VR Tech Times

The CAFE 3 norms are just eight months away. Things will certainly get tighter and tougher for automakers, in terms of upping the number of clean power options as well as light-weighting their current brawn-ish SUVs. If one has to bring a 30 percent reduction in fleet-average performance and move from MIDC to WLTP test results, an automaker has very little leeway in terms of just about making it.  As a product planner, I would seriously take this as an opportunity to bring the focus back onto the entry-level small car. In fact, all product planners should be doing the same, irrespective of what your current portfolio is. The policymakers are sending out a clear message to the Indian automobile industry – relook and revive the small car, for you have neglected it for quite some time now! And why not? It’s not just for developing markets; look at the developed world too. The otherwise ostentatious European is seriously evaluating the small car once again. Even the more aware and con...

Norton has revealed a one-off version of its Manx R in collaboration with Peaceful Research, a British art and design practice known for its work around contemporary motorsport and automotive culture. The motorcycle, officially called the Manx [P]R, made its public debut at the British MotoGP weekend at Silverstone One-off Manx R gets pink and purple finish 200cc V4 continues to make 206hp and 130Nm Bike was revealed at the British MotoGP at Silverstone Norton has revealed a one-off Manx R created in collaboration with Peaceful Research, a British design practice working across motorsport and contemporary culture. The motorcycle made its public debut at the 2026 British MotoGP at Silverstone. The one-off Manx R gets an asymmetrical finish combining metallic pink, deep purple and light grey. Peaceful Research's graphics have been incorporated into the bodywork, while a ‘26’ graphic on the tail marks the year of the project. The collaboration is limited to the design, with no chan...

The Avore EX2 is the mid-spec electric motorcycle in Avore's lineup. It gets a 5kWh battery, a 7.5kW motor and a claimed IDC range of 255km. 1. What is the Avore EX2's price? The Avore EX2 is priced at Rs 1.46 lakh (introductory, ex-showroom). It sits below the EX2S, which is priced at Rs 1.70 lakh. 2. What battery and motor does it get? The EX2 uses a 5kWh battery pack paired with a 7.5kW PMSM motor. It has a claimed 255km IDC range and a 100kph top speed. It gets four riding modes: Reverse, Eco, City and Sport. 3. What features does it get? The EX2 gets a segmented colour LCD display with Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. Other features include cruise control, hill hold, regenerative braking and keyless operation. It also gets vehicle tracking, geofencing and anti-theft alerts. 4. What are its dimensions? The Avore EX2 has a 790mm seat height and weighs 154kg in kerb form. Suspension duties are handled by telescopic front fork and a rear monoshock. It gets disc brakes ...

The Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler has marked a comeback for a pickup model under the Scorpio nameplate, after the Scorpio Getaway was discontinued in 2019. The Scorpio Lifestyler’s exterior design finds its roots in the 2023 Mahindra Global Pik Up concept, while the interior is inspired by the 2025 Vision T concept. In the production-spec version, the exterior and interior design have undergone noticeable changes. Here’s a detailed account of all the changes.  Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler production vs concept: Exterior changes Gets a boxier grille, but similar headlights and front bumper   At the front, the Mahindra Scorpio Lifestyler has similar LED headlights to the Global Pik Up concept, featuring L-shaped LED DRLs and projector lighting elements. The grille, however, is boxier on the production-spec model and has a ‘Scorpio’ badge. The front bumper features square elements for the air inlays and vertically stacked LED fog lamps. The tow hook is finished in a contrasting co...

Maruti has revealed it will launch the Baleno facelift on September 5, 2026. The Baleno is currently in its second-generation avatar, which launched in 2022, and is due for an update. While further details about the facelifted Baleno are awaited, some test mules have hinted at the expected changes on the hatchback.  Expected to get a revised fascia with a new grille and front bumper Rear design is likely to be similar, save for a revised rear bumper Dashboard design could be similar; could get new upholstery Maruti Baleno facelift: Expected changes Could get a new grille with a horizontal bar and a revised bumper  Previous spy shots of the facelifted Baleno have hinted at a redesigned fascia, featuring a new grille with a bar in the middle, likely to be finished in chrome, that connects the headlights. The headlight design is, however, expected to be unchanged, with boomerang-shaped LED DRLs. The test mules also had a redesigned bumper devoid of the front fog lamps seen on th...

Harley-Davidson has filed trademark applications for the names RMCR and RMXR with the US Patent and Trademark Office, according to reports – the clearest signal yet that a production version of the Revolution Max Cafe Racer concept could be on its way, along with what appears to be a flat-tracker sibling. Trademark applications for RMCR and RMXR filed in the US RMCR is believed to be the Revolution Max Cafe Racer; RMXR likely a flat-tracker derivative Both filed on an intent-to-use basis; production not guaranteed Harley-Davidson RMCR and RMXR: What to expect The RMCR concept was previously showcased at the Mama Tried Motorcycle Show earlier this year Reports suggest the RM prefix in both names stands for Revolution Max – Harley-Davidson's liquid-cooled DOHC V-twin platform, which is currently available in 975cc and 1,250cc configurations. The CR suffix in RMCR is widely read as standing for Cafe Racer, while XR draws a direct lineage from the company's storied flat-track heri...

Since their inception, Ultraviolette Automotive has been focussed on the premium end of the EV two-wheeler market with their products prices from Rs 2.49 lakh to Rs 4.59 lakh, a challenge for high sales numbers. However, with the changing winds in the ICE world, Ultraviolette looks to have turned a corner for the better. With almost no direct competition, this shouldn’t be a surprise, but it’s noteworthy regardless. Ultraviolette registers 406 percent increase in sales YoY BaaS and more versatile X-47 model looks to have helped this Ultraviolette has two more lower price models in the works Largest EV motorcycle monthly sales in July 2026 Only behind Revolt and Oben As per the retail sales data on the Vaahan portal, Ultraviolette Automotive has delivered 694 units in July 2026, a 406 percent increase compared to last year. Till July 2026, the brand has sold 3200 vehicles, the best since the brand was founded in 2023. Although the increase in sales numbers could be attributed to them o...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/5QypsjL

SUVs are best had with diesel engines, but given our policies and the disapprobation surrounding this fuel, most carmakers have entirely withdrawn themselves from offering diesel engines. What’s interesting is that where diesel is still on offer, it continues to make up a sizeable portion of that segment, meaning that demand is still healthy but customers only have a handful of options to choose from. So, if you are in the market looking for a diesel-automatic SUV, here we have compiled a list of the five best diesel-AT midsize SUVs available within a budget of Rs 25 lakh.  Mahindra XUV 7XO  Price: Rs 15.29 lakh – Rs 25.79 lakh  Mahindra is almost synonymous with large diesel SUVs and the XUV 7X0 ’s 185hp, 2.2-litre diesel is a benchmark for refinement and performance. It’s the most powerful SUV here, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox that’s offered with this engine is smooth, too. A premium and spacious interior with generous levels of equipment and a...

Besides the new 890cc V-twin engine, Ducati has also changed a bunch of things under the skin that make the new Monster a significantly different motorcycle to the one it replaces. For the sake of simplicity, for the remainder of this article, Monster old refers to the previous MY2024 937cc Monster and Monster new is the current MY2026 890cc Monster V2. Let’s go through the changes and also see what remains unchanged on the Monster V2 . Ducati Monster old vs new: Engine and chassis Biggest changes from the older Monster     This is the headlining change and for a good reason. Ducati went from the previous 937cc V-twin engine to a new 890cc V-twin engine that’s also available on the Multistrada V2, Panigale V2, and Streetfighter V2. Despite getting smaller, the engine delivers the same power as before and it does it 250rpm earlier in the rev range. Torque, however, sees a 2Nm reduction and it’s now delivered 750rpm later in the rev range than before. The other big change is t...

N Chandrasekaran has resigned as chairman of Tata Sons but will continue in the role until the end of his current term in February, according to a source familiar with the matter, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The development comes months after Tata Sons deferred a decision on Chandrasekaran’s reappointment amid differences with Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata over the future governance of the conglomerate.  Why Chandrasekaran Is Stepping Down: Tata Trusts Rift Explained Tata Sons is the holding company of the Tata Group and oversees more than 30 companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tata Motors and Air India. Tata Trusts, the group’s philanthropic arm, owns a 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons. In February, Tata Sons postponed a decision on extending Chandrasekaran’s tenure after Noel Tata opposed the move, Reuters reported at the time. According to a source cited by Reuters, Noel Tata had sought several conditions, including a commitment that Tata Sons would never b...

Mahindra has dropped a new teaser for the Scorpio N pickup truck , set to debut on August 14. Notably, this is the first time that the carmaker has officially confirmed the much-awaited pickup truck, which is the production version of the 2023 Global Pik Up concept, alongside announcing the reveal date. The 40-second teaser video showed only some parts of the upcoming vehicle's exterior and interior, and more information is expected to be revealed in the run-up to its reveal. Mahindra Scorpio N pickup teaser details Up front, the truck gets L-shaped LED daytime running lights (DRLs), which bracket the slim LED headlights. The front camera is placed just under the Twin Peaks logo on the grille, suggesting that the carmaker may equip the model with a 360-degree camera setup, or even the 540-degree setup (which adds an under bonnet view) as seen on the Scorpio N. The front grille itself has a hexagonal design. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/mxhHFdv

Honda Rebel 300 was one of the ten products announced for India by the company on their July 2026 mega reveal. Currently, its direct competitor in the segment will be the Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350. Unlike Royal Enfield, Honda seems to be taking a more modern approach to it’s bobber motorcycle with a more modern design and small but meaningful tech implementations. Even though we don’t have the official price or a launch date for the Rebel 300, we know enough details about it to see how it stacks up against the Goan Classic 350 on paper. Honda Rebel 300 vs Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350: Engine and output Modern vs neo-retro   Honda Rebel 300 Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 Engine 286cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 349cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled Power 30hp 19.9hp Torque 27.5Nm 27Nm Transmission 6-speed 5-speed Power-to-weight ratio 174.42hp/tonne 101.02hp/tonne The fundamental differences between the two motorcycles start right from their engines. The Goan Classic 3...

We put the CNG version of the Victoris through our exhaustive test to know the reason behind its popularity. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/AhO02fF