VR Tech Times

Mercedes-Benz , one of the oldest and most eminent brands in the global auto industry, traces its roots to the very birth of the automobile. 2026 marks 140 years since the inception of Mercedes-Benz, so let's delve into the German marque’s history, including its early days, most notable innovations, key business developments, motorsport involvement, and presence in India. When it all began: 1886-1890 The Benz Patent-Motorwagen In January 1886, German engineer Carl Benz patented his three-wheeled Patent-Motorwagen, the first petrol-powered car, powered by a 0.68hp single-cylinder 4-stroke engine. Benz’s invention came after he enjoyed a successful run at an industrial machine production company dubbed Benz & Companie Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik, or Benz & Cie in short. July 3, 1886 saw Benz carry out the first successful public road tests of the Motorwagen, with the car reaching a top speed of just 16kph. That same year, independently of Benz’s Motorwagen, German eng...

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India had a busy 2025 with the addition of new commuter motorcycles as well as a slew of big bike launches. The company is likely to continue that momentum this year with the introduction of new bikes and scooters. Localised Honda Rebel 300 likely to launch this year E-Clutch variants of big bikes could be launched too 2026 Honda Rebel 300 Rebel 300 uses same 286cc, single-cylinder engine as CB300R Honda has been working on more localised versions of its middleweight bikes in the 300-500cc space. There are multiple products being worked on, and how many will launch in 2026 is not yet clear. However, we believe that the long-awaited Rebel 300 could launch in India next year, and it could have a fair amount of localised content. The Rebel 300 is a low-slung, Bobber-style bike that uses the same 286cc single-cylinder engine used in the CB300R . It has a low seat height of 690mm and weighs around 170kg. A 160cc adventure scooter from Honda is also a ...

The new Bajaj Chetak C25 is much more than just a new entry-level variant. This scooter is based on a new architecture and has been designed to take on a new role - one of being compact, lightweight and friendly for newer or smaller riders. Bajaj Chetak C25 design and quality 8/10 A new design, but instantly identifiable While there is a new chassis underneath, Bajaj’s design department has done a good job of retaining the Chetak’s design language in this new product. That being said, every panel has been redesigned and the bigger visual changes are at the side and rear. There are also new LED lamps at both ends. The design remains unmistakably Chetak Facing the rider is a new reverse LCD display. This is a fairly simple display, but it shows you the essentials like battery SOC, range, speed, riding mode and more. It’s also easy to read in bright sunlight and is controlled by new switchgear that is logical and straightforward to use. There are also small conveniences like two o...

To clear unsold MY2025 inventory, Tesla India is offering up to Rs 2 lakh discount on its only EV on sale here – the Model Y – limited to the Standard Range variant in Stealth Grey with an all-black interior, priced at Rs 59.89 lakh ex-showroom. Note that, as is generally the case with such offers, the discount is valid only while stocks last. 226 Model Y units sold in CY2025: Vahan data It goes against entry-level luxury EVs like Mercedes EQA, BMW iX1 This comes just over 6 months after the launch of the Tesla Model Y , which had attracted 600 bookings early on and is sold here as a full import. However, as per a Bloomberg India report citing people familiar with the matter, some prospective buyers who made early bookings have since backed out.  Tesla sales so far Wide gap between early bookings and sales The report added that the Elon Musk-led company had imported about 300 Model Ys, but weak demand has left roughly 100 vehicles in search of buyers. In calendar year 20...

The Tata Punch Camo edition joined the Autocar India long-term fleet for a short stint as an everyday runabout. With a manual gearbox with a light clutch, a relaxed 1.2-litre petrol engine, impressive ride quality and a well-equipped cabin, it had all the right ingredients to be a good city car with hardly any downsides. The compact dimensions make it easy to drive in the city. The dual-tone Camo edition looks unique in its dark green shade, and inside, the seating position is also impressive as you sit relatively upright with a clear view of the road ahead, and all controls fall easily to hand. Over long days in traffic, this easy ergonomic setup really makes a difference. High seating position gives a great view all around. Powering the Punch is the familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. It’s no highway star, but that’s not the point. In everyday city driving, the engine’s smooth power delivery and tractable nature make it very easy to live with. The light clutch and ...

Kawasaki is the only Japanese marque that has an Indian lineup mostly of imported big bikes and the company is going to bolster that in the coming months. KLE500 ADV likely to be priced at a premium upon launch ZX-10R gets new styling and big winglets for 2026 Updated Z naked bikes to launch this year too 2026 Kawasaki KLE500 KLE uses same 451cc, twin-cyl engine as Ninja 500 The KLE500 – Kawasaki’s first new ADV in a long time – is confirmed for an India launch. Powered by the same 451cc, twin-cylinder engine as the Ninja 500 with proper dirt-capable hardware, the KLE500 will join the growing list of sub-500cc adventure bikes in our market. However, since it is likely to come to India as a CBU (Completely Built Up) unit, expect it to be priced at a premium, like the Ninja 500 (Rs 5.66 lakh). 2026 Kawasaki ZX-10R Gets new bodywork with big exposed winglets India’s best bang for the buck superbike – the Kawasaki ZX-10R – has been updated with fresh styling as well as some...

BMW Motorrad delivered 2,02,563 motorcycles worldwide in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year the company has surpassed the 2 lakh unit milestone. R 1300 GS Adventure and R 1300 GS were top sellers Germany, France and Italy were the top three markets BMW Motorrad bikes global sales R 1300 GS models lead sales BMW Motorrad mentions that the sales came despite a global decline in the 500cc and above segment. In December alone, the manufacturer sold 15,109 motorcycles, marking the third-best December in BMW Motorrad's history. The BMW R 1300 GS Adventure topped the sales charts with 33,570 units, followed by the R 1300 GS with 32,555 units. The S 1000 RR came in third with 11,643 units sold. Europe accounted for 1,18,814 units, with BMW Motorrad’s home market of Germany leading the way with 25,516 motorcycles sold. France followed with 19,019 units, ahead of Italy at 16,692 units and Spain at 14,005 units. Outside Europe, the USA recorded sales of 14,869 units, Brazil 1...

Essentially a 9-seater version of the Bolero Neo , the Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus launched in November 2024. While it directly competes with the Force Citiline, the Bolero Neo Plus also takes on the likes of the Force Gurkha 5-door . Based on our comprehensive review of this Mahindra SUV , here are some salient takeaways that will help you decide whether you should buy the Bolero Neo Plus or not. Rugged suspension setup Takes even the worst road conditions in its stride. Backing the body-on-frame construction of the Mahindra Bolero Neo Plus is a suspension system that can handle everything from broken roads to unpaved trails. There is a double-wishbone setup with coil springs up front and a multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and a stabiliser bar. Compared to similarly priced monocoque SUVs, the suspension of the Bolero Neo Plus feels almost unbreakable and gives you the confidence to plough through even when the tarmac ends. Remarkable diesel tractability Drivers will...

The C2501 is an affordable and accessible electric scooter from Bajaj, and is the entry point in the Chetak line-up. What is the battery pack capacity and riding range in the Bajaj Chetak C2501, and what are the power figures? This electric scooter uses a 2.5kWh battery pack powering a hub-motor, and it has a claimed IDC riding range of 113kms on a full charge. What is the top-speed of the Bajaj Chetak C2501 and what riding modes does it get? It has two riding modes: Eco and Sport, with a claimed top-speed of 55kph. How long does it take to charge the Bajaj Chetak C2501? The scooter takes 2 hours and 25 minutes to charge from 0-80 percent (claimed), while charging it to 100 percent is said to take 3 hours and 45 minutes. What features does the Bajaj Chetak C2501 get? The scooter gets 25 litres of underseat storage, with a USB charging port also situated in the boot. The scooter uses a LCD screen with new switchgear and comes with Reverse Mode as standard, but features like Hi...