VR Tech Times

We’re in the midst of a brutal summer, with temperatures soaring well past the 40deg mark across much of the country. It is the wrong time of year to be out in the sun, but also the perfect time for our AC torture test. We’ve assembled five midsize SUVs and the objective is simple: to find out which ones can keep their cool when the going gets hot. In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with its engine switched off and windows rolled up. Sunroof shades are kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. The cars are rigged with sophisticated test equipment, which captures reams of data, provided by Zen Microsystems. Five thermocouple sensors read ambient temperature, cabin temperature, vent temperature (it captures how cold the air is), front-seat temperature (measured near the driver’s ear) and rear-seat temperature (measured at the rear centre armrest). Each car was rigged with 5 thermocouple sensors Getting into the cars for the act...

The Alcazar , I’ve come to realise, is stuck in an unenviable position in the Hyundai India line-up. On one side, above it, you have cars like the recently updated Ioniq 5 and recently axed Tucson (RIP), whose main job is brand building. And on the other side is the Creta , which needs little explanation. The SUV that today defines Hyundai now comes in NA petrol, turbo-petrol, diesel, electric and sporty N Line guises. And the Alcazar? It’s mostly relegated to being the ‘three-row version’ of its little brother, forced to walk the thin line between sensible and aspirational. It doesn’t help that its distant relative, the Kia Carens Clavis , came along with even more space. Or that other 3-row SUVs in this segment are larger, with more powerful engines. But as we discovered with our previous long-term Alcazar in 2023 , it’s much more than just the sum of its parts. Big enough to be spacious, yet not enough to be cumbersome in tight spaces. As I’ve discovered in my time driving ar...

Confidence is a key intangible element for shorter riders when they step up to their first big bike and having a manageable machine which allows them to put their feet on the ground is an important consideration. Keeping this in mind, we have curated a list of all the big bikes available in India with a seat height lower than 810mm, which should make the bikes pretty easy to flatfoot. Do bear in mind that we have only included models under the Rs 10 lakh mark (ex-showroom, Delhi), above 600cc and making over 60hp from reputed and established brands with a fairly decent reach across the country. Suzuki GSX-8R (Rs 9.89 lakh) / Triumph Daytona 660 (Rs 9.88 lakh) 810mm Both the GSX-8R and Daytona 660 are from a breed of new-age sportbikes that prioritize real-world usability rather than outright speed and performance. As a result, they have comfortable ergonomics and engines that prioritize solid mid-range grunt over a searing top-end rush. The Suzuki uses a 776cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-...

The eC3X is the only pure-electric model in Citroen ’s line-up in India. The French carmaker recently tacked on the ‘X’ suffix to this compact EV, first introduced in India in 2023 as the ‘eC3’. The 2026 eC3X facelift primarily receives new projector LED headlamps and revised alloy wheels on the outside, along with blue accents and some additional features on the inside. Citroen eC3X facelift prices Price: Rs 11.99 lakh-13.26 lakh (ex-showroom) The Citroen eC3X facelift is priced at Rs 11.99 lakh for the base-spec Live variant, Rs 12.35 lakh for the mid-spec Live (O) and Rs 13.26 lakh for the top-spec Shine version. Citroen India is offering all three variants with a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) scheme, with upfront cost ranging from Rs 6.89 lakh to Rs 8.30 lakh and a battery rental fee of Rs 2.26 per km. Citroen eC3X facelift powertrain Powertrain specifications Citroen eC3X facelift Battery 29.2kWh Drive configuration FWD Power 57hp Torque 143Nm Claimed range 325km AC charging 10-10...

The Mini Countryman and BMW X1 are both based on the UKL2 platform and are locally assembled in India, with the exception of the top-spec Countryman JCW All4. For those not in the know, Mini is owned by BMW , and the Countryman is assembled at the German carmaker’s Chennai plant. Since both SUVs compete in the entry-level luxury SUV space, it will be interesting to see how their powertrain specs, size and pricing compare. Mini Countryman vs BMW X1: Powertrains   Countryman X1 Variant C | JCW All4 sDrive 18i M Sport | sDrive 18d M Sport Engine 1.5L turbo-petrol | 2L turbo-petrol 1.5L turbo-petrol | 2L diesel Cylinder count 3 | 4 3 | 4 Power (hp) 156 | 300 136 | 150 Torque (Nm) 240 | 400 230 | 360 Transmission 7DCT 7DCT Claimed fuel efficiency (kpl) 15.92 | 15.4 16.35 | 20.37 Drive layout FWD | AWD FWD Claimed 0-100kph time (sec) 9 | 5.4 9.2 | 8.9 Top speed (kph) 212 | 250 210 In addition to the platform, the 1,499cc 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is common to the two models. How...

We begin this exercise with the blazing summer heat blanketing the Renault Duster and Tata Sierra . The ambient temperature at our test site on the outskirts of Mumbai peaked at 42.2deg C. It wasn’t just the high temperature that would put these climate control systems through their paces but the high humidity as well. Having said that, here’s how these two midsize SUVs fared in our AC performance test. Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Duster vs Sierra comparison. Autocar India’s testing methodology In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with its engine switched off and windows rolled up. Sunroof shades are kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. Once a car is ‘soaked’, a two-member team enters the vehicle quickly to minimise heat loss – our job is to simulate a worst-case scenario. Each car is equipped with sophisticated test gear provided by Zen Microsystems. Five thermocouple sensors read ambient t...

Indian Motorcycle has announced a partnership with Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde, a Dutch exhaust manufacturer that specialises in electronically adjustable exhaust systems. The agreement will see the company's products retailed through Indian Motorcycle dealerships across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Exhausts offer three switchable sound modes that can be changed while riding All systems comply with noise regulations in their intended markets Covers Indian models dating back to 2014, as well as future product launches Indian Motorcycle and Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde partnership The exhaust systems feature three electronically adjustable sound modes Each exhaust system offers three distinct sound profiles – Dr. Jekill, Dynamic and Mr. Hyde – allowing riders to alter the character of the exhaust note at the press of a button. The system can be adjusted on the move and works via a control unit that communicates with the motorcycle's ECU, regulating a butterfly valve wit...

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Mercedes-Benz recently launched the S-Class facelift in India, with prices starting from Rs 2.20 crore (ex-showroom). Even though they are not traditional rivals, the new S-Class is priced very similarly to the Lexus LM MPV. These cars have completely different body types, but they cater to the same set of buyers who want an optimal chauffeur-driven experience. So, should you choose the 2026 S-Class over the LM? Let us find out.   Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our S-Class vs LM comparison. 2026 Mercedes S-Class vs Lexus LM: Prices Both luxury cars have the same starting price, but the top-end S-Class is more affordable Mercedes S-Class vs Lexus LM: Prices (ex-showroom) Model Price range (in Rs, crore) Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2.20-2.38 Lexus LM 2.20-2.75 The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is offered in a single S 450e variant, which is available in two trims: Launch Edition and Manufactur Edition, priced from Rs 2.20 lakh. The Lexus LM also has the same price for ...