VR Tech Times

The Hero Vida VX2 is offered in five variants split across two sub-families – Go and Plus. All five use the same 6kW motor and feature removable, IP67-rated battery packs, with the main differences coming down to battery capacity, braking hardware, display and ride modes. Here's what each variant offers. Vida VX2 variant breakdown VX2 Go 2.2 The entry-level Go 2.2 uses the smallest 2.2kWh battery in the range, offering a claimed IDC range of 93km. Top speed is capped at 70kph, with a claimed 0-40kph time of 4.2 seconds. It comes with a 580W charger that takes 3 hours 7 minutes to charge from 0 to 80 percent. The scooter is also available in a Go 2.2 RQ variant, which is mechanically identical but comes bundled with a faster 1,000W charger as standard. This reduces the claimed 0-80 percent charging time to 1 hour 41 minutes. The VX2 Go 2.2 gets drum brakes at both ends with CBS, a 4.3-inch LCD display, and two riding modes – Eco and Ride. It also offers the largest underseat storag...

Seven months after the launch of the ICE-powered Tata Sierra , its all-electric derivative, the Sierra EV , is finally available for purchase. Priced from Rs 18.79 lakh to Rs 25.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Sierra EV slots right between the Tata Curvv EV and the Harrier EV and rivals electric midsize SUVs such as the Mahindra BE 6 , Vinfast VF6 , Hyundai Creta Electric , MG ZS EV , Maruti e Vitara and Toyota Ebella , among others. If you’re considering bringing home a Sierra EV, here are three reasons why you should go through with it and two reasons why you may want to think twice before signing the dotted line. Pros Loaded with features Gets some additional goodies over the ICE Sierra The Sierra EV retains the expansive equipment list of its ICE sibling, including a triple-screen layout (12.3-inch infotainment and passenger screens and a 10.25-inch driver’s display), dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), a powered tailgat...

The midsize SUV segment is among the most contested in India, with popular models such as the Hyundai Creta , Tata Sierra , Kia Seltos and Skoda Kushaq fighting for space. A majority of SUVs in this segment come with turbo-petrol engines, which are known to offer good performance and deliver respectable fuel efficiency when driven efficiently. Here, we have compiled a list of the most fuel-efficient turbo-petrol midsize SUVs in India, from lowest to highest. Do note that the list is based on ARAI figures, with real-world numbers expected to vary depending on driving conditions and styles. Note: The claimed ARAI fuel-efficiency figures for the Mahindra Thar Roxx's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and Tata Curvv's 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engines are yet to be revealed. 13. Tata Sierra: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol Claimed mileage of up to 15.3kpl The Tata Sierra is offered with three engine options: two petrols and a diesel. Of these, the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is the least frugal, with a ...

GOOD FOR: Spacious interior, Strong engines LOOK OUT FOR: Suspension rattles, Infotainment issues The Mahindra XUV 3XO was launched in 2024 as a replacement for the XUV300. But instead of a mild facelift, Mahindra went all out and gave the compact SUV an overhauled exterior, a thoroughly reworked interior, some segment-first features, a new class-leading petrol powertrain and a new name. Mahindra’s smallest offering stands out in the crowded compact SUV segment for its roomy and premium interior and many powertrain options, making it worth considering as a used buy. Here’s what to keep in mind. Despite the redesigned exterior, the 3XO’s rear section still looks abruptly chopped off, though it doesn’t look as awkward as the XUV300’s . The front styling, too, is bold, distinctive and splits opinion. Inside, quality took a huge step up, with the 3XO’s interior feeling genuinely premium. It’s very good on space too, and can easily accommodate five adults, though the trade-off is one o...

Yamaha recently entered the electric scooter market with its EC-06, which is a redesigned River Indie but retains all the core mechanicals. At Rs 1.71 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru), the EC-06 is also one of the more expensive options in the electric scooter market. We were able to subject the EC-06 to our real-world range tests and this is how Yamaha’s debut EV performed. In ‘Normal’ mode, it covered 114km It has an efficiency of 28.5km/kWh Small 450W charger takes 10hr to top up a flat battery to full Yamaha EC-06 real world range When subjecting the EC-06 to our range tests, we used the middle ‘Standard’ riding mode, where the range indicator on the display showed us 93km with a fully charged battery. Its 4kWh battery sends power to a mid-mounted motor capable of 6.7kW peak output - same as the River Indie it is based on. In its Standard riding mode, you can achieve the 79kph top speed but power delivery is gentler than on the top ‘Power’ mode and the regenerative braking too is ...

Seat height is one of the most important considerations for shorter riders because it's what gives you the confidence to comfortably put both feet on the ground when you come to a stop. That confidence becomes even more important in city traffic, where you'll constantly find yourself stopping and starting. Electric scooters are no different in this regard. So, if seat height is a deciding factor for you, here are ten electric scooters currently on sale in India with the lowest seat heights. Bajaj Chetak (Series 30 and 35) 775mm The Bajaj Chetak range is one of the most popular electric scooter lineups in India and currently sits second in monthly sales behind TVS. Broadly speaking, the lineup can be divided into two families – the newer 25 Series and the older 30 and 35 Series models that share a similar design. It's the latter that we're focusing on here. Across the C3001, C3501, C3502 and C3503 variants, the seat height remains a consistent 775mm. The differences be...

Conceived with no concessions to internal combustion propulsion, ‘born electrics’ were heralded as the future. Manufacturers poured millions into their development, and it is estimated that globally $1.2 trillion was committed to the entire EV ecosystem, $500 billion of which was from automakers. But with global EV sales well below projections, manufacturers are left with hard decisions. The Stellantis group, for instance, confirmed a $26 billion write-off over its EV projects, while Honda said its annual operating loss would be between 270-570 billion yen, due to losses associated with the reassessment of its electrification strategy. Earlier this year, the Japanese carmaker scrapped its much-hyped ‘0 Series’ EV project, though the made-in-India 0 Alpha SUV, which is said to use components from the Elevate, is still on track. Honda has cancelled its 0 Series EV Project altogether The write-offs and cancellations are understandable in the context of born-electrics, as while there have...

The origin of the species. The very beginnings of the automobile. Where it all started. How it all started. What form the earliest cars took. What if you could experience all of this in one place, at the same time? Say hello to UMS Technologies, India’s smallest carmaker. Nestled in the heart of the bustling city of Coimbatore, where the manufacturing of machines is almost a religion, UMS tech not only recreates the past, it does so with exacting precision and a level of dedication that borders on obsession. Walk onto the shop floor, just off main street Coimbatore, and you are greeted by finished versions of three icons – the 1899 Stanley Steamer, the 1896 Ford Quadricycle, and the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Each is a faithful replica, crafted with painstaking detail, and together they tell the story of how the automobile was born. It feels like history is coming back to life.  Give me steam  The steam car is the most difficult to steer and can accelerate quickly for a pre...