VR Tech Times

The Bajaj-made Triumph Scrambler 400X has been around for a couple of years now and while its sibling, the Speed 400 range has seen some updates as well as the addition of the new T4 model, there hasn’t been much for the Scrambler unit now.  Bajaj’s solution to spice things up for 2025 is the new Scrambler XC. Going by the brand’s previous nomenclature on the big Scrambler 1200, the addition of the XC moniker brings the expectation of more off-road capability, but that isn’t the case here. The XC is very similiar to the X in most fundamental ways. Triumph Scrambler 400 XC design and features - 8/10  Excel cross-spoke wheels look cool, are a little lighter than the 400 X's alloys Instead, the new Triumph Scrambler 400 XC gets a number of additional components, but essentially no changes to the way it performs. The biggest upgrade, from both a visual and functional standpoint would be the new cross-spoked wheels. Unlike the Akront wheels on the Himalayan 450, these are Ex...

MPVs and SUVs are the growth drivers for the Indian auto industry, as sales of hatchbacks and sedans continue to slow down. In the last fiscal year (FY2025), MPVs accounted for around 11 percent of India’s utility vehicle (UV) record sales of 27.9 lakh units and even outsold sedans. Based on wholesale numbers, the trend seems to be continuing in the first quarter of FY2026 (April-June). Here’s a quick look at the 10 best-selling MPVs in the quarter. 10 bestselling MPVs in April-June 2025 Model Q1 FY26 Q1 FY25 Change (%) Maruti Ertiga 46,071 43,339 6 Toyota Innova (Hycross + Crysta) 25,383 25,063 1 Kia Carens + Clavis 17,704 15,798 12 Maruti XL6 9,658 10,073 -4 Toyota Rumion 5,794 4,677 24 Renault Triber 4,233 5,587 -24 Maruti Invicto 688 514 34 Kia Carnival 252 - - Toyota Vellfire 205 209 -2 Mahindra Marazzo 27 48 -44 1. Maruti Ertiga 46,071 units, up 6 percent The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga , which was in...

Vinfast Auto India has commenced online and offline bookings for its VF6 and VF7 electric vehicles. The VF7 will serve as the brand's flagship model in India for now, and along with the VF6 , will be locally assembled at the brand's Tamil Nadu facility. VinFast is slated to launch the SUV this festive season, with the  VF7  arriving first. VF7 will be offered with FWD, AWD powertrain choices VF6 will solely come with a FWD setup Both electric vehicles support AC and DC fast charging Vinfast intends to leverage its parent company Vingroup's resources in India, starting with service and charging networks. It recently tied up with 13 dealer groups to open 32 outlets across 27 Indian cities, with the first few dealerships coming up in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. Vinfast VF7 design, features, battery and range 70.8kWh battery with 204hp FWD / 350hp AWD powertrain options. The 4,545mm-long VF7 has a swoopy, crossover-like exterio...

For more than a couple of years, we have reported that Yamaha will be launching a number of big bikes in India from its two and three cylinder families. We even got to ride the new gen MT-09 in Japan last year, but there has still been no launch in India. We now have an explanation for the delays. Yamaha to launch 700cc and 900cc big bikes in India Will come in as CBU imports Bikes like R7, MT07, MT09 on the cards but no Tenere 700 Yamaha India working on bringing big bikes  All bikes sold in India must be E20 compliant by October 2025 In a recent interaction with Yamaha India’s new MD and Chairman Itaru Otani, we learned that Yamaha has not cancelled its plans to launch select big bikes in India. The company tells us that the delays have occurred because of the new E20 regulations which state that all bikes must be compliant with E20 petrol by October 2025. As these regulations are not widespread across global markets, Yamaha’s big bike line up is currently not yet E20 co...

It’s always refreshing when riding gear blends into your routine without demanding attention, and over the past month or so, that’s exactly what the Raida UrbanR riding shoes have done. They’re pitched as casual shoes with light protection, and while that mostly holds true, there are a few nuances worth noting. Raida’s own website suggests going a size down, and I found this accurate. Thankfully, there’s almost no break-in needed – within two days, they felt quite natural. My usage was mostly city commutes with a few highway runs, and that’s where the UrbanRs shine. I wouldn’t use these for aggressive riding or off-road. But for everyday duties, they balance on-bike function with off-bike comfort. The top of the shoe can dig into your shin a bit if your bike has rear-set pegs, but overall comfort is decent. Despite Mumbai’s hot and humid weather, the mesh does its job. Protection-wise, there’s reinforcement at the ankle, heel and toe, plus SAS-TEC ankle inserts rated to EN13634. It’...

The MG Astor is a midsize SUV, which rivals the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. The Astor is now offered with a sole 110hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine that’s mated to an 8-step CVT automatic or 5-speed manual gearbox. We put the petrol-CVT version to the test to determine its real-world efficiency. Kerb Weight is 1,349kg Misses auto engine stop/start  No eco drive mode MG Astor CVT fuel efficiency as tested MG Astor has the lowest mileage figures in its segment The Astor misses out on key efficiency-enhancing features like auto engine start/stop. This, combined with its 1,349kg kerb weight, make it the heaviest in its segment. So it’s no surprise that it returned just 8.3kpl in city conditions.  On the other hand, while cruising at 100kph on the highway, its engine spins at a little over 2,000rpm, helping it eke out 10.48kpl. Both of these figures are the lowest in its segment. Autocar India’s fuel efficiency tes...

The Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z has always delivered stupendous value. It sits in a price bracket where it rivals a sharp-handling 150cc and versatile 250cc — yet it offers proper 40hp. But that value came with its fair share of compromises. To hit the tantalising Rs 1.85 lakh price point, Bajaj dipped heavily into its parts bin. The chassis and engine came from the Dominar 400, while the body panels and several cycle parts were borrowed from the NS200. So what were the flaws? For starters, the NS400Z came shod with bias-ply tyres — the rear being a 140-section — which simply didn’t offer the grip or confidence needed for a bike of this calibre. Braking was another weak link, with the use of organic pads limiting bite and feedback. And while the spec sheet looked solid on paper, the Sport mode never quite delivered the urgency those numbers suggested. Now though, Bajaj has gone back to the drawing board and reworked each of these key areas. The question prevails: have these changes made thi...

Dear God. This is mad. Mad, mad, mad! Razor-sharp lines, crazy dimensions, jaw-dropping proportions and sheer presence. It truly feels like we’ve walked onto the set of a sci-fi movie. Only, it isn’t. We’re on the outskirts of Surat, where the locals, many never having seen a picture of one, just stare in silence, their minds racing at 1,000kph, mouths opening in slow motion. I initially walk around it in silence too, circling like a kite on a thermal, mesmerised. The shard-like lines, the flat stainless steel panels, the flagrant disregard for convention – it's nuts. And there are no Tesla logos. Anywhere. The longer I stare, the more it feels like it will float up gently into a hover, suck its wheels in and disappear into the blue. It even has that polished metal demeanour of a spacecraft. Tesla Cybertruck exterior design and engineering Polished stainless steel panels, 20-inch wheels Even the headlights are unique, protected behind the ‘brow’ of the bumper. It’s so radica...

A new government rule passed in the last few days that says all new two-wheelers will need to have ABS in India, not just the ones above 125cc. Reportedly, two BIS-certified helmets must be provided with every two-wheeler sold.  This is the latest addition to a salvo of various emissions, safety and taxation laws that have increased two-wheeler prices by as much as double in some cases. For example, just five years back in 2020, the Bajaj CT 100 was India’s most affordable motorcycle at Rs 33,393. Today, Bajaj’s most affordable bike is the Platina 100 – also a bare-bones 100cc commuter, but it costs Rs 68,262. Add in constantly rising input costs and the setbacks of the pandemic, and it’s no wonder that the Indian two-wheeler industry is yet to surpass FY2019’s all-time sales high of 21.18 million units.  Seventy-five percent of all two-wheelers sold in India are below 125cc. A bulk of them (including the top sellers like the Hero Splendor and Honda Activa) have front dru...

I have a budget of about Rs 15 lakh, and I’m confused as to which car to buy between the new Tata Altroz and the Curvv. I would prefer a diesel engine. Nakul Manikpure, via email Autocar India says: For your budget, you’ll get a top-end Altroz diesel, but only an entry-level Curvv diesel. We feel the Altroz 1.5 diesel is a better choice, despite having slightly lower power than the diesel Curvv, as it is cheaper and you can go for the better-equipped higher variants. The Curvv is a bigger car, but the coupé styling eats into the rear seat headroom. Also See: 2025 Tata Altroz facelift review: Sharp suiter Tata Altroz facelift video review Tata Curvv video review Tata Curvv review: Ahead of the curve?     from Autocar India https://ift.tt/qSQ5JrR

There’s nothing like a big, chunky luxury SUV to tell the world you’ve arrived. None of that compact, entry-level stuff; that’s for common folk. I’m talking big, hulking 5-seaters with 6-cylinder engines that demand proper money – over a crore at least – to show people you do business, and you mean business. The likes of the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 come to mind, and turning up in either would be a power move. But what if you want to tell the world you’ve arrived… a little further? There are, of course, plenty of different next rungs on this ladder – a mammoth 7-seater like the X7 or GLS , a luxury MPV if you’re a little left field, a coupé-SUV if you want something sportier, or even an EV if you’re into that sort of thing. But if you want to stick to the formula of a big, 6-cylinder, 5-seat luxury SUV, there are these two. For around Rs 30 lakh more than the established order, you unlock access to the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne . Whether their respective badges are po...