VR Tech Times

In a market where electric scooters have dominated early EV adoption, Madhumita Agarwal believes the real opportunity lies in motorcycles. As the Founder and CEO of Oben Electric , she is focused on building motorcycles that cater to India’s vast commuter base. In this interview, she discusses the company’s growth plans, its focus on after-sales and customer trust, the choice of LFP battery technology, and what it will take for electric motorcycles to truly go mainstream. Could you share a quick update on Oben Electric? I think these are definitely exciting times ahead. Last year was quite foundational for us because, as a new brand, getting into distribution brings its own nuances—how you scale and stabilise. As an organisation, it has been an exciting year with around 100 stores and multiple dealer partners. Our products are now reaching tier 1 to tier 4 cities, which we had always envisioned. The coming years are about growth, scaling, and building on that trust further, with mor...

The TVS Jupiter has crossed the 90 lakh (9 million) domestic sales milestone since its launch in 2013. Cumulative sales of the scooter – across its 113cc and 125cc variants – stood at 90,10,180 units as of the end of March 2026. Jupiter sales rise 32 percent year on year to 14.63 lakh units in FY26 The line-up accounted for more than half of TVS’s FY26 scooter sales TVS Jupiter sales Jupiter makes up 64 percent of TVS’s scooter sales FY26 marked the Jupiter’s best-ever annual performance, with 14,63,328 units sold – up 32 percent from 11,07,285 units in FY25. This translates to an average of 4,009 units per day, making it the second consecutive fiscal year the model has crossed the one million sales mark. TVS sold a record 23 lakh scooters in FY26, with the Jupiter accounting for 64 percent of that total – up from 61 percent the previous year. As the brand’s bestselling two-wheeler, it surpassed the combined sales of the Apache range (5.71 lakh units), the Raider 125 (4.27 lak...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/EaB2W9F

For the past two months, my long-term cars have been all about the rear-seat experience. Previously, I had the MG Windsor , whose sofa-like rear seats really impressed my wife and kids, and this month, it’s the turn of the Kia Syros . Here, too, the rear seating area is really a highlight. There’s ample space on offer; it’s not just headroom, there’s plenty of legroom too, even without considering the Syros’ sub-4-metre footprint. Resizeable cup/bottle holders are handy, and the push release feels nice. Then there’s the amenities: roller sun blinds that are nicely shaped and don’t leave odd gaps, an in-cabin air purifier, an armrest with cupholders, two rear AC vents, two type-C USB ports with a phone holder, and a panoramic sunroof that, along with a light upholstery shade, really gives the cabin a bright and airy feel. And then, of course, you have the seats themselves. Sliding, reclining and cooled too (only the base, but that’s better than nothing, and it does work quite effec...

Bajaj Freedom 125 NG04 is the world’s first CNG-powered motorcycle and is offered in three variants – NG04 Drum, NG04 Drum LED and NG04 Disc LED – with each step up adding incremental equipment while retaining the same core proposition. Irrespective of the variant, the Freedom’s mechanical package remains unchanged, with each version benefitting from what is the world’s first CNG bike setup. It is powered by a 124.58cc single-cylinder, air-cooled ‘sloper’ engine that produces 9.5hp at 8,000rpm and 9.7Nm at 5,000rpm, designed specifically to run efficiently on both CNG and petrol. NG04 Drum Rs 91,566 The NG04 Drum serves as the entry point into the Freedom range. As the name suggests, it uses a drum brake setup at both ends, with the rear drum being common across all variants. This variant gets a halogen headlight, while the tail-lamp is LED as standard and indicators are bulb units. It is positioned as the most accessible version, focusing on maximising cost efficiency and the b...

The Majestor arrives as MG Motor India’s new ICE-powered flagship offering, rivalling the likes of the Toyota Fortuner , Jeep Meridian , Volkswagen Tayron , and Skoda Kodiaq . It uses the same diesel powertrains as MG’s existing Gloster , but features a bevy of upgrades everywhere else. Now that we’ve reviewed the MG Majestor , here are 3 reasons why you should consider bringing one home, and 2 reasons why you may want to think twice. Pros Spacious and comfortable cabin Among the roomiest in its segment Not only can the Majestor accommodate up to seven passengers, it does so in great comfort. Up front, both occupants get powered, heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, that too with plush (but slightly firm) cushioning and a lofty position. The large panoramic sunroof lets in a lot of natural light as well. Second-row occupants are treated to a healthy amount of space, a dedicated climate control zone, roof-mounted AC vents, a 220W outlet, etc. The Majestor can be had with e...

For years, we measured our thrills in cold, hard figures. Top speeds, acceleration times, quarter mile runs. It’s been like this since automobiles first crawled hesitantly onto planet Earth. But this is fast changing. The factors that earlier defined excitement are slowly but surely fading. Yes, of course, performance and acceleration are still essential components, but what’s changing fast is that today they are more plain hygiene than defining factors. And that’s huge. But what has brought about this change? And what are the factors today that separate good from the great? Much of this awakening has come about because of extreme high-performance cars, Hypercars and Hyper EVs. Wham, bam, thank you... err, Sam; explosive acceleration now has a more literal meaning. And it is so violent, the act is over before you know it. That, of course, is no fun at all. Sure, there’s no denying the instant appeal of electric power, and this is equally true of electrically assisted hybrid drive sys...

The 4.5 kWh variant of the Roadster X+ gets a 11kW motor and a claimed IDC range of around 252km. Ola Roadster X+ 4.5kWh: Acceleration During our test, the conditions were dry. Acceleration Time 0-40kph 2.92 seconds 0-60kph 5.00 seconds 0-80kph 8.47 seconds 0-100kph 16.49 seconds The bike gets three riding modes including Eco, Normal and Sport. We conducted this acceleration test in Sport mode with the battery state of charge above 95 percent. Sport mode is the quickest and feels genuinely strong when the battery state of charge is high. In our tests, the bike took 8.67 seconds to reach 80kph and 16.49 seconds to 100kph. However, there is significant speedo error and at an indicated 114kph, our Vbox reveals the true speed is actually 99kph. Ola Roadster X+ 4.5kWh: Roll-On Acceleration The bike delivers 11kW (14.96hp) of peak power. Roll-On Acceleration Time 20-50kph 2.39 seconds 30-70kph 4.43 seconds ...

Airbags are the pinnacle of motorcycle safety, but even so, our market has precious few locally made options. The first of these is the rather practical backpack 9also by Neo Kavach), and the second is this Air Vest. It is nearly identical to the Rs 71,892 Helite Turtle 2 but costs less than half, because it is made in India by NeoKavach.  Helite is an old name in the tethered airbag game, and the mechanism here is the same as the Turtle. Instead of a series of sensors, you have a long, detachable cord that you anchor to a hard part on your two-wheeler. On a motorcycle, think of something like the subframe or pillion grab rail. If, like me, you use this on a scooter, then leaving the cord under the seat and shutting it will do the job just fine. In case you’re wondering, absent-mindedly walking away from your machine without untethering the cord won’t accidentally trigger the airbag – it needs a properly forceful tug.  Separating the cord from the vest will inflate the airb...

Surreal. The word’s often thrown around fairly loosely (and I’m guilty of it too), but a few weekends ago, I had an experience that any two-wheel enthusiast would agree is a fair use of the term. And to think that, if it weren’t for a nudge from Rishaad, I’d have missed out on the opportunity entirely, simply because I was apprehensive about riding on a racetrack after years away. Ironically, the racetrack in question was one I was most familiar with. It was the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore that would be hosting the finale of the KTM Cup Season 3. The weekend brought together riders from multiple city-wise selection rounds that the brand had organised in the months leading up to it. That weekend, the shortlisted riders went through a final round of selections, where the top 20 from each of the three categories – Amateur, Pro and Women – would form the final grid. Well, four, if you also include the Media category that I, along with a few other journalists and creators, was invit...

Classic Legends has launched the BSA Scrambler 650 in India, marking the brand's second offering after the Gold Star 650. Based on the same platform as the Gold Star, the Scrambler gets several scrambler-specific updates to differentiate it. Here are answers to some of the spec-related questions you might have about this new model. What is the price of the BSA Scrambler 650? The BSA Scrambler 650 is priced at Rs 3.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). At this price point, the Scrambler 650 is positioned Rs 50,000 below the Royal Enfield Bear 650, its closest rival in the segment.  What engine does the BSA Scrambler 650 use? The BSA Scrambler 650 is powered by the same 652cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine as the Gold Star 650, producing 45hp at 6,500rpm and 55Nm at 4,000rpm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox and slip-assist clutch.  What is the difference between BSA Scrambler 650 and Gold Star 650? The BSA Scrambler 650 differs from the Gold Star 650 primarily in its wheel s...

There are two versions of a MotoGP weekend. One is the version most of us know, the one that arrives neatly packaged through broadcast feeds, timing graphics and commentary that explains every move almost as it happens. The other is the version you experience at the circuit. Less structured, less predictable, and far more overwhelming. At Buriram’s Chang International Circuit, that gap between watching and feeling becomes impossible to ignore, as I found out. The Illusion of control Marco Bezzecchi took victory in the Thai GP feature race. On TV, MotoGP comes across as a polished, well-oiled feed. Every shot, every overtake and every storyline is carefully built. Trackside, however, it is a different story altogether. The first thing that hits you is the sound. You hear the bikes before you see them, a soft rumble that builds into something sharper and more urgent before disappearing almost as quickly. The speed is difficult to process. What appears fast on screen becomes a blur...

The NeoKavach Tech Pack Pro airbag backpack is a clever pairing of airbag safety with an everyday essential for a biker, a backpack. It is based on Helite’s proven technology and uses a tether-based setup, which clips onto the bike and in the event of a crash, deploys almost instantly when the rider separates from the bike. The advantage is the simplicity. No electronics, no charging, no worrying about sensors malfunctioning. You just clip it on and ride. When it inflates, the airbag wraps around your back area and shields the chest with two inflated strips where the backpack straps would be. It also extends up on both sides under the helmet, helping stabilise the neck and support the spine. When inflated, it protects your chest & back comprehensively. What makes this stand out is how much more usable it is compared to a traditional airbag vest. With a vest, you have to get the sizing right, and if you’re someone who uses a backpack all the time, it gets even more complicated....

BMW has revealed the facelifted 7 Series , along with its electric counterpart, the i7 . This mid-lifecycle update brings subtle changes to the exterior, but the bigger updates are inside, inspired by the brand's latest Neue Klasse flair. There are also gains across powertrains, with improved outputs across the range. Here is a closer look at what is changed and how the updated BMW 7 Series compares with the outgoing model.  Disclaimer: The image sliders below feature global-spec BMW i7 models. 2026 BMW 7 Series facelift vs old model: Exterior design   The facelifted 7 Series gets a much cleaner front end than the outgoing model. The biggest change is the updated illuminated kidney grille, which is now slimmer and more upright and it also gets a new horizontal light graphic. The headlights are new too, with a two-piece layout. The upper section is very slim and holds the daytime running lights, while the lower section is smaller than before and sits almost out of s...