha i
Jun 23, 2020
The locally-assembled (CKD) Volvo S60 T8 R-Design was launched in 2020 at identical price to the fully-imported (CBU) version – RM 295,888 (OTR with SST, without insurance). Price with SST exemption is RM 282,540, valid until 30 June 2021. Remind me again, what’s changed in the CKD model? Some were expecting a drop in price for the CKD model but as Volvo mentioned during the launch of the CBU version, it was already priced as a CBU. Features remained largely the same as well, save for a few item
Jan 10, 2021
Having tested the Volvo S60 T8 R-Design last year, we have to say, we were quite impressed. The Volvo outperformed segment rivals like the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-Series when it came to ride comfort and luxury features. Well, now it is time to see how the Volvo S60 scores in our WapCar Ratings. 2020 Volvo S60 T8 R-Design: Driving Performance - 37/50 pts, More than enough power 2020 Volvo S60 T8 R-Design - Facts and Figures Engine 2.0-litre 4-cyl supercharged and turbocharged with hybrid syste
Mar 13, 2021
As consumers in emerging markets (including Malaysian keyboard warriors) find the fourth-generation (4G) 2021 Honda Jazz a bit too radical/cute/retro to accept, it's a winner elsewhere, having scooped up two gongs in the Red Dot Design Awards' 'Product Design' category. Jazz, Jazz Crosstar win Car Design awards The Jazz's latest iteration takes after Honda's 'Yoo no bi' design philosophy, which essentially means 'honing everyday items to make them more beautiful and ergonomically satisfying to u
Apr 1, 2021
Checking our tyre pressure is an integral part of owning a car. But sadly not many car owners perform this check as often as they are supposed to. As my colleague, Eric, has highlighted, your tyre pressure easily affects your car's handling, ride and comfort and even your fuel consumption! So now you know the benefits of checking on your tyres constantly and keeping them well filled, but do you know how much air pressure to pump into your tyres? And where do you find the guide of the air pressur
Oct 20, 2019
While the Proton X50 is still enjoying the limelight since its launch in October 2020, the Perodua D55L is on its way to capture the hearts of Malaysians. Our friends at funtasticko have information that the Perodua D55L will begin production in Rawang in February 2021. Although the final name of the Perodua D55L is yet to be confirmed, photo chopper Theophilus Chin has blessed us again with a rendering of a GR version of the Perodua D55L. (Daihatsu Rocky/Toyota Raize). Like the Perodua GR Axia,
Dec 21, 2020
The all-new 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was launched yesterday and further solidifies its position as the marque's top banana, being chock-full of new tech and neat design touches. Let's take a deeper look at this luxobarge and see what's new - don't forget to tell us what you think of it too! Exterior ‘Sensual Purity’ sounds a lot like a high-end perfume brand but that’s the name of Mercedes-Benz's design philosophy. The recipe is recognisable - short front and rear overhangs, characterised with
Sep 3, 2020
German Porsche tuner, TECHART, has announced its new product range for the Porsche Taycan. The engineering department at TECHART is concerned with all spheres of customization for the Taycan such as exterior styling and aerodynamic design, carbon fiber parts and trims as well as all kinds of interior refinement and high-grade materials processing. The new 22-inch TECHART Formula VI forged wheels will be available from August 2020. The wheels feature slender spokes, low weight, appealing dimensio
Jun 20, 2020
Images of the supposedly new 2020 Toyota Fortuner facelift has surfaced on the net ahead of its official debut. The car in question is supposedly the TRD variant as told by the black roof and side mirrors. From the image, we can see that the updated Fortuner will feature sharper and slimmer headlamps as well as a more angular body kit that resembles the Toyota RAV4. We can just catch a glimpse of the car’s rear bumper and that too appears to be revised. Details of the Fortuner facelift are scarc
Apr 8, 2020
Honda HR-V
Perodua Alza
Honda City
Honda City Hatchback
Toyota Yaris