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Drayber, Cebu City (2025)

03/12/2024

The BYD Seal is a medium size sedan that's full electric. There is a slightly different spec Seal , the DM Plug in Hybrid variant. For this review our test car is the fully electric BYD Seal Performance with a 88 kwh battery and a range of 580 kilometers .

It's AWD dual electric motor system propels the car from 0-100 kph in 3.6 secs . We never timed it , but flooring the accelerator feels like the hand of god is pressing your chest on the seat , yes the torque is there and it is amazingly quick . The car is stable, the ride is even better than the BYD Atto3 we currently have as our daily driver , the brakes are straight and true . It's quiet and refined . Definitely a premium ride .

The car from the outside looks neat , the lines are clean, the fastback makes it looks sleek.
Inside it's quite roomy , ingress and egress isn't a problem, even at the back where the roof line slopes a little. The finish of the interior is elegantly done , with materials that look and are soft to the touch . I was a bit concerned about the all glass tinted ceiling , we tested the car 1pm , it was quite hot outside but cool and comfortable inside , I do wonder longterm and stuck in traffic how this glass roof would affect temperature and cabin comfort. A friend said ceramic tinting the glass roof can be an option .
Over all , this car is a winner. A little smaller than it's brother the BYD Han and definitely bigger , much bigger than the BYD Dolphin.
Once again , I'm amazed at how EVs drive in general and how BYD in particular has designed and build such high quality cars.

The BYD Seal is currently available at BYD Showroom in A.S. Fortuna Cebu City . Schedule your test drive anytime just like I did.
Enjoy !

Article by: Clive Roland Y Fermin MD DPBA FPSA
Photos by: James Morales Jr. / JM media

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BYD
BYD CEBU
Sony Philippines

06/11/2024

My Daily Driver: The Toyota Vios XP150 and Lessons from Years on the Road

Let’s talk about my current daily driver, the Toyota Vios 3rd Generation XP150, released in 2013. This model came with four trim levels: J, E, G, and S, and mine’s the E variant Manual Transmission, powered by Toyota’s reliable 2NZ-FE engine. Known for its durability, this engine even made history as one of the first used in the Toyota Vios Cup. Toyota’s reputation for reliability shines through in this Vios.

I’m not the type to own a collection of cars. Besides this Vios, I’ve had a couple of old Mitsubishi Lancers (which I’ll share more about soon) and a Nissan Sentra GX—my trusty companion since college, which I had to give up for this car. When I bought the Vios, I prioritized three main things: price, reliability, and parts availability. The Vios checked all these boxes and has proven to be an ideal everyday car.

Since buying it second-hand, I’ve focused on keeping it in top shape. I’ve done an oil change, a coolant dialysis, replaced a few suspension components, and added ROTA Grid rims (a TE37-inspired design) wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE004 tires. Special mention to Staging Lines, Ubec Mags, and Greasy Ape for their support on this project. For the future, I have some upgrades planned: coilovers, some tuning adjustments, and maybe even a 1.5L engine swap with a turbo kit.

Driving this Vios has reinforced a few key lessons: simplicity works, maintenance is everything, and reliability is a must. These lessons continue to shape my car choices, and I’m excited to share more of my journey. What about you—what’s your car story? What’s your daily driver?

Special Thanks to:

Staging LINES
Ubec Mags
Greasy Ape Project
Bullyconcepts
Beröl Lubricants Philippines

Photos by: James Morales Jr / JM Media
Words / Article by: James Morales Jr.

Fuel your passion for cars with Drayber! Follow us for in-depth automotive content—from the latest industry insights to exclusive features on racing, builds, and more. Join our community and stay ahead of the curve in the car world!

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Toyota Motor Philippines
TOYOTA
Sony Philippines

03/11/2024

Uncovering the Legend: The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 (CT9A)

At Drayber, we dig deep into the details that make the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, also known as the “King of the Street”, an unforgettable icon in automotive history. Released in 2003, this Evo brought next-level innovation to the rally and street world. Here’s what makes the Evo 8, built on the iconic CT9A chassis, so special:

🔥 CT9A Chassis Code – The Evo 8’s CT9A chassis was designed for agility and durability, providing stability and unmatched handling precision. For enthusiasts, CT9A is more than just a code—it’s synonymous with rally-bred excellence.

💨 Active Center Differential (ACD) – Making its debut on the Evo 8, Mitsubishi’s ACD allowed drivers to switch between tarmac, gravel, and snow modes, offering superior grip across diverse terrains. This breakthrough cemented the Evo 8’s legacy as an adaptable powerhouse.

💪 Upgraded 4G63 Engine – Though the 4G63 had been used in prior Evos, the Evo 8’s version was tuned for sharper throttle response, making it a favorite for tuners looking for massive performance potential. This engine helped solidify the Evo 8’s reputation as a mod-friendly legend.

🧲 Lightweight Materials – With an aluminum roof and carbon fiber accents, Mitsubishi prioritized weight reduction for improved speed and balance. The result? A lighter, faster Evo ready for both track and street.

🏁 Aggressive, Street-Ready Design – From its bold front bumper to its large rear wing, the Evo 8’s styling was both functional and fierce, making it the ultimate “King of the Street.” This was a car that looked as fast as it felt.

Special thank you to Doctor Brian Belandres for letting us shoot this amazing machine.

📸 James Morales Jr. / JM Media & Nathan Seno
Article / words: James Morales Jr.

Fuel your passion for cars with Drayber! Follow us for in-depth automotive content—from the latest industry insights to exclusive features on racing, builds, and more. Join our community and stay ahead of the curve in the car world!

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01/11/2024

The AE86: The Car That Started It All

Looking back on my journey with cars, I always find myself thinking about the firsts. My first car, my first drive, my first accident—those moments defined so much, but I never really questioned the WHY. Then I remember that first sight of the AE86—the car Takumi Fujiwara drove in that unforgettable manga series. It was more than just a car; it became my gateway to a deeper understanding of engines, FF, FR, RR 4WD and AWD. Though some might argue that Takumi’s story stretched reality a bit, I was hooked, and my love for cars grew from there.

Years later, I entered my first autocross competition with my first car: a 1978 Mitsubishi Lancer E-type (a story for another day). That day was also my first time seeing an AE86 in person. A panda-white Trueno, its engine modified with a 3SGE and marked with all the details that make the AE86 a legend. For me, that car wasn’t just rare—it was a symbol of passion, dedication, and everything I loved about cars.

Owning an AE86 might seem impossible these days, but fate has a funny way of keeping dreams alive. Recently, I had the privilege of getting up close with another AE86, this time a red Trueno owned by a true enthusiast, Markku. I’d seen his car multiple times, whether at Kartzone or tearing up the touge in TCH, but never had the chance to get to know it personally. Now, as I’m building Drayber to share my love for cars, it felt like the perfect opportunity.

This Trueno has a unique story. Markku imported it from the US, and while it bears the imperfections of age—patina and all—the original engine and interior are still intact. Even more impressive, the left pop-up headlight proudly bears the signature of none other than Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya himself. I want to thank Markku for the opportunity to shoot his car and share his story—a true car enthusiast through and through.

The AE86 is more than just a car to me; it’s the start of everything. Through Drayber, I’m excited to share the ‘why’ behind that passion and give the AE86 the recognition it deserves.

Photos by: James Morales Jr. / JM media
Words / Article by: James Morales Jr.

Fuel your passion for cars with Drayber! Follow us for in-depth automotive content—from the latest industry insights to exclusive features on racing, builds, and more. Join our community and stay ahead of the curve in the car world!
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25/10/2024

Stock 1NZ-FE: Unlocking Some Extra Horses

I’ve been intrigued by Toyota’s line of small displacement engines of recent. The NZ-series particularly as it was installed in almost all compacts sedans and hatches including Vios Cabs with the 2NZFE. Much to my surprise, these engines are good platforms for decent power if tuned well. The availability of parts adds the icing on the cake, as adding horsepower will keep the builder at ease.

There are two variants of the NZ line.
The 2NZ and 1NZ. Both share the same bore (75mm), but they differ in stroke: 73.5mm for the 2NZ and 84.7mm for the 1NZ.
A completely stock 1NZ-FE can produce a respectable 85whp on our Dynocom FX5000 dyno at Dynobox/Staging Lines. I’m quite familiar with this number, as I use a stock Yaris NCP90 1NZ-FE to calibrate and check our Dynocom whenever it acts up.

Room for Improvement

When I first dynoed a stock Yaris, I could only make a few extra horses. I can’t remember exactly how much, but it was close to 92-95whp. One thing I noticed throughout the dyno session was the sound of restriction. Where was it coming from? It turned out to be from the stock exhaust system. The owner took my advice and had the car’s exhaust system modified by Staging Lines to my specifications.

Modified Exhaust and Baseline Dyno Run

I then reverted the tune back to stock and did another baseline run on the dyno with the modified exhaust. Sure enough, it resulted in a 104whp baseline run. That’s a 14whp gain from simply modifying the exhaust system.

Tuning

Tuning the stock ECU is always a pain with the need for reflashing. You have to wait a few minutes for changes to write, ensure the engine temperature stays consistent, and so on. My life would be much easier with a standalone, tunable ECU, but I work with what I have.

As with all internal combustion engines, fuel and timing play a critical role in making power. Looking at the original binary file map for this engine, Toyota ensured reliability across various conditions and regions. I started playing with the fuel map and began seeing power gains across the rev range. Adjusting ignition and cam timing yielded even more significant gains.

116whp was the safest number I could run with this engine, but since I could always monitor the car, I decided to push it a bit further. This resulted in a final output of 121whp. Most people would slap a turbo on these cars and call it a day, but a 35whp gain from stock is a huge improvement—especially in an all-motor setup, which also eliminates the inherent dip before top-end.

Vehicle Info:

• Model: Toyota Yaris NCP91
• Engine: 1NZ-FE
• Power Gains:
• 85whp (Stock Exhaust)
• 104whp (Modified Exhaust)
• 121whp (Tuned)
• Fuel Used: 95 RON / 91 Octane

Considering a Project or Race Car?

You can’t go wrong with an NZ engine.

Photos by: James Morales Jr. / JM media
Words / Article by: Yap of Cris Yap Tuning Services

Special Thank you to the ff:

Rex Abrenilla proud owner of this Toyota Yaris
Ubec Mags
Staging LINES

Fuel your passion for cars with Drayber! Follow us for in-depth automotive content—from the latest industry insights to exclusive features on racing, builds, and more. Join our community and stay ahead of the curve in the car world!

👍 Facebook: Drayber
📸 Instagram: Drayber.ph

04/10/2024

🌟 Meet the Faces Behind Drayber 🌟

At Drayber, we live and breathe cars. From racing circuits to car culture stories, we bring you all things automotive. Get to know the passionate people driving this platform forward, sharing their unique experiences and expertise.

Stay tuned as we take you on the road with our stories, insights, and everything in between! 🚗💨

12/06/2024

Let's go mga ka Draybers!

10/06/2024

Welcome to Drayber! Where we live and breathe cars! Our obsession with anything with wheels has lead us to launch a social media outfit that will serve as an avenue of our experiences and views, curated through vlogs and writeups. Join us for thrilling discussions, reviews, and event coverages that celebrate our shared love for Motoring. See you on the road!

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