VR Tech Times

We left London at quarter past two on a Monday afternoon, and for the next four hours, the Bentley Bentayga did what most cars can only pretend to do on the M40 and M6. It made the motorway disappear. Settle into the driver’s seat of this Speed variant, and the first thing you notice is how little there is to notice – and yet how much there is to appreciate. The cabin is hushed to the point of unease, wind and road noise simply refusing to show up, leaving you enveloped in a space that celebrates analogue tactile pleasure in an increasingly digital world. Front and centre on the dashboard sits a Breitling analogue clock, anchoring the cabin with old-world authority. Below it, the knurled metal organ stop levers for the air vents operate with a satisfying mechanical resistance that no touchscreen has ever replicated.  A cabin that celebrates tactile touch in an age that has forgotten it. Leather-stitched with the patience of people who still care. The audio system is by Naim – the ...

There are few cars with the sheer variety of powertrains as the Land Rover Defender . From a four-pot to a choice of V8s, there is seemingly something for everyone. One stands out, though – the D350 3.0-litre inline-six twin-turbocharged diesel. More power than the base petrol, more torque than the 5.0 V8, with the frugality of a diesel. It’s the only motor the Trophy Edition comes with, so is this engine the sweet spot in the range? Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition exterior design and engineering – 9/10 The Defender’s design hasn’t changed since it launched in 2020, but it certainly isn’t wanting for a facelift. It still looks fresh and modern with subtle nods to the original, without resorting to an overtly retro aesthetic. The Trophy Edition brings a choice of Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green – the former being the signature finish of the iconic Camel Trophy cars – with gloss black on the roof, bonnet, cladding and lower bumper for contrast. To go with the rugged look, it ri...

The Yamaha EC-06 electric scooter gets a 4kWh battery pack, a claimed IDC range of 169km, and a top speed of 79kph.  Yamaha EC-06: Acceleration During our test, the conditions were dry. Acceleration Time 0-40kph 3.46 seconds 0-60kph 6.82 seconds 0-80kph 15.50 seconds The EC-06 gets three riding modes including Eco, Standard, and Power. We conducted this acceleration test in Power mode with the battery state of charge above 97 percent. In this riding mode, acceleration is fairly quick and the scooter managed to get from 0 to 80kph in 15.50 seconds.  Yamaha EC-06: Roll-On Acceleration The scooter delivers 6.7kW (8.9hp) of peak power. Roll-On Acceleration Time 20-50kph 3.31 seconds 30-70kph 7.34 seconds 50-80kph 10.96 seconds In our roll-on acceleration tests, the scooter took 3.31 seconds to get from 20-50kph, 7.34 seconds from 30-70kph, and 10.96 seconds from 50-80kph. In the city, making quick overtakes is fairly easy while riding in Standard or Power mode. Eco mode can get t...

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,...