Ashraaq Wahab
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Ashraaq has always been fascinated by things that go. He's intensely passionate about cars and trains, and has a keen interest in aviation too. He dabbled in the marine sector for a bit but found ships to be too slow. He's happiest when behind the wheel of a vehicle on a test drive for a feature. Coming from a Marketing and Management background, automotive journalism and writing has been a satisfying career shift for him. Ashraaq's also a collector of model cars and trains, dabbles in vintage hi-fi (particularly vinyl and CD) and is perpetually on a 'see-food' diet.
Author's Latest Articles
Beijing X55
I was “relieved” to be behind the wheel of a traditional, internal combustion-engined vehicle after many a foray with EV’s. Plus, the X55 has received a superb stamp of approval from the general public… the friendly and helpful people of David Pieris Automobiles tells me that a few hundred u...
Jetour X70 Plus
Electric vehicles are plentiful nowadays, but there’s also the good old internal combustion brigade vying for your attention and cheque book. And yes, some of these machines are from China. In fact, since the import ban was lifted, the Chinese auto floodgates have opened with gusto, giving us a ta...
Maxus T90
In April 2019, I spent a few days at the facilities of SAIC – Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, in, well, the greater Shanghai area. There, I drove ten vehicles from three SAIC brands – MG, Roewe and Maxus, at their proving grounds which is a joint venture with General Motors. While we a...
Deepal E07
What on earth is this thing? If you’re looking at our photos, you’re probably scratching your head too. When Teranka Carim, CEO of Deepal Sri Lanka told me about an SUV that could convert into a pickup truck… I couldn’t believe my ears. Then he sent me some pictures, and a clearer idea began...
Riddara RD6 4WD
You might recall that we had a short preview of the Riddara RD6 back in the April 2025 issue of Motor… That special test vehicle was a 200-kilowatt, rear-wheel drive variant that surprised us with its nippiness, ride comfort and practicality. Now, Evolution Auto, the authorized distributor of Ridd...
Nissan Magnite
The official press release for the Nissan Magnite dated October 21st, 2020 says that the word Magnite is a combination of Magnetic and Ignite. Competing in the crowded sub-4 metre subcompact crossover segment in India, the Magnite has landed to take on the Sri Lankan market. Yes, this vehicle hails ...
1959 Holden FC Special
Holden is definitely Australia’s most well-known automaker, even though it sadly isn’t around anymore. The company’s history dates back to 1856, when James Alexander Holden founded it, to make saddles for horses. By 1898, Holden was making automobiles, and the company became a General Motors s...
Tata Curvv
When I first saw photos of the Tata Curvv on social media, I was intrigued. What on Earth is this thing? Looks like the Indians are doubling down with taking on the world, jumping on the sportback SUV bandwagon that’s previously been the near-exclusive preserve of German luxury automakers. Then, D...
KGM Rexton Sports
Remember the SsangYong Musso Sports of yore, specifically during the mid to late Nineties? It was the pickup truck variant of the SsangYong Musso SUV, a South Korean vehicle most renowned for its Mercedes-Benz powertrains and components. As a child who grew up in the Nineties, I vividly remember see...
Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV
We’ve been deprived of new cars in Sri Lanka for nigh on five years now. Locked in an import ban necessitated by a critical financial crisis, we could only look on as the automotive world moved ahead in leaps and bounds. That’s why when the call came from DIMO, we were immediately activated. Her...
JAC T9
JAC. Isn’t that a commercial vehicle maker? Well, yes. JAC Group, or Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. Ltd, is a Chinese vehicle maker based in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. ...
1993 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a well-known two-seat rear-wheel drive roadster. Made by Hiroshima-based automaker Mazda, the MX-5 was introduced in 1989. Since then, over a million have been sold worldwide, the car is now in its fourth generation and revered by enthusiasts. Many say that the best way to le...
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
Locally assembled cars represent the only chance for the general public to taste a brand-new vehicle that’s newer than 2020. I’ve talked about the import ban and its effects in previous tests, so I shall not repeat myself. The latest locally assembled contender is the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro from Micr...
Ssangyong Torres EVX
What’s this? We haven’t seen a brand-new Ssangyong in Sri Lanka for ages. Well, chalk that down to the import ban. The brand has been alive and kicking, see-sawing from South Korean to Indian, and back to South Korean ownership. The latest owner is a consortium spearheaded by South Korea’s KG ...
UMC Mazda 1500
Local assembly of cars in Sri Lanka has its roots dating back to the 1960s. Contrary to popular belief, the Upali Mazda and the Upali Fiat were not the first locally assembled vehicles. Our Editor-in-Chief has penned a short passage pertaining to the history of locally assembled vehicles, which you ...