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 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
Audi has just launched an all-new facelift for the 2020 Audi Q5. The second generation of Audi’s best-selling Q5 crossover had been on sale since 2016 so it's fitting for a fresh new look. The 2020 Q5 looks very sharp with a more distinct Q design language and adds two new colours to its existing 12 – distinct green and ultra blue. For the first time ever, the redesigned Audi Q5 will feature OLED technology in the rear lights. This optional feature is split into three tiles of six segments which
Jun 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
Aimed at premium, high performance on-road SUVs, Michelin Malaysia has recently introduced a new range of Pilot Sport premium tyres aimed specifically at SUVs. Available in sizes ranging from 17- to 23-inches, the highlight of the new Pilot Sport 4 SUV is its well-balanced, all-rounded performance. It delivers above average performance in nearly all areas of objective evaluation – long service life, superior braking performance as well as handling, and good ride comfort. The key to achieving thi
Jul 29, 2019
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
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 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
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
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
Kia Motors Corporation has finally released the first images of the new 2021 Kia Stinger facelift! Gran Turismo fans would find the new Stinger very familiar-looking, that’s because designers have worked to amplify and enhance the Stinger players have been piloting in the game since 2018! While the overall look of the new Stinger remains the same, it does get a new multifaceted reflector LED headlamps and LED daytime running lights (DRL). The headlamps also get darker smoked out covers while the
Aug 18, 2020
MINI Malaysia follows up the highly anticipated launch of their MINI Convertible with a special Sidewalk Edition. The new 2020 MINI Convertible Sidewalk Edition features a more stylish colour scheme and uniquely designed equipment specifically for the special edition. The Sidewalk is limited to 20 units only. The Sidewalk Edition is easily distinguishable from the standard MINI Convertible. Not only is the car finished in an exclusive Deep Laguna colour scheme, it is also topped off with a MINI
Jul 15, 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
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
Here we have the 2021 (W213) Mercedes-Benz E-Class facelift spotted on a trailer in Malaysia, about nine months since its global debut. Two units were spotted on the trailer, both painted in black with their emblems covered and appear to be fitted with different trim lines. The one on the rear is an AMG Line model, seen from the more aggressive front and rear bumper design as well as the larger wheels. The unit towards the front wears a smaller set of wheels and has a different chrome trim patte
Dec 4, 2020
From an aesthetic point of view, wider tyres always look better. High performance cars always use wider tyres too, so the general perception is that they offer better performance as well. On the surface, upsizing to wider tyres is a no brainer (looks AND performance combined? Sign me up!). You might even consider “upgrading” to wider tyres on your car. However... While the idea seems exciting, you might want to think twice before doing that. Why? Well, wider tyres do offer certain advantages, bu
Nov 28, 2020
Is Volvo a true rival to Mercedes-Benz and BMW? Can Volvo take the spot currently occupied by Audi? From a purely product-focused perspective, the answer is a definite yes. However, activities on the showroom floor paint a different reality. The problem isn’t because Volvo cars aren’t as good as their German peers, but because it was too good at the same thing for too long. We are talking about safety. The image of Volvo is one that is still very much centred on safety. Volvo makes the safest ca
Mar 23, 2021
About a week ago, photos depicting the upcoming 2020 Toyota Hilux facelift surfaced onto the internet, giving us a look at the new model. As before, the range-topping Hilux gets Bi-LED projector headlights, but for its 2020 update, the design of the LED headlights have been improved over the older model, now with a more angular design. Lower variants will soldier on with halogen headlights, but with a different design. The front-end of the Hilux facelift is inspired by the US market Toyota Tacom
Apr 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
** This article is the personal experience of a 2002 Proton Waja owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar. Facebook: Sharviin Sasasey Manigam ↓↓↓ Press Here To Share Your Story ↓↓↓ It all started when my dad drove home a 2nd-hand bought 2002 Proton Waja. It was bought in 2005, and was in Artic Blue (still maintaining the same colour).... At first, I was excited because it was a Waja man.... And straight away I sat in the Waja and started to touch and feel the dashboard and all
Jul 30, 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
Halogen headlights were first introduced in 1962. LED headlights followed 46 years later in 2008 (Lexus). Like all new technologies, LEDs first became available in premium cars only. The use of LED headlights can now be found in premium variants of some cars like the Honda City and Honda Civic. HID lights are only offered in handful of brand-new cars so we’ll leave them out of the conversation. Premium brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW only offer LED headlights in all their models in Malaysia. T
Jul 28, 2020
Ahead of its full reveal tomorrow, Kia has taken the covers off the updated 2021 Kia K3 (Cerato/Forte). Aiming to sway prospective customers away from the Hyundai Elantra, the facelifted car sports a more streamlined design all-around. Slim LED headlights flank Kia's now-thinner signature 'Tiger Nose' grille, now appended with chrome detailing. The front end tweaks - bookended by a redesigned, sharper lower half - makes the car reminiscent of its bigger Kia K5 (Optima) sibling. It also gets a re
Apr 19, 2021
Bridgestone Tyre Sales (Malaysia) contributes to the ever-growing list of premium sports tyres with the launch of the Potenza Adrenalin RE004. The RE004 is developed with Bridgestone’s cutting-edge tyre technology featuring triple and half grooves for enhance rigidity. Couple that with the rigid connecting blocks, the RE004 promises sensitivity while at the same time reducing excess movements at high speeds. Bridgestone also promises the RE004’s dynamic tread pattern and wider rib will help impr
May 22, 2020
Ultra-high performance (UHP) tyres for SUVs Up to 13,000 km more mileage than competitors 39 sizes for 17- to 23-inches Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) is a one size fit all solution for buyers looking for a practical vehicle and its increased ground clearance is especially practical for Malaysian roads. However, with the rapid growth for demands in SUVs also given rise to sporty and performance-oriented SUVs, some packing more grunt than conventional supercars. For owners looking for a set of suit
Aug 14, 2019
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
I don’t know about you, but tyres are a fascinating subject to me. I spend hours researching on what sort of tyre should I go for next. Full-on performance rubber? Or maybe I should give my back and ears a break and opt for a more comfortable option. One thing is for sure, I will be splashing my cash for one from a manufacturer of repute. And thankfully I’m not alone on that opinion. The responses from our dear fans and readers on WapCar Forum topic of cheap vs premium tyres were very encouragin
Sep 24, 2020
Images of a black and white patent filing of a hatchback that looks like the Toyota Yaris has surfaced on the internet. The images are leaked from a patent image submission to the National Institute of Industrial Properties of Argentina. According to Funtastiko, the images were leaked by Brazilian news site Parabrisas. The patent images are said to be of the Toyota Yaris facelift that will be launched in 2021. There is no mistaking the shape of the car in the patent images to be anything but the
May 19, 2020
If you find yourself having RM 1.11 million in spare change, then maybe you can join the ranks of royals and consider this just-launched-in-Malaysia 2021 Lexus LM 350. "Oh but it's just an overstyled Toyota Alphard!" You - or someone else - might think that, but having seen it up close and personal this is something that couldn't be further from the truth. Exterior - Converts just can't match Even before the LM 350 officially made it here, there already were a couple of converts running around.
Apr 15, 2021
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
Honda HR-V
Perodua Alza
Honda City
Honda City Hatchback
Toyota Yaris