VR Tech Times

While it sells multiple SUV models, Skoda is the only mass-market automaker that has also remained steadfastly committed to the sedan body type. The Czech brand recently introduced three sedans all at the same event – something of a rarity in an otherwise SUV-dominated market. Skoda’s latest entrants in India include the Slavia facelift, the Superb diesel and the Octavia RS. While admitting to the market’s preference for SUVs over the last decade or so, Ashish Gupta, brand director at Skoda Auto India, also said, “If you look at it, sedans continue to be the quintessential car.” Gupta says the charm of sedans hasn’t gone away He cites a lack of focus in the segment by manufacturers SUV saturation expected to work in favour of sedans The Czech automaker thinks sedans are here to stay Gupta believes the sedan body type will continue to make sense for the brand The Superb nameplate arrived 90 years ago, with the line-up eventually including models such as the Octavia, Rapid and Slavia. ...

Royal Enfield has just announced a new, commemorative edition of the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition. Meant as an acknowledgement to the bravery and discipline of the Gorkha Regiment of the Indian army, the variant has prominent hat-tips to the most celebrated army unit in the world. If all of that sounds appealing to you and you want to bring one home, here’s what you need to know about it. 1. How is the Gorkha Edition different from the regular Classic 350? Being a commemorative edition, the Gorkha Edition has a special colour called Gorkha Green which resembles a lot of army vehicles. It features two crossed Khukris on both the side panels, the official insignia of the Gorkha Regiment. There’s also a ‘Gorkha Edition’ sticker on the fuel tank, just above the fuel lid. The overall design and the dimensions remain unchanged otherwise. 2. How much does the Gorkha Edition cost? Royal Enfield has priced the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition at Rs 2.11 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which puts it right i...

Indian riding gear manufacturer Axor has launched an updated MX Carbon helmet. Built on an improved shell technology from the previous MX Carbon, according to Axor this is the world’s lightest, triple certified helmet with ECE 22.06, ISI and DOT certifications. Available in three shell sizes Uses a tri-composite shell Updated Axor MX Carbon has a lighter shell Pre-orders are open now The updated MX Carbon’s shell is made of a tri-composite (3K carbon fibre, aramid fibre, and aerospace-grade fibreglass) to achieve a lighter weight than before. Available in three shell sizes, the MX Carbon weighs 1,040g (±50g depending on the sizes) and is available in four sizes (M, L, XL, and 2XL). Axor also sells another off-road helmet, the Retro Moto X, but it’s not meant to rival the MX Carbon. The only other off-road helmet in its price range is the KYT Skyhawk. However, it is heavier (1,200g), more expensive (Rs 27,000).  It also only gets ECE 22.05 rating, but does have ISI certification. T...

The third-generation Mini Countryman C is the most accessible version of the entry-level luxury SUV sold here, positioned below the JCW All4. Like any car, the Countryman C has its share of strengths and weaknesses. Here are three reasons to consider the Mini SUV, along with two reasons why you might want to look at the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 or BMW X1. Funky yet premium look The new Countryman looks sharper, boxier and larger than before. It has grown in size and is now the tallest SUV in the segment while also offering the highest ground clearance. However, Mini has also made it look large, replacing the rounder styling of the earlier model with smaller, sharper and more angular details. Even the headlights, grille and roofline now have a boxier design. From the rear, it is easily identifiable as a Mini, thanks to the contrast roof, ‘Countryman’ lettering on the tailgate and Union Jack-style tail-lamps. It also gets champagne-coloured accents, a contrast roof and large 19-inch d...

Chetak ’s Kerala network has grown from just two outlets to 103 customer touchpoints, as the electric scooter brand continues to expand its retail and service reach alongside rapidly increasing sales. Kerala network now comprises 18 Chetak Experience Centres and 85 Bajaj Auto touchpoints Chetak has more than 50,000 customers in Kerala Chetak sold 3.03 lakh units in FY2026, up from 2.60 lakh in FY2025 Chetak has expanded its sales and service network in Kerala to 103 customer touchpoints, comprising 18 Chetak Experience Centres and 85 Bajaj Auto Ltd touchpoints. The company says its network in the state has grown from an initial two outlets and that it now has more than 50,000 Chetak customers in Kerala. The network covers locations including Kochi, Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad. While Chetak’s presence in Kerala is not the biggest takeaway by itself, the scale of the network expansion highlights the growth the brand has seen in the state and the infrastructure it has added ...

Skoda Auto India plans to bring electric vehicles from its global portfolio to India in limited volumes next year as the Czech automaker looks to establish its presence in the EV market. According to Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, the company needs an electric vehicle in its portfolio not only to meet future regulatory requirements but also to remain relevant as EV adoption gathers pace in India. Skoda India to bring EVs: Additional details  “A lot of things are under discussion. So, for meeting the CAFÉ norms, there are a lot of opportunities available along with electrification, which has to be the cornerstone of meeting all compliance regulations. So that is something which we are aggressively working on," Gupta told our sister publication, Autocar Professional. Gupta added that the company needs an electric car in its portfolio since adoption has grown in the last 3 months owing to increasing fuel prices. While Skoda has yet to announce a specific locally ma...

Tesla India recorded its highest-ever monthly retail sales in July 2026, delivering 115 Model Y SUVs according to Vahan data. The American EV maker's previous best stood at 69 units, achieved in September and December 2025. The strong performance follows Tesla's Rs 9 lakh price cut for the Model Y in June, which lowered its starting price to Rs 50.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Tesla holds a 16 percent share of the luxury EVs sold in July Over 600 units of cumulative sales so far Tesla Model Y priced between Rs 50.89 lakh and Rs 61.99 lakh (ex-showroom) Tesla Model Y price cut drives July sales Tesla delivered 115 Model Ys in July, up 203 percent from 38 units sold in June. The sharp increase came after the company reduced the Model Y's starting price by Rs 9 lakh to Rs 50.89 lakh in June, improving its competitiveness in the luxury EV segment. Before the price revision, demand for the electric SUV had remained relatively limited. Tesla becomes third-largest luxury EV brand The ...

There’s no simpler way to compare one car’s performance to another than with a head-to-head quarter-mile race. Following the shootout between the newest crop of midsize SUVs , i n this edition of Autocar India’s quarter-mile racing series, we’ve brought together three premium electric SUVs including the Tata Harrier EV, the Mahindra XEV 9e and the Vinfast VF7. Let’s find out which one here is the quickest down the drag strip. Round 1: Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e  Model Tata Harrier EV Mahindra XEV 9e Battery  75kWh  79kWh  Electric Motor setup Dual Motor, AWD Single Motor, RWD Power  313hp 286hp Torque  504Nm  380Nm  Weight  2335kg  2201kg  Between these two homegrown EVs, the Harrier EV has an advantage for not only being more powerful, but it also has all-wheel drive as opposed to XEV 9e ’s rear-wheel drive setup. Both SUVs are heavy-weights, but the Mahindra has an advantage for being  134kg lighter. On whose favour...

When the Guerrilla 450 first launched in 2024, comparisons to the KTM 390 Duke (now known as the Duke R) were inevitable. In 2026 though, things have changed because, following the revised GST structure on motorcycles, Bajaj decided to downsize all of its 400cc manufactured bikes to fall below the 350cc threshold. So, we now have a 390 Duke with a 349cc engine and the 398cc version continues on as the 390 Duke R. Meanwhile, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is now available in a new, sportier Apex variant. Let’s see how the motorcycles compare on paper with these redrawn boundaries. KTM 390 Duke vs Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex: Engine and output KTM has more power, Guerrilla has more torque   KTM 390 Duke Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex Engine 349.32cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 452cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled Power 41.5hp at 8,600rpm 40.02hp at 8,000rpm Torque 33.5Nm at 7,000rpm 40Nm at 5,500rpm Transmission 6-speed 6-speed Power-to-weight ratio 246.58hp/tonne 2...

Mercedes-Benz has introduced a thorough facelift for the C-Class sedan for 2026 and beyond. As part of the update, the C-Class features significantly revised styling inspired by the likes of the larger S-Class , a longer list of features, and an upgraded set of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Prices for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class start at 41,045 euros (Rs 45.43 lakh) in Germany. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/HeDSn3b

Mahindra launched the 2026 BE 6 recently, adding the ‘Sporteq’ moniker and pricing it from Rs 19.45 lakh to Rs 26.95 lakh (ex-showroom). Along with a new name, Mahindra has also introduced some updates to the midsize electric SUV to keep it modern in the segment. Here’s a detailed list of these updates: New 70kWh battery pack New battery pack offers 651km range and is mated to a 241hp rear motor The 2026 Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq gets a new 70kWh battery pack in addition to the previously available 59kWh and 79kWh batteries. This new 70kWh battery offers an ARAI-claimed range of 651km and a rear-axle-mounted (RWD) electric motor that produces 241hp and 360Nm. It supports a 7.2kW AC, a 11.2kW AC and a 160kW DC charger. The DC fast charger recharges the battery pack from 20-80 percent in a claimed 20 minutes. Mahindra is offering the 70kWh battery with the Three and Three+ trims, priced at Rs 22.95 lakh and Rs 23.95 lakh, respectively (ex-showroom).  Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme ...

Porsche could axe the Taycan by 2030, reported German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche. This comes just a couple of months following the global unveiling of the 2027 Taycan, and about five months after Porsche's plan to merge the Taycan and Panamera nameplates. Plummeting demand cited as a major reason Production of the Taycan has been halted several times Porsche Taycan faces an uncertain future Demand for the brand’s first fully electric car has been weak in recent years After hitting a peak of 40,960 units in 2023, the whole of 2025 saw worldwide sales of the Taycan dropping by over 60 percent (at 16,339 units). Similarly dismal numbers have led Porsche to halt production of the Taycan several times over the years, Autocar UK highlighted. A phased ramp-down aside, Porsche’s plans with the Taycan also included an immediate cessation of its production, as per WirtschaftsWoche’s report. 2027 Porsche Taycan with the Manthey kit shown for representational purposes only. Even thou...

India exported 1.81 million motorcycles between April and July 2026, up 33 percent from the same period last year, according to SIAM data. Motorcycles accounted for 86 percent of India’s 2.10 million two-wheeler exports during this period. 1.81 million motorcycles exported between April and July Bajaj and TVS account for 76 percent of exports TVS exported over 85,898 more 125cc motorcycles than Bajaj Bajaj, TVS lead India’s motorcycle exports Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company together accounted for 1.38 million motorcycle exports, or 76 percent of the total. Much of the demand is concentrated in the 100-125cc segments, which accounted for 1.22 million units, or 68 percent of all motorcycle exports. Bajaj Auto exported 8,54,991 motorcycles between April and July, up 48 percent year on year. Its 100-110cc exports nearly doubled to 378,941 units, while 110-125cc exports rose 36 percent to 229,677 units. Africa has been a major growth driver for Bajaj, with the company reporting that its...

On the sidelines of the world premiere of the Lamborghini Revuelto SV, the brand’s president and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, spoke to journalists about the new flagship hybrid supercar, the move away from EVs and even the Indian market. India-EU FTA hybrid uncertainty could pose a problem  A hot topic at the moment is the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) soon to come into effect, which promises to make imported cars a whole lot more affordable. While that’s great news for most super-sportscar brands, it’s not so for Lamborghini, as the India-EU FTA offers no clarity about benefits for hybrid cars, which make up the Italian brand’s entire range. “The decision was made, I think, at the beginning of the year to lower the import taxes, but not for PHEVs,” said Winkelmann, responding to a question from Autocar India. “So, we see a drop in the market due to the uncertainty which is created by this. And there is still not enough clarity.” While other brands do have some pure-ICE models, ...