VR Tech Times

Mahindra launched the 2026 BE 6 recently, adding the ‘Sporteq’ moniker and pricing it from Rs 19.45 lakh to Rs 26.95 lakh (ex-showroom). Along with a new name, Mahindra has also introduced some updates to the midsize electric SUV to keep it modern in the segment. Here’s a detailed list of these updates: New 70kWh battery pack New battery pack offers 651km range and is mated to a 241hp rear motor The 2026 Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq gets a new 70kWh battery pack in addition to the previously available 59kWh and 79kWh batteries. This new 70kWh battery offers an ARAI-claimed range of 651km and a rear-axle-mounted (RWD) electric motor that produces 241hp and 360Nm. It supports a 7.2kW AC, a 11.2kW AC and a 160kW DC charger. The DC fast charger recharges the battery pack from 20-80 percent in a claimed 20 minutes. Mahindra is offering the 70kWh battery with the Three and Three+ trims, priced at Rs 22.95 lakh and Rs 23.95 lakh, respectively (ex-showroom).  Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme ...

Porsche could axe the Taycan by 2030, reported German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche. This comes just a couple of months following the global unveiling of the 2027 Taycan, and about five months after Porsche's plan to merge the Taycan and Panamera nameplates. Plummeting demand cited as a major reason Production of the Taycan has been halted several times Porsche Taycan faces an uncertain future Demand for the brand’s first fully electric car has been weak in recent years After hitting a peak of 40,960 units in 2023, the whole of 2025 saw worldwide sales of the Taycan dropping by over 60 percent (at 16,339 units). Similarly dismal numbers have led Porsche to halt production of the Taycan several times over the years, Autocar UK highlighted. A phased ramp-down aside, Porsche’s plans with the Taycan also included an immediate cessation of its production, as per WirtschaftsWoche’s report. 2027 Porsche Taycan with the Manthey kit shown for representational purposes only. Even thou...

India exported 1.81 million motorcycles between April and July 2026, up 33 percent from the same period last year, according to SIAM data. Motorcycles accounted for 86 percent of India’s 2.10 million two-wheeler exports during this period. 1.81 million motorcycles exported between April and July Bajaj and TVS account for 76 percent of exports TVS exported over 85,898 more 125cc motorcycles than Bajaj Bajaj, TVS lead India’s motorcycle exports Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company together accounted for 1.38 million motorcycle exports, or 76 percent of the total. Much of the demand is concentrated in the 100-125cc segments, which accounted for 1.22 million units, or 68 percent of all motorcycle exports. Bajaj Auto exported 8,54,991 motorcycles between April and July, up 48 percent year on year. Its 100-110cc exports nearly doubled to 378,941 units, while 110-125cc exports rose 36 percent to 229,677 units. Africa has been a major growth driver for Bajaj, with the company reporting that its...

On the sidelines of the world premiere of the Lamborghini Revuelto SV, the brand’s president and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, spoke to journalists about the new flagship hybrid supercar, the move away from EVs and even the Indian market. India-EU FTA hybrid uncertainty could pose a problem  A hot topic at the moment is the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) soon to come into effect, which promises to make imported cars a whole lot more affordable. While that’s great news for most super-sportscar brands, it’s not so for Lamborghini, as the India-EU FTA offers no clarity about benefits for hybrid cars, which make up the Italian brand’s entire range. “The decision was made, I think, at the beginning of the year to lower the import taxes, but not for PHEVs,” said Winkelmann, responding to a question from Autocar India. “So, we see a drop in the market due to the uncertainty which is created by this. And there is still not enough clarity.” While other brands do have some pure-ICE models, ...

The Bajaj Pulsar N160 has gained a lot of traction in the last three years and Bajaj has now given it even more appeal with the introduction of a new 4 valve version. The existing 2-valve N160 continues to be on sale while two new 4-valve variants have been added to the line up. Bajaj Pulsar N160 4V Whats new The engine changes are bigger than expected with this being a new engine that is still 165cc but now has a bigger 63.5mm bore and shorter 52mm stroke. Bajaj claims a sizable jump from 16hp at 8750rpm to 18.5hp at 9500rpm while torque drops marginally from 14.65Nm at 6750rpm to 14.4Nm at a higher 8000rpm. Bajaj also claims a high rev limit of 10,900rpm. The bottom end of the engine and the gearbox are the same as before. The chassis is also mostly the same, but there have been some minor refinements in the main frame and swingarm which have helped offset the minor gain in engine weight as well as the move to a fatter new 37mm USD fork on the 4V models. As a result, kerb weight is ...

The Grecale is Maserati’s take on the mid-size luxury SUV and in SUV-crazy India will likely be the first port of call for buyers intrigued by the iconic brand. It’s been updated outside, inside and under the hood to help convert that mystique into sales. 2027 Maserati Grecale Exterior Design and Engineering - 8/10 Like most Maseratis , the Grecale is one of those cars that looks better in the metal than it does in photographs. There’s Italian flair to the design, with the proportions finely balanced across its 4.8m length. The classic Maserati cues - voluptuous fenders, vents aft of the front wheels and the cut of the glasshouse - are all there and help establish the marque, even in profile. The 2027 Grecale gets a more prominent concave grille with the Trident logo at its centre. The key visual change comes at the front. A strong horizontal crease visually divides the face into two distinct sections. The upper portion retains the familiar sculpted Maserati look, while the lower sec...

The Ducati Monster V2 is the most significant update to the Monster nameplate in several years. It brings a new engine shared with the Panigale V2, Streetfighter V2 and Multistrada V2 families, a new monocoque chassis, and some major design changes, including the return of the muscular big-tank look that defined earlier-generation Monsters. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about it. What is the price of the Ducati Monster V2 in India? The Ducati Monster V2 is available in two variants – Monster and Monster+ – across three colour options. The Monster starts at Rs 13.99 lakh for Ducati Red and Rs 14.23 lakh for Iceberg White and Sport Livery. The Monster+ adds a headlight cowl and passenger seat cover over the standard model, and is priced at Rs 14.34 lakh for Ducati Red and Rs 14.45 lakh for Iceberg White and Sport Livery. All prices ex-showroom, India. What engine does the Ducati Monster V2 use? The Ducati Monster V2 is powered by a new 890cc, liquid-coole...

Tesla is offering the 2026 Model Y in two variants: Premium RWD and L Premium AWD, both with 60kWh. Priced at Rs 50.89 lakh (ex-showroom), the lower-spec Premium RWD comes with a rear-axle-mounted electric motor and a 60kWh LFP battery (64kWh gross) with a WLTP-claimed range of 500km. We put this 2026 Tesla Model Y RWD Premium variant to the test to calculate its real-world efficiency. We used 'Chill' driving mode for our tests 20-80 percent recharge takes 23 minutes on a 250kW Tesla Supercharger Has a kerb weight of 1,928 kg  Tesla Model Y Premium RWD: Range, Efficiency tested The Model Y is powered by a rear-mounted electric motor which produces 299hp and 420Nm of torque. It is equipped with two drive modes – Standard and Chill,  the latter being an Economy setting, which we used for our tests. It also gets two levels of regenerative braking – Standard and Reduced. For our runs, we used ‘Standard’ (most aggressive) in the city and ‘Reduced’ on the highway. In the city, i...

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...