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The Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Art of Speed 2025 ignites Serdang with international flair and local passion
THE 14th edition of Art of Speed (AOS 2025) thundered into the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from 26 to 27 July, captivating thousands of automotive enthusiasts and reaffirming its place as Malaysia's definitive celebration of custom culture. This year's event offered more than just a car show; it delivered a full-spectrum lifestyle experience, infused with international energy and homegrown talent. Global Icons in Attendance This year's AOS drew renowned guests from around the globe, lending weight to its growing international stature. Among them were Shige Suganuma and Hiro 'Wildman' Ishii from Japan's legendary MOONEYES, Hot Wheels designer Brendon Vetuskey from the United States, and motorcycle builder Yuichi Yoshizawa from Custom Works Zon, Japan. Notable contributors also included Australia's Mark Hawwa of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, Indonesia's SixtySick Paintlab collective, and prominent media partners like Pipeburn, Vibes Magazine, and 645 Magazine. A New Gateway into Speed Culture Visitors were greeted by a reimagined AOS gateway, an all-LED display that lit up the venue with vivid animations and set the stage for the weekend's high-octane festivities. It quickly became a social media sensation and symbolised AOS's bold evolution while preserving its grassroots ethos. Celebrating Automotive Unity Across Borders The 'Beetle Battle' programme, led by Denny Kusumah of the Volkswagen Beetle Club Indonesia, served as a shining example of international camaraderie, showcasing Beetles from various Southeast Asian nations and strengthening regional friendships through automotive passion. Small-Scale Legends with Hot Wheels In Hall C, the 3rd Official Hot Wheels Collectors Convention Malaysia offered a haven for die-cast collectors. Activities included a rare collectables exhibition, a swap-and-sell marketplace, custom competitions, and the unveiling of Southeast Asia's first left- and right-facing pair of convention cars, with design insights provided by Brendon Vetuskey himself. Festival of Movement, Music and Machines AOS 2025 also featured large-scale gatherings from clubs such as Alfa Romeo Owners Club Malaysia (AROCM), Porsche Owners Club, and local K-Car communities. Two-wheeled culture was on full display at Roda Rumble 2025, supported by Retro Mania, while food lovers enjoyed open-air dining at Medan Selera and coffee delights at Payung Kopi. The ever-popular Moto4Sale brought the motorcycle marketplace into the heart of the event, complemented by outdoor test rides from major brands including Royal Enfield, Vespa, and Triumph. SoundCircus Electrifies Hall A Music took centre stage at the SoundCircus Takeover in Hall A, where diverse acts such as Noh Salleh & Restore Iboe, Ruffedge, and Romantic Echoes led a vibrant lineup. Up-and-coming performers like Iqbal M, Chronicalz, and Langkawi Dub Club SoundSystem added fresh energy, transforming the space into a pulsating arena of rhythm and rebellion. Road to Yokohama: AOS Champions Invited to Japan The pinnacle accolade—Best of Show—was awarded to Shaun Pinto's 1965 Volkswagen Beetle and Omar Jumiran's Honda CB 175cc 'Eastern Bobber' motorcycle. Both winners earned invitations as Guests of Honour to the prestigious 33rd Annual MOONEYES Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025. Top Honours and Special Picks Awards spanned a wide range of categories, recognising exceptional craftsmanship, creativity, and presentation. Among the standout winners were: Best Marketplace: Abah & Sons Best Display Car: Toyota Hilux (Nedree) Best Display Motorcycle: Harley-Davidson Shovelhead by Mutohead Best of Lowrider: Ubai (12″–20″ class), Izzat (24″+ class) Best Paint: Mitsubishi Evo9 Wagon by Pok Him Best JDM Pre-1998: Hakosuka by Amin Best of VW Air-Cooled: Shaun Pinto Best Livery Design: Imran BK Auto Art (Merc W123) Best Fabrication: Chevy Kitty (Bangkok) Motorcycle Glory The motorcycle segment celebrated a diverse array of builds, from choppers and café racers to scooters and retro Japanese bikes. Noteworthy winners included: Best of Chopper Above 401cc: Mutohead (Shedi) Best of Café Racer Below 400cc: Shahnaz Faqeha Best of Scooter Fever – Modern: Bike Empire 96 Best Tank Design: Din Cheaptrills Best Livery Design: Carazee Artwork Partner Picks and Industry Acknowledgement Major partners and brands such as Mattel, Harley-Davidson Malaysia, Royal Enfield, Petronas Lubricants, and IGL Coatings also presented their own curated awards, recognising vehicles and individuals that exemplified excellence in engineering, styling, and innovation. Notable picks included: Isuzu MUX by Brighten Performance (Mattel) Liberty Walk Silvia (No Equal) GTR 42 Hakosuka (IGL Coatings) VW Beetle by Shaun Pinto (Tarmac Works) Harley Hausboom (Harley-Davidson Malaysia) Future-Forward with Heritage at Heart Art of Speed 2025 proved once more that Malaysian custom culture is not only thriving—it's evolving. With expanded global participation, next-level creativity, and a bold spirit of unity, AOS continues to inspire a new generation of builders, collectors, and dreamers. Whether through lowriders or lambrettas, soundscapes or showcars, AOS remains the beating heart of Southeast Asia's automotive subculture.


Rakyat Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Rakyat Post
The 14th Annual Art Of Speed Was A Blast! Thousands Of Motorheads Flocked To MAEPS Serdang
Subscribe to our FREE The ultimate annual custom motor show in Malaysia continues to be a success as throngs of fans and auto enthusiasts converged at MAEPS Serdang last weekend. It was two days of beautiful cars and motorcycles, music, food, thrifting, Hot Wheels, and more at the 14th edition of Art Of Speed (AOS). Staying true to its roots, AOS featured not only auto masterpieces by Malaysian builders but also custom works by talented individuals from all over the world. Hall A: The main event where all custom cars and bikes are displayed As regular attendees of AOS, we at TRP were most excited to check out Hall A first where all the wild customised vehicles were displayed. Almost every category of cars, vans, trucks, and motorcycles both classic and modern were placed all around the hall for visitors to ogle over. From K-Cars to 4×4 pickup trucks to choppers and café racers, there was something for every automotive fan and enthusiast to see here. The custom machines in this hall are not just for display. They're all also part of the Best of Show contest where the winner gets to fly to Japan to attend the 33rd Annual MOONEYES Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025 as guests of honour. The hall was also packed with both local and international artisans who brought their goods and services to AOS. Visitors could bring home special and rare souvenirs such as keychains, stickers, leather goods, t-shirts and helmets. Those who rode to AOS with their buddies (like we did) could get their helmets painted on the spot by talented free-hand artists. Music fans were also treated to some of the best local acts like Noh Salleh & Restore Iboe, Ruffedge, Luqman Podolski, Romantic Echoes, and many more, turning Hall A into a sonic playground. Hall C: A haven for Hot Wheels fans and collectors In Malaysia, Hot Wheels has fans of all ages, from children to adults — and AOS has never sidelined this community, proudly hosting the Hot Wheels Collectors Convention Malaysia (HWCCM), now in its third edition. This year, HWCCM took placed in Hall C in MAEPS, featuring a wide range of exciting activities for die-cast enthusiasts and collectors alike. The atmosphere is lively with events like the Hot Wheels Activity Zone, Rare & Collectible Hot Wheels Exhibition, and the ever-popular Swap, Buy & Sell area. If you're not careful, your wallet might take a hit — it's that tempting! AOS 2025 also made history by launching Southeast Asia's first-ever 'Left & Right' convention edition car, made even more special with the presence of Hot Wheels product designer, Brendon Vetuskey! Hall D: The ultimate streetwear and vintage clothes hunting grounds Any streetwear or vintage lovers here? If you are, then you seriously missed out if you weren't at AOS 2025 — because Hall D was dedicated just for you. We were inside Hall D and couldn't help but be tempted by all the streetwear pieces from well-known and hard-to-find brands like High Cultured, Midnight Monkey, Yi Fuku, Crack The Box, and many more. For those who love thrifted fashion, you're in for a treat too — there's a huge variety of shirts, pants, and shoes to dig through to your heart's content. Although AOS is all wrapped up for 2025, we're hopeful that they'll be back in 2026 to bring even more electrifying custom machines next year. There will be more than enough time to get ready for the next one, motorheads. So until then, follow AOS on Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.


Sinar Daily
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Sinar Daily
Malaysian artisan crafts hyper-realistic miniature cars, selling hundreds globally
KUALA LUMPUR - No larger than a thumb, the 1:64 scale miniature cars crafted by Mohd Jaidin Mustafa showcase intricate and captivating details - resembling scaled-down versions of real vehicles. The 40-year-old printing machine technician spends his nights in his room, armed with brushes, magnifying lenses and acrylic paints, carefully colouring the miniature car bodies - including the emblems, tyre rims, exhausts, and the most challenging parts like the lights and door lines. Mohd Jaidin said that 3D-printed resin miniature cars offer greater realism in elements like lights, spoilers, side mirrors, and door lines compared to die-cast Hot Wheels cars. - Bernama photo Since taking it seriously in 2020, Mohd Jaidin began using Hot Wheels cars as a base before switching to miniature cars made of resin - a special type of plastic created via 3D printing. According to him, the resin car bodies are sourced from two other local designers, after which he carries out the detailing process - meticulously painting to highlight fine features and make the model resemble a real car. "In the beginning, I just used spray can paints. But when I saw Thai customisers doing detailed hand-painted work, I was instantly hooked. They hand-drew the door lines, lights, and emblems,' he said. "Since then, I've practised and taught myself until I mastered the art of detailing using acrylic paints and fine brushes," he told Bernama at his home in Kampung Changkat, Gombak, recently. Mohd Jaidin's precision and finishing touches have made his work popular among miniature car collectors both locally and internationally - including from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. To date, over 800 units have been sold. Mohd Jaidin's precision and finishing touches have made his work popular among miniature car collectors both locally and internationally - including from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Singapore. To date, over 800 units have been sold. - Bernama photo As one of the local pioneers in custom miniature car design, Mohd Jaidin often receives special orders from customers wanting to gift miniature cars to their partners - as birthday surprises or wedding mementos. Beyond iconic models like the Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86, Nissan Skyline GTR R34, and Volkswagen Golf Mk7, he also creates local car models such as the Perodua Myvi, Proton Wira, Proton Satria Neo, and Proton X50 - custom-designed based on his customers' preferences. With prices starting at RM250 per unit, depending on complexity and detail level, Mohd Jaidin can produce around 20 units a month, with each car taking about two days to complete. On the detailing technique, Jaidin said he begins by sanding uneven surfaces with sandpaper before applying primer, base coat, and using masking tape to paint intricate areas. - Bernama photo Further explaining, Mohd Jaidin said that 3D-printed resin miniature cars offer greater realism in elements like lights, spoilers, side mirrors, and door lines compared to die-cast Hot Wheels cars. However, the father of three believes the true value of his creations lies not in the materials but in the handcrafted fine details. "I'm not just selling 'models' - I'm selling craftsmanship. Many can 3D print, but few can hand-paint with the realism I aim for. That's the real value of my work,' said Jaidin, who goes by the social media handle @jdm164_custom. On the detailing technique, Jaidin said he begins by sanding uneven surfaces with sandpaper before applying primer, base coat, and using masking tape to paint intricate areas. "Only then do I add detailing on small parts like the lights, grille, signal lights, and brake discs - and finally finish with a 2K clear coat to ensure the paint lasts, looks clean, and stays glossy,' he said. - BERNAMA


CNET
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Spotlight: The Biggest Drops So Far
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 kicked off Thursday, and we've already gotten sneak peeks at Lego and Hot Wheels releases and there's big news happening for TV shows, movies and games. We're excited to hear about Avatar: The Last Airbender, Tron: Ares, Gen V, Welcome to Derry and much more, so we're riding along with fans as announcements and trailer drops come out. We'll be posting highlights here from the four-day affair to help you keep up with the hottest, weirdest and most interesting stuff that hits. Stay tuned for our daily updates as the weekend rolls on. Avatar: Seven Havens first look It's a 20-year anniversary celebration for Avatar: The Last Airbender, the award-winning animated series that aired on Nickelodeon. Thursday's Comic-Con panel brought together original creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino and voice cast Zach Tyler Eisen, Jennie Kwan, Michaela Jill Murphy, Jack DeSena (Sokka), Dante Basco (Zuko) and Dee Bradley Baker for a look at the past and present, including Avatar: Seven Havens. The new, animated sequel series, which was originally announced this past February, has 26 episodes and will be split into two installments. Fans will meet Avatar Pavi when the series debuts, but for now, here's a glimpse at the bender picking up the mantle. Nickelodeon Five Nights at Freddy's 2 The sequel from Blumhouse sees an unsuspecting group pull up to the creepy pizzeria, not knowing about the killer, life-like animatronics with nothing but evil in store. They clearly don't know about Freddy's history. The film hits theaters on Dec. 5. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, season 2 release date Pack up for Camp Half-Blood when the fantasy series returns, this time introducing Tantalus, Thalia and the goddess Athena to the story. The new season arrives on Disney Plus on Dec. 10, and fans will see Percy dealing with more than fantastical monsters: Grover goes missing and there's drama with friends and a new sibling.

Business Insider
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Mattel is struggling to sell Barbies
Barbie dolls aren't flying off the shelves for toymaker Mattel. On Wednesday, the toy company reported in its second-quarter earnings that its dolls category revenue declined 19% compared to the same period last year. Sales for the dolls category were $335 million. Mattel's dolls product category includes brands like Barbie, American Girl, and Barney, among others. In a Wednesday earnings call, Mattel's newly installed finance chief, Paul Ruh, said the decline in doll sales was "primarily due to fewer new Barbie product launches." Mattel's CEO, Ynon Kreiz, added that "lower associated retailer promotional support" contributed to weak doll sales. However, the toymaker's other brands performed better. Mattel's vehicles product category, led by Hot Wheels, saw a 10% increase in sales in the last quarter compared to the year before, with sales of $407 million. Kreiz said he expected doll sales to pick up in the second half of the year. "In the dolls category, we'll see improving trends with Barbie in the second half, new product innovation, more partnerships and activations later in the year," Kreiz said in the earnings call. The company reported a second-quarter net revenue decline of 6% compared to the year before, with sales totalling $1.02 billion. It also reported a net income of $53 million, $4 million less than the year before. Mattel's stock price was down nearly 5% in after-hours trading on Wednesday. However, it is up about 17% in the past year. In May, Mattel announced that it would raise the prices of its toys, including Barbies, to offset the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Per Kreiz's comments in the Wednesday earnings call, the price hike went into effect in the latest quarter. "Even with the price actions — pricing actions were already implemented — approximately 40% to 50% of our product in the US will continue to be priced below $20," Kreiz said in the call.