Among the crowd of high-profile modified machines gathered at this year’s competition, one car made its entrance with cool-niche swagger — a Mercedes-Benz SLK, a discontinued two-seater roadster long forgotten by the mainstream market, reborn as China’s first hand-crafted wide-body build, standing proudly on the stage of the 2026 APAxpo Foshan Auto Modification Expo’s King’s Car Judgment.
Image: Full front-view of the vehicle
About APAxpo King’s Car Judgment
APAxpo Foshan Auto Modification Expo is the flagship modification event of the Guangdong-Hong Kong, China-Macao, China Greater Bay Area, serving the nation from its Bay Area base. Dedicated to the modification vertical, APAxpo cultivates the B-end (business-side) ecosystem year-round. The 2026 edition will welcome over 5,000 domestic modification shops to the show floor, making it China’s most diverse professional modification expo, spanning performance cars, JDM builds, sports cars, itasha, performance parts, wheels, suspension, wrapping, and new-energy modifications, while connecting businesses and enthusiasts alike.
The centerpiece competition, King’s Car Judgment, carries a total prize pool of RMB 100,000. The champion, runner-up, third-place finisher, and all Top-50 nationally ranked entries will each receive cash rewards and exclusive gifts — a genuine tribute to every builder brave enough to showcase their craft.
Image: Side profile showcasing wide-body flares
Owner’s Story: The ‘Outlier’ Who Refuses to Follow the Crowd
The owner’s choice of an SLK came from an unshakeable conviction: “Everyone knows the SLK line — along with its successor, the SLC — has long been discontinued. In most people’s eyes, it’s just an outdated niche car. That’s exactly why I chose it. I’ve never liked chasing the popular, hyped-up builds. I wanted to ignite something different on a car the world had forgotten.”
From the first sketch to the final bolt, the owner spent over six months personally overseeing every stage — bodykit design, hand-fabricated wide-body panels, pneumatic system calibration, and wheel fitment data. “Every screw, every body line — I was there for the design and the supervision. It may not be the fastest car on the track, but it is absolutely the most unique.”
Image: Side profile showcasing wide-body flares
Modification Specifications
The build was brought to life by Foshan-based workshop INITIAL (Car Tyre INITIAL, founded in 2022 by master builder Jiahao), a studio specializing in air-ride systems and body proportion aesthetics. Key modifications include:
- China’s first hand-fabricated SLK wide-body kit
- Magicair air suspension management system
- SCC air-ride coilovers
- Hand-crafted custom rear spoiler
- Lavise two-piece forged wheels
- Leiden tyres
- Custom-fabricated front & rear bumpers
- Custom front lip / splitter
- Custom side skirts
The Workshop Behind the Build: INITIAL (Foshan)
Founded in 2022 by Jiahao, INITIAL has built its reputation on precision air-ride installation and meticulous stance aesthetics. Over more than half a year of close collaboration with the owner, the team transformed a market-forgotten SLK into an eye-catching wide-body statement piece — proving to the modification community that niche doesn’t mean mediocre.
Image: Rear spoiler and overall rear styling
Modification knows no hierarchy — attitude defines altitude. This one-of-a-kind wide-body SLK carries more than six months of a passionate builder’s dedication; it embodies a spirit of responsible, enthusiast-driven car culture. At the 2026 APAxpo Foshan Auto Modification Expo King’s Car Judgment, we look forward to welcoming every modification enthusiast to witness this outlier’s moment in the spotlight.
