Parking brake is a safety mechanism that prevents a stationary car from rolling away. Parking brake is also commonly referred to handbrake because of its hand-operated lever. However, there are also different types of parking brake such as foot-operated pedal (footbrake) as well as the increasingly common electric parking brake (EPB). Each of these parking brakes has its benefits, but which is the best? First, we will explain how each parking brake works. The manual handbrake and footbrake work
May 22, 2020
The demise of manual gearboxes may not be imminent after all, at least not at Porsche because they have just announced the option for a manual for the new 911, 992 generation. US market only for now. The latest 911 was launched with an 8-speed dual clutch (PDK) only option globally. And the thing about Porsche is that they listen to their customers’ demands. Case in point would be the previous generation 911 (991.1) GT3 that came with PDK only and purists around the world moaned for a manual. So
Oct 31, 2019
Stalling engines, nerve-wracking hill starts, and jerky gear shifts are some of the memories you might have of obtaining your driver’s license. If you had taken your driver’s license prior to 2014, you had to do it with a manual transmission car. It most likely didn’t have power steering too. You didn’t have a choice. Today, a Malaysian driver’s license can be obtained either with a manual or an automatic car. While driving enthusiasts stand by the mantra that driving a manual makes you a better
Jul 24, 2020
Mag X, a Japanese publication has reported that a manual gearbox is “under preparation” for the A90 Toyota Supra. The manual gearbox is expected to make the infamous coupe even more engaging to drive. There are yet to be any specifics on the manual gearbox. Currently the A90 Toyota Supra utilises the 8-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. Earlier this year, Toyota had already introduced a 4-cylinder turbo B48 base variant of the Toyota Supra alongside the B58 turbo 6-cylinder variant
Jul 29, 2020
When obtaining a Malaysian driver’s license, the only type of parking you are tested for is parallel parking. Other parking methods like perpendicular parking, double parking, and angle parking are not tested. Mainly because parallel parking requires a little bit more skill and concentration. The most common type of parking today is perpendicular parking, since it offers the most efficient use of space. Perpendicuar parking just means that the car is parked perpendicularly (90°) to a road/curb/w
Oct 3, 2020
When the 992 generation Porsche 911 was first revealed, there were no manual transmission option available globally and it was a sign of manual transmissions becoming obsolete. However, less than a year later, Porsche announced the option for a manual for it in the US. Now, the manual is available for the 911 Carrera S in Europe along with other updates. First things first, the 911 Carrera S and 4S is now available with the aforementioned manual gearbox over in Europe at no extra cost. Similarly
Apr 28, 2020
Malaysians and Indonesians could be expecting the arrival of the Perodua D55L and Daihatsu Rocky/Toyota Raize respectively in 2021. However, apart from getting Daihatsu Connect, the Indo-spec Rocky/Raize might also gain a manual transmission. According to Otodriver, the Indo-spec Rocky/Raize would be offered with two transmissions, a 6-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic. Recall that the Japanese Rocky/Raize only comes with a CVT automatic, so Indonesia could be the very first market t
Jan 29, 2021
China car brand Chery actually invented an electric vehicle (EV) that behaves like a manual car with shift points and it even stalls. It also adds a tachometer, clutch pedal, and a five-speed shifter. But why on earth did Chery invent an EV like this? The EV in question is known as a Chery New Energy eQ2 Driving School Version. Yes, the EV is invented to eliminate emissions from driving school vehicles. Even in Malaysia, a country with a population number that barely scratches the surface of Chi
Jun 19, 2020
One of the cars that stole last week's thunder was the 2020 Toyota Vios GR Sport. Since we first broke news of the car a couple of months ago and all the way up to our Closer Look post, one thing has got one trump card that people have been talking about - its '10-speed' gearbox. Pretty much for good reason too. Name us a few other cars that come with 10-speed gearboxes. There's the 2020 Ford Ranger Wildtrak, its beefier Ranger Raptor sibling and the way more expensive 2020 Lexus LC500 Convertib
Dec 26, 2020
** This article is the personal experience of a 2007 Suzuki Swift owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar. Hoo SH Suzuki wants redemption When Suzuki announced their new distributor for Malaysian market back in 2005, they know they are going against the guns of Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Suzuki had launched the new Swift back in 2004 for the European and Japanese market, where it’s praised by media and test drivers. Back then, I was still in my school days and not knowing about
Aug 14, 2020
Sunway is further paving the path in innovative parking lots with the preview of their new Smart Parking system within Sunway City. Sunway has always been in the lead when it comes to making their parking lots more accessible. The company was one of the first to adopt the lighting indication system a few years ago. Now the new integrated license plate recognition system will see Sunway City’s parking lot go entirely cashless and ticket-less. This is a massive step towards reducing the parking lo
Oct 31, 2019
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has issued a recall notice today for 12,732 cars produced between 2011 and 2015. The issue to be rectified is the hydraulic pressure accumulator within the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Failure of this component can possibly lead to pressure loss, interrupting power transmission between the engine and gearbox. These are the affected models. Models produced after 2016 are not affected. Beetle Cross Touran Golf (Mk.6 and Mk.7) Jetta Passat (B7) Passat CC Po
Jul 20, 2020
** This article is the personal experience of a 2019 Toyota Yaris owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar Facebook: Mike Maximiliano I fell in love with the Toyota Yaris the moment Toyota has teased it to the world. Being a college student, my options were limited by my parents. During the 2019 Malaysian Autoshow, I was taken aback by its design and features it has. Air conditioning, headlamps with follow-me-home function, an infotainment display, and electrochromic rearview m
Jul 2, 2020
By now you would’ve read that Naza Eastern Motors, the new distributor for Suzuki cars in Malaysia, has launched the fourth generation Suzuki Swift Sport. Priced at RM 139,900, imported (CBU) from Japan, thus explains its higher price. Enthusiasts who prefer to row their own gears will be disappointed to know that only one powertrain is offered for the Malaysian market Suzuki Swift Sport – a 140 PS / 230 Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder paired exclusively to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Apr 9, 2021
Very soon, Honda Malaysia will be hosting the world debut of the first ever Honda City RS with the latest two-motor i-MMD full hybrid engine. The specs sheet, which will be released in due time, will say that the City drives its front wheels via an E-CVT gearbox. In truth, the Honda City RS doesn’t have a gearbox, at least not a conventional one. However as you can imagine, it’s difficult to explain to customers that the car doesn’t have a gearbox, hence the E-CVT name. There’s still the usual P
Aug 25, 2020
We’re sure by now you have already watched the video of a Toyota Innova exiting a very tight parking spot behind two metal railings with sheer drops on either side of the concrete slab multiple times. It turns out the driver is now an international sensation and has even been interviewed by the media about his epic parking skills going viral. According to UK Tabloid paper, the DailyMail, the Innova does not even belong to the driver. In fact, the driver, PJ Biju, had only just collected his frie
Sep 14, 2020
As the automotive industry heads to an autonomous and electric future, a fair share of inventions of the past are losing presence in modern cars. The carburetor, the handbrake, and the ignition key switch are some to name. The friction of technology shift is something that can only be felt by those who have been accustomed to older technology. To younger generations, new technology is just how things have always been. While I claim to be a proponent of new technology, I find myself having more a
Sep 10, 2020
Touch ‘n Go has introduced the PayDirect feature for car parks at various locations across the country. The PayDirect Parking feature will work similarly to the PayDirect for toll payments by deducting money straight from your TNG eWallet instead of your card. Users who have enabled PayDirect in their TNG eWallet app will be able to pay their parking fees with the credit in their eWallet. This will save them from needing to reload their TNG cards as the existing card balance will not be affected
Mar 10, 2021
Mag X, satu publikasi Jepun telah melaporkan yang kotak gear manual sedang “dalam persiapan” untuk Toyota Supra A90. Kotak gear manual ini dijangka untuk membuatkan coupe terkenal ini lebih menarik dan menyeronokkan untuk dipandu. Belum ada maklumat terperinci tentang kotak gear manual ini. Buat masa ini, Toyota Supra A90 menggunakan transmisi automatik 8 kelajuan dengan ‘shift paddles’. Awal tahun ini, Toyota telah memperkenalkan varian asas Toyota Supra iaitu turbo B48 4 silinder bersama-sama
Jul 29, 2020
Bagi anda yang tidak pernah tahu, brek ‘parking’ dicipta untuk menghalang kereta daripada bergerak. Pada mulanya, ia dikawal oleh tangan. Disebabkan itulah ia terkenal dengan panggilan "handbrake" (brek tangan). Seiring dengan arus pemodenan, brek parking diinovasikan untuk dikawal oleh kaki (footbrake). Perubahan ini bertujuan untuk memberi ruang yang lebih praktikal di konsol tengah. Kini, rata-rata pengeluar sudah ke arah electronic parking brake (EPB). Brek parking EPB ini diaktifkan dengan
Mar 6, 2021
Just a few days back, my colleague Arif opined that the world doesn't need manual cars anymore. Chaos ensued, tables and chairs were thrown in the office (some were thrown in Adrian's direction too, for saying this). After the dust has settled, I'm happy to report that we're all still friends and colleagues (I was forced to type this). Jokes aside, I am only too aware of the passage of progress, and Arif does have valid points about the need to continue moving forward. Electric cars and autonomo
Aug 2, 2020
Ever since it was first hinted in the “Nissan A-Z” video back in May, the world has been abuzz with Nissan’s latest Z car speculating that it would be called the 400Z. For now, Nissan has just unveiled the Nissan Z Proto, which signals the next-gen Z car. For now, this model as the name suggests is a prototype and not the actual production car. Nissan doesn’t even call it the 400Z, yet. The overall design of the Z Proto takes inspiration from the past Z cars. The overall design is reminiscent of
Sep 16, 2020
Last week, we shed light on what are the top 10 most stolen cars in Malaysia for Q1 2020. We know many of you own cars in that list, so this week we’ll share with you some quick tips on how to secure your car from thieves. Let's set the scene. Imagine you're driving down a mall parking and boom, you've found a parking spot. First things first... 1. Start with parking in a well-lit place Nice, there's no hidden Kancil - but wait! - is it bright? Parking in well-lit places help reduce the risk of
Oct 10, 2020
The 11th generation Honda Civic will be revealed on Twitch in a few days. The “Civic” name was first used on an econobox in 1972, and the car has grown into so much more over the years. 1997 saw the emergence of the Civic Type R that made the Civic even more popular among enthusiasts. With the reveal of the eleventh-generation Honda Civic just around the corner, it seems like a good time to look back at the humble beginnings of one of the most popular Honda cars of all time. There have been ten
Nov 16, 2020
Starting 1st October 2020, you can no longer use the parking machines to pay for your street parking ticket in the city under DBKL’s purview. But you can’t pay via JomParking, Boost, and TnG e-Wallet either, instead you will have to familiarise yourself with DBKL’s new payment apps. According to DBKL’s statement, the council has decided not to renew their contract with the company that provides the payment machines and move on to purely cashless mobile payments only as a way to encourage living
Oct 1, 2020
The infamous Jeremy Clarkson once said “Nothing turns a 17-year-old girl on more than a well-executed handbrake turn.", whether that is true or not, we will leave it up to your imagination (or testing?), but one of our Wapcar readers recently asked an interesting question of whether a cool handbrake turn is possible with the electric parking brake (EPB), and the short answer is - yes and no. Before we get into detail, the EPB is more compact than their mechanical counterparts, can automatically
May 12, 2020
The Court of Appeal has upheld a lower court ruling that the management of a car park is liable of negligence rendering disclaimers of exemption clauses posted by the car park non-viable. Sunway Parking Services Sdn Bhd was ordered to pay about RM 117,000 of damages to Euro Rent A Car Sdn Bhd in the case where the rental car company’s vehicle was stolen from the premises. This means that car park disclaimer notices posted at various locations of a parking lot informing visitors that the manageme
Dec 8, 2020
Mitsubishi Xpander Ramai pengguna kereta berkeinginan untuk menukar brek tangan yang besar dengan brek tangan elektronik (Electronic Parking Brek). Mitsubishi Xpander (versi Vietnam) pula dilihat hadir dengan brek tangan mekanikal yang agak besar. Selain itu, konsol tengah model ini agak besar dan lebih sesuai dilengkapkan dengan brek tangan elektronik (EPB). Oleh hal yang demikian bengkel-bengkel di Vietnam telah mendapat idea dan mencari jalan untuk melengkapi sebuah Mitsubishi Xpander dengan
Aug 12, 2020
Honda City Hatchback 2020 telah rasmi dilancarkan di Indonesia oleh pengedar rasmi PT Honda Prospect Motor. Hatchback segmen B ini turut memberi petanda pengguguran Honda Jazz dari barisan model Honda yang dijual di Indonesia. Spesifikasi Honda City Hatchback pasaran Indonesia Honda City hatchback pasaran Indonesia hadir dengan hanya pilihan enjin 1.5 liter NA sahaja, tanpa sebarang tawaran enjin hybrid mahupun turbo. Sebagai perbandingan, Honda City RS di Malaysia menggunakan enjin hybrid dan H
Mar 4, 2021
Touch ‘n Go has reiterated yet again that it will soon remove all parking surcharges. This time, the company says the removal will be completed within this quarter, reports The Star. Commitments to remove parking surcharges, which has been common complain among users, is not new, as Touch ‘n Go have been talking about it since 2019. Speaking to the English daily, group CEO Effendy Shahul Hamid said: “I’m very happy to say that by the end of the first quarter, we’ll take away all parking surcharg
Jan 29, 2021
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