VR Tech Times

Cross-town excursions in Mumbai need some planning in the Wrangler Rubicon . Will there be parking when I get there? Will I be allowed to park it myself rather than give it to a valet who might find the size and width intimidating? And most importantly: will the on- and off-ramps be wide enough to access the parking levels easily? A quick phone call to NMACC, the Ambani cultural center in BKC Mumbai, confirms all of the above. “Some of our parking spaces and access ramps have been designed to house the largest and widest luxury cars,” comes the polite answer, “and, of course, you can park yourself.” With its wheels pushed out and big plastic fenders, it’s pretty wide and, at times, is a squeeze. The early morning trudge up along the coastal road brings its own set of challenges. While the wide, open vistas of the sea are an absolute treat, as is the road’s ability to shrink time and distance in the city, what you do have to contend with at highway speeds is the loud hum from the off-r...

The Suzuki e-Access is the first electric two-wheeler from Suzuki Motorcycle India, built on an entirely new platform developed in-house rather than shared with the petrol Access 125. It brings Suzuki's reputation for reliability to a segment increasingly crowded with newer entrants. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about it. What is the price of the Suzuki e-Access? The Suzuki e-Access is available in a single variant priced at Rs 1.88 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). At this price, it is one of the more expensive electric scooters from a mainstream manufacturer in the country, sitting above the TVS iQube S and Bajaj Chetak C3501, and closer to the Ather Rizta S in pricing. What motor and battery does the Suzuki e-Access use? The Suzuki e-Access is powered by a hub-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 3.5kW of rated power and 6kW of peak power, with 90Nm of torque at the rear wheel. The battery is a 3kWh LFP (Lithium Ferrous Phosphate) pack ...

We left London at quarter past two on a Monday afternoon, and for the next four hours, the Bentley Bentayga did what most cars can only pretend to do on the M40 and M6. It made the motorway disappear. Settle into the driver’s seat of this Speed variant, and the first thing you notice is how little there is to notice – and yet how much there is to appreciate. The cabin is hushed to the point of unease, wind and road noise simply refusing to show up, leaving you enveloped in a space that celebrates analogue tactile pleasure in an increasingly digital world. Front and centre on the dashboard sits a Breitling analogue clock, anchoring the cabin with old-world authority. Below it, the knurled metal organ stop levers for the air vents operate with a satisfying mechanical resistance that no touchscreen has ever replicated.  A cabin that celebrates tactile touch in an age that has forgotten it. Leather-stitched with the patience of people who still care. The audio system is by Naim – the ...

There are few cars with the sheer variety of powertrains as the Land Rover Defender . From a four-pot to a choice of V8s, there is seemingly something for everyone. One stands out, though – the D350 3.0-litre inline-six twin-turbocharged diesel. More power than the base petrol, more torque than the 5.0 V8, with the frugality of a diesel. It’s the only motor the Trophy Edition comes with, so is this engine the sweet spot in the range? Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition exterior design and engineering – 9/10 The Defender’s design hasn’t changed since it launched in 2020, but it certainly isn’t wanting for a facelift. It still looks fresh and modern with subtle nods to the original, without resorting to an overtly retro aesthetic. The Trophy Edition brings a choice of Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green – the former being the signature finish of the iconic Camel Trophy cars – with gloss black on the roof, bonnet, cladding and lower bumper for contrast. To go with the rugged look, it ri...

The Yamaha EC-06 electric scooter gets a 4kWh battery pack, a claimed IDC range of 169km, and a top speed of 79kph.  Yamaha EC-06: Acceleration During our test, the conditions were dry. Acceleration Time 0-40kph 3.46 seconds 0-60kph 6.82 seconds 0-80kph 15.50 seconds The EC-06 gets three riding modes including Eco, Standard, and Power. We conducted this acceleration test in Power mode with the battery state of charge above 97 percent. In this riding mode, acceleration is fairly quick and the scooter managed to get from 0 to 80kph in 15.50 seconds.  Yamaha EC-06: Roll-On Acceleration The scooter delivers 6.7kW (8.9hp) of peak power. Roll-On Acceleration Time 20-50kph 3.31 seconds 30-70kph 7.34 seconds 50-80kph 10.96 seconds In our roll-on acceleration tests, the scooter took 3.31 seconds to get from 20-50kph, 7.34 seconds from 30-70kph, and 10.96 seconds from 50-80kph. In the city, making quick overtakes is fairly easy while riding in Standard or Power mode. Eco mode can get t...

A sensible Panigale. Can such a thing even exist, and more importantly, should it? This was a consistent thought I grappled with in the approach to riding this bike. After all, on paper, it seems like a big step away from the previous-gen Pani V2. Yes, it lost a lot of weight, which is great, but it also dropped down from a solid 155hp to ‘just’ 120hp.   Not love at first sight It’s not like these thoughts are lost when you first spot the bike in person. There are some beautiful details to take in at a close glance, including that crafted swingarm, the gorgeous monoshock mounts and that sculpted fairing. But step back, and it’s just missing something – the drop-dead gorgeous sex appeal that the Panigale name is supposed to carry simply isn’t there. The design is almost an amalgamation of a Panigale and a SuperSport 950; and given that the latter is no longer made, perhaps that explains it. Hmm. The design is not as stunning as its predecessor. Swing a leg over the tall 837mm seat,...

Hero MotoCorp has made its official entry into the German market, taking its international footprint to 53 countries. Germany becomes the brand's fifth active market in Europe, alongside Italy, Spain, France and the UK. Hero enters Germany through a distribution partnership with Austria-headquartered KSR Group Initial retail network of over 28 outlets across major German cities Brand enters the German market with the XPulse 200 4V Hero MotoCorp Germany: What's on offer The XPulse 200 4V is Hero's debut product in the German market Hero has partnered with Austria-headquartered KSR Group to manage sales, logistics and after-sales operations in Germany. The initial retail network spans more than 28 sales and service outlets across major German cities, with plans to expand to 30 outlets. To support the launch, Hero is offering a five-year warranty package, comprising a standard three-year manufacturer warranty and a two-year promotional extension. The initial product lineup c...

The Kia Syros is a compact SUV that is positioned between the Sonet compact SUV and the Seltos midsize SUV. It is offered with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options. Among these, the turbo-petrol engine comes with manual and DCT options, with claimed fuel efficiency of up to 18.2kpl. But which of these two powertrain options offers more real-world mileage? Let’s find out. Kia Syros 1.0L turbo-petrol MT vs DCT: Specifications and price The Syros turbo MT’s top-end price is similar to the DCT’s starting price Kia Syros 1.0L turbo-petrol MT vs DCT: Specifications and price   Syros 1.0TP MT Syros 1.0TP DCT Engine 3-cyl, turbo-petrol 3-cyl, turbo-petrol Displacement (cc) 998 998 Power (hp) 120 120 Torque (Nm) 172 172 Gearbox 6-speed MT 7-speed DCT Fuel tank capacity (litres) 45 45 Claimed mileage (kpl) 18.2 17.68 Price range (Rs, lakh) 8.42-12.02 11.96-15 With a total output of 120hp and 172Nm, the Syros has one of the most potent turbo-petrol engines in the seg...