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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The National Council of Persons with Disabilities (MKBOKU) has approved the plan to change disabled person sticker to a special vehicle number plate instead as is suggested by the Ministry of Transport. According to a press release, applications for the disabled person’s number plate with the Social Welfare Department is now open. Those that are eligible to register for a disabled plate is as listed below: Physical disability A sub-category of learning disability – ADHD Autistic Multiple categor
Dec 23, 2020
Hyundai Motor has unveiled the new 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe to the world. The SUV’s new sporty looks clearly continues on with Hyundai’s play with lights on the newly launched Hyundai Sonata and Hyundai Elantra. At the front, the Santa Fe now features a grille that dominates the entire front-end. Though the diamond shape grille is the main feature, it is the headlights that merge smoothly with the grille and the newly designed DRLs that catches the eye. As previously teased, the Santa Fe will featu
Jun 3, 2020
** This article is published on WapCar Community. Click the link below to enter the community for car enthusiasts in Malaysia https://www.wapcar.my/forum Basic Information Model: 2020 Proton X50 1.5T Flagship Time of Booking: May 2020, way before the official announcement for booking Dealer Name: Proton Cahaya Segambut Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: Rm 103,300 excluding insurance The price I Paid: Rm 103,000 excluding insurance Vehicle Delivery Time: 30th October 2020 Reasons why I bough
Nov 10, 2020
Volkswagen Golf GTI It looks cool, doesn’t it? The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI sports a new Digital Cockpit display, with active info display and the ability to display multiple designs. Being digital, there is flexibility in design, and there's even the option of downloadable content of new meter design as a more personalized experience. The Digital Cockpit display will be a prominent feature in future Volkswagen products, and if the picture above is any indication of design you may g
May 9, 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
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
** This article is the personal experience of a 2018 Proton Saga 1.3L Premium CVT owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar. Facebook: Xavier Pang First, a huge thanks to WapCar for accepting my request to join the owner group and allow me to share my story, as part of a growing movement on real cars, real story sharing. I have always wanted to do a sharing like this, where real owners share real experiences on their rides. As I myself very much enjoy such sharing, it is right o
Aug 11, 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
Volvo S60 Volvo Car Malaysia will launch the locally-assembled (CKD) version of the Volvo S60 T8 R-Design through live stream launch event on their official Facebook page next week, May 18th at 12 PM. The fully-imported (CBU) version launched last year carries a price tag of RM 295,888, but the CKD model is highly likely to not go far off from the current pricing, with a possible add-on to the specifications. Expect the S60 CKD to retain its 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder
May 13, 2020
The Nissan Z Proto is a perfect mixture of past Z cars (or as Chief Designer at Nissan, Alfonso Albaisa called it, memories) and the future of Nissan. Some people might say it is merely an evolution of the 370Z but clearly, there is more to that. In fact, it is probably a better reworking of what Nissan had done a little over 20 years ago with a Z concept also known as the 240Z Concept. Things weren’t doing so well financially for Nissan in the late nineties. Sure, the Skyline GT-R was about to
Sep 20, 2020
Just like that, we are 2 weeks into MCO 2.0. This most likely means that most of us are working from home, which then means our cars aren't driven much. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to keep your car in tip top condition despite it being underdriven. Here are some pointers that might be useful to keep in mind in this second MCO season. Don't park under trees You might think that parking your car under trees is a good idea, since the car does get some shade from the sun. Well, if
Feb 14, 2021
Say, you're an up-and-coming executive, and you just got levelled-up in your paygrade. Time to splash the cash on a compact premium sedan, yes? Something sporty, with the grunt to match. Naturally, the names that will get bandied about will be the BMW 330e M Sport or Mercedes C300 AMG Line. But what if you seek something a bit more.... unorthodox? The Volvo S60 T8 R-Design is indeed a refreshing change of pace from the usual suspects in this segment. Boasting a distinctive and unmistakable exter
Jan 20, 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
Nobody's surprised here and nobody is going to argue with the verdict of the panel of judges – the C-segment Mazda 3 has just been crowned the 2020 World Car Design of the Year. Among the experts on the panel are Gordon Murray (McLaren F1), Ian Callum (all recent Jaguars), Patrick le Quément (Renault Avantime), and Shiro Nakamura (Isuzu Vehicross, Nissan Cube). “Before accepting this prize, Mazda Motor Corporation would like to express our sympathy for all of those affected by the novel coronavi
Apr 9, 2020
Mazda is making strides in the automotive design sphere as the 2020 Mazda CX-30 wins the 2020-2021 Japan Automobile Hall of Fame (JAHFA) Car Design of the Year. According to JAHFA, and this is translated directly by Google, the 2020 Mazda CX-30 has design coordination that approaches the realm of art. It has exterior design that insists on driving and interior design that you can enjoy with peace of mind. Pardon the Japanese. Meanwhile, the Honda Fit (or Honda Jazz in other markets) won the JAHF
Nov 12, 2020
So, you want to buy a used car. Maybe it’s a project car, a unique car model you’ve always wanted, or a car model that’s not sold brand new in Malaysia. If your reason for buying a used car is a tight budget, you might want to consider other options like public transportation or a motorcycle. If you’re still here after reading that, we assume you’re serious about this, regardless of your reasons. Well, there’s a long list of things to look out for when buying used cars. In this article, we will
Aug 15, 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
The all-new 2021 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W206) was just unveiled globally. Now, let’s take a side-by-side look at the W206 C-Class and its predecessor, the W205 C-Class. Exterior The W206 C-Class adopts the current design language of Mercedes-Benz with sharp headlamps and L-shaped LED DRLs. AMG Line variant gets unique 3-pointed star pin design element on the front grille. Dimensions Mercedes-Benz C-Class Dimensions Dimensions W206 C-Class W205 C-Class Length (mm) 4,751 4,686 Width (mm) 1,820 1,8
Feb 24, 2021
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