VR Tech Times

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...

Kia is aiming at the growing compact electric SUV segment with the upcoming Syros EV, set to be its second mass-market electric model for India. The Syros EV utilises the same K1 platform as its ICE-powered counterpart. Bookings for the Syros EV are already open ahead of its launch, scheduled for the end of July 2026. In this article, we answer everything that you need to know about the Syros EV. 1. What battery pack options does the Kia Syros EV offer, and how much power does its motor produce? The Kia Syros EV offers the same 42kWh and 51.4kWh battery packs that do duty in the Kia Carens Clavis EV and the Hyundai Creta Electric. Both are mated to a front-mounted motor. In the 42kWh guise, the motor delivers 135hp and 255Nm, but in the 51.4kWh guise, power is bumped to 171hp, while torque remains the same. The 51.4kWh battery pack and its 171hp motor make it the model with the largest battery pack and the most powerful motor in the class. Kia claims a 0-100kph sprint in 8.1 seconds w...

The Kawasaki Ninja 500 replaced the well-regarded Ninja 400 with a larger 451cc parallel-twin engine offering more performance, along with more muscular styling. It continues to sit at the more accessible end of the middleweight segment, aimed at riders upgrading from smaller motorcycles who want a genuinely capable, refined sportbike without the intimidation factor of a litre-class machine. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about it. What is the price of the Kawasaki Ninja 500? The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is priced at Rs 5.76 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Only the standard variant is available in India; the SE variant, which gets a TFT display and additional equipment in some international markets, has not been introduced here. What engine does the Kawasaki Ninja 500 use? The Kawasaki Ninja 500 is powered by a 451cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine producing 45hp at 9,000rpm and 42.6Nm at 6,000rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The engine is tractable and refi...

MG Motor India has provided the first look at its new platform, ADAPT. An acronym for ‘Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology’, this NEV (New Energy Vehicle) architecture will underpin MG India's upcoming plug-in hybrid (PHEV), strong hybrid, range-extender hybrid, and EV models. There will seemingly be no pure-ICE offerings based on ADAPT. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/sXin1Yu

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, has directed Maruti Suzuki to replace the Grand Vitara belonging to Dr. Premraj Debta for alleged E20-related damages, ETV Bharat reported. After verifying all the necessary documents and arguments put forth by Maruti and Dr. Debta, the consumer court ordered the automaker to provide the doctor with a new, E20-compatible car within 45 days. Otherwise, Maruti Suzuki will have to cover the full cost of the car, amounting to Rs 20.50 lakh. It has also been ordered to pay Rs 1 lakh for mental harassment and Rs 10,000 to cover litigation fees, as per ETV Bharat. from Autocar India https://ift.tt/nUXhLWp

The Tata Nexon first hit the Indian market in 2017, and even after nine years and two facelifts, the compact SUV regularly ranks in the upper echelons of the monthly sales charts. If you’re considering purchasing a Nexon, listed below are three of its most prominent strengths, and two areas where it falls short of rivals. Pros Diverse powertrain line-up Buyers can choose between petrol, diesel, CNG, and electric options One of the Nexon’s biggest trump cards is its wide array of powertrains on offer: petrol, diesel, CNG, and electric ( Nexon EV ). Petrol and CNG Nexon buyers get a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine – 120hp and 170Nm in petrol guise, while the CNG makes 100hp instead. The Nexon diesel is powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder mill that develops 115hp and 260Nm, whereas the EV offers 30kWh and 45kWh battery packs. There’s quite a bit of gearbox choice too. The Nexon petrol alone can be had with one of four gearbox options: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 6-speed AMT,...

Kawasaki is continuing its offers on the Versys-X 300 through the end of July, with both the MY25 and MY26 models available with cash discounts and complimentary accessories. The two versions are mechanically identical and are both priced at Rs 3.49 lakh (ex-showroom, India). MY25 Versys-X 300 gets a Rs 35,000 cash discount MY26 Versys-X 300 gets a Rs 10,000 cash discount Both bikes are powered by the same 296cc parallel-twin producing 40hp and 26Nm Kawasaki Versys-X 300 July offers The MY25 offers the more compelling overall deal Both variants are also available with a choice of either a complimentary pannier set or a centre stand, with Kawasaki valuing the accessory benefit at up to Rs 46,000. The MY25 model, however, offers the stronger overall package, pairing the accessory benefit with a Rs 35,000 cash discount that brings its effective ex-showroom price down to Rs 3.14 lakh. The MY26 model receives a smaller Rs 10,000 cash discount, reducing its effective price to Rs 3.39 lakh. ...

Ather Energy has announced that it will host the fourth edition of its annual Community Day event on August 29, 2026, in Bengaluru. Headlined as “A New Dawn of Magic”, this year’s event will see the debut of the company’s first production electric scooter based on its all-new EL platform. Ather Community Day 2026 to be held on August 29 in Bengaluru First production scooter based on the new EL platform to debut New technology, charging and ecosystem updates also planned Ather EL platform scooter: What to expect? The EL platform is Ather’s first all-new vehicle architecture since the launch of the 450 series  The upcoming scooter, which was recently spotted testing on public roads, is expected to stay largely faithful to the EL01 concept first showcased at Community Day 2025, even the design patent filed earlier this year support this claim. Spy images revealed a handlebar-mounted headlight, a wide LED DRL integrated into the front apron and styling that closely resembles the desi...

The Maruti Baleno is priced from Rs 5.99 lakh to Rs 9.17 lakh (ex-showroom) and competes with the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza in the premium hatchback segment. But is it the right hatchback for you? Here are two reasons to buy the Baleno and two reasons why you might want to look elsewhere. Reasons to buy 1. Spacious and practical cabin Space is one of the Baleno's biggest strengths. There is plenty of room in the rear even for tall passengers, while the well-contoured rear seat offers good under-thigh and lateral support. The front seats are comfortable too, with good shoulder and side support. The cabin also gets useful storage spaces, including large door pockets, a well-sized glovebox and cupholders in the centre console. The Baleno also has a decent 318-litre boot, making it practical for everyday use. However, the high loading lip means loading luggage inside may require slightly more effort as it needs to be lifted higher. 2. Comfortable ride, especially in ...

Honda 's upcoming V3-powered naked motorcycle has taken another step towards production after design drawings filed with IP Australia were made public. The application, submitted on March 26, claims priority from an earlier Japanese design filing dated October 2, 2025, which has not yet been published. As a result, the Australian filing offers the first public look at what appears to be the production-spec version of Honda's V3R prototype. Australian design filing reveals production-ready styling Powered by a 900cc V3 engine with an electrically driven compressor Recent patents hint at the technology being deployed across multiple motorcycle segments Honda V3R design patented: What to expect? The design closely mirrors the V3R prototype unveiled at EICMA 2025 , retaining its muscular streetfighter proportions, sharp bodywork, compact tail section, single-sided swingarm and prominent radiator shrouds. Unlike many concept motorcycles that undergo significant visual changes befor...

Renault has launched a new Adventure Edition of the Duster. It gets a special decal which depicts the topographical contour lines and the geographical coordinates of Leh as a nod to the Duster’s spirit of adventure. The same motif is replicated on the plaque on the front doors, and it also gets Adventure Edition-specific floor mats. Prices for the Duster Adventure Edition range between Rs 12.99 lakh and Rs 15.39 lakh (ex-showroom), and its available with all three powertrain options.  from Autocar India https://ift.tt/SrT31KG

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/KfRdOel