VR Tech Times

This is a car I’ve been waiting to drive forever. Well, at least since I first got behind the wheel of a Fiat 1100 . A famous race winner, purpose-built to take on the Fiat race cars from Coimbatore in the ’80s, it was made for Vijay Mallya by Janspeed in the UK. Fiat 1100 Group 2 racer exterior design Almost entirely rebuilt on the outside Flared wheel arches and some serious MRF rubber. Heavily modified in line with Group 2 Indian rules, the car is practically an evolution of the Fiat 1100, with very few parts carried over from the original. The doors, bonnet and boot are made from aluminium, as are other parts of the body, bringing down the weight considerably. In addition, the car is significantly lowered, with a much wider track, the rear suspension running a semi-independent setup, and the suspension stiff enough to eliminate body roll and increase corner speeds. And it’s not just mechanical grip; the car is full of aero addenda, like vents in the flared wheel arches, a l...

Between our long-term i7 and iX , it was the latter that everyone was after, but I still managed to hang on to the iX for over a month, and what an interesting month it was! Living with a large car as your daily driver in Mumbai is challenging. Every time I couldn’t squeeze through a narrow gap in traffic or find a parking space long enough, I missed having a smaller car. But beyond that, it proved its mettle. When the iX xDrive50 replaced the xDrive40 in BMW’s range, it got air springs as standard. The previous car’s coil springs delivered a superb ride, but the air springs offer an even greater degree of flexibility at both ends of the ride spectrum. The softer end is what I called on most often for tackling Mumbai’s minty-fresh dug-up roads. The ride was very good, and I have to add, without wallow, too, given, of course, the relatively low speeds the chaotic city roads allowed for. The spare tyre in the boot limits space; the parcel screen needs to be removed to stack more ba...

Anti-lock braking system or ABS is a safety feature that can prove to be invaluable on our treacherous roads. Without further ado then, here are the ten most affordable motorcycles in the country that come with ABS. It bears mentioning that all the bikes on this list have single-channel ABS only.  All prices, ex-showroom, Delhi TVS Apache RTR 160 2V Kicking things off is the Apache RTR 160. The variant of the Apache RTR 160 2V that offers ABS is the “RM Disc” that costs Rs 1,24,720. At this price,  the TVS is the most expensive bike on this list, which should give you an idea of how affordable the other options are.  The Apache RTR 160 2V ends up earning the tenth spot on this list as it is affordable by a meagre Rs 10 than the Pulsar N150 which was earlier a part of the list but now receives an honourable mention. The Apache RTR 160 2V has been responsible for establishing TVS’ reputation in India. The 2V model has been updated incrementally through the years and de...

It’s an SUV that doesn’t just drive brilliantly ‘for an SUV’, but one that, in true  Porsche  fashion, drives brilliantly, period. It’s a defining moment for Porsche and a risky one, too. The legendary German sports car maker has taken a proven and successful formula, torn it up and rewritten it – with lithium. Porsche has electrified its bestselling Macan, which, since its debut in 2014, has been the compact performance SUV benchmark. But, with a pair of motors replacing engines, including the much-loved V6, and a heavy battery pack slung underneath the floor, the question is, does the  Macan Electric  still feel like a proper Porsche? The litmus, er, lithium test is a quick dash to Mahabaleshwar. Porsche Macan Turbo Electric platform and exterior Built on the PPE base It’s important to note that the Macan Electric has nothing in common with its combustion-powered predecessors. Porsche has ditched the ICE platform and moved to the all-new Premium Plat...

Conventional wisdom says the more expensive the parts of a car, the better they are. This is especially true if the parts in question are installed on high-end cars . Technology in the car industry often trickles down from more expensive models. And what skews things even more is if the tech has a cool-sounding name that conjures up visions of superior performance.  This is certainly the case with air suspension. Here, the mind conjures up all manner of visions, encouraged by the names given to these systems, and you imagine you are afloat on a flying carpet. What also adds to the myth is that many of the best-riding cars use really expensive air suspension systems. These, along with stuff like chassis stiffness, purpose-built dampers and the requisite tyre tech, all work together to give you a very comfortable ride. The thing is, when you look at which system is better over broken roads and at low and medium speeds, it turns out to be the coil spring-equipped system. This is a ...

Royal Enfield Project Delta is a union of vintage design with modern engineering. The brand has teamed up with ‘Purpose Built Moto’ to create a custom Super Meteor 650 inspired by the 1940s-50s era of motorcycling as well as the Super Meteor 700 and the Flying Flea from World War II. Royal Enfield Project Delta features a hardtail-style frame This prototype features hand-shifted gears and solid-mounted bars. It features modern 650cc parallel twin with 1940s styling Project Delta Super Meteor 650 based one-off vintage motorcycle Project Delta is a reimagining of the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 , drawing inspiration from the vintage motorcycling era of the 1940s and 1950s. This custom build by ‘Purpose Built Moto’ showcases a fusion of modern engineering and classic aesthetics. The motorcycle’s frame has been extensively modified to echo vintage hardtail styling, while incorporating modern updates such as an in-frame oil cooler and a monoshock conversion. The handcrafted g...

Audi is testing the upcoming Q9 seven-seater SUV in close-to-production form ahead of its expected debut next year. Our sister publication, Autocar UK , recently published some spy shots of a Q9 test mule, which hint at the design and proportions of Audi’s new flagship SUV. Audi Q9 prototype spy shots show off longer dimensions than next-gen Q7 The Q9’s interior will feature a three-row, seven-seat layout Plug-in hybrid powertrains are likely to be standard across the Q9 range Audi Q9 exterior and interior design Larger proportions than next-gen Q7 indicate roomier cabin China-exclusive Audi Q6 interior. Image used for representation only. Compared to last year’s spy images of the next-gen Q7 , the Q9 looks to have a noticeably longer wheelbase and rear overhang, alluding to a greater amount of space in the second and third rows. The Q9 is expected to sport a seven-seat layout, but a six-seat layout similar to the one offered in the Bentley Bentayga is also possible. El...

The new MG 4 hatchback has been revealed by a regulator in China, giving us details of the new-gen EV’s exterior, and some of its specifications. That a new generation comes just two years after the MG 4 was first unveiled is a bit of a surprise, but the hatchback is popular enough in European markets, even if sales in its home market are poor. The outgoing MG 4 was showcased at Auto Expo 2023 , as the electric hatchback was under evaluation for our market. New MG 4 EV is nearly 4.4m long and has a 2.75m long wheelbase Gets 163hp motor with a top speed of 160kph Interior not yet revealed New MG 4 exterior and design New MG 4 larger than Creta or Windsor The new-gen MG 4 is larger than its predecessor, measuring 4,395mm long, 1,842mm wide, and 1,551mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750mm. These dimensions make it 108mm longer, 4mm wider, 35mm taller, and have a wheelbase that is 45mm longer. In fact, the new MG 4 is larger than the likes of the Hyundai Creta or the MG Windsor ...

The Tata Harrier and the Jeep Compass are two SUVs that have the same heart – both are powered by an FCA-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine. But which of these is quicker in the dash up to a 100kph? Both SUVs use different gearboxes and are of different sizes as well, so let’s see how that affects their performance. For this comparison, we have considered the diesel-AT powertrain, and both SUVs are in front-wheel drive configuration; the Compass additionally also gets an all-wheel drive layout. Tata Harrier vs Jeep Compass spec comparison Harrier vs Compass specs Harrier Compass Engine 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo-diesel 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo-diesel Power 170hp at 3,750rpm 170hp at 3,750rpm Torque 350Nm at 1,750-2,500rpm 350Nm at 1,750-2,500rpm Gearbox 6-speed AT 9-speed AT L x W x H (mm) 4605 x 1922 x 1718 4405 x 1818 x 1640 Weight 1,823kg 1,656kg Power to weight (hp per tonne) 93.25 102.65 Power to torque (Nm per tonne) 191.99 211.35 ...

The Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia has been revealed, featuring a special blue livery inspired by Ducati's win at Mugello last year. This limited edition with only 163 units worldwide features carbon fiber parts from the race bike and MotoGP champion Bagnaia's autograph. Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia features Francesco Bagnaia’s autograph Limited to 163 units worldwide Weighs 3kg lighter than the Panigale V4 S Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia  This special edition is limited to 163 units and features carbon fibre componentry The Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia comes with several special features that set it apart from the regular Panigale V4 S , on which it is based. Such as carbon-fibre parts and better brakes amongst other changes. It also sports an exclusive livery inspired by the Desmosedici GP24, with which they claimed a one-two finish at the Italian Grand Prix. The livery isn’t the only thing making it special; the Tricolore Italia also adorns a tank cover with an...

Also See:  Hero Xtreme 250R review: got the X-factor? from Autocar India https://ift.tt/p6PV8dl

Audi  may continue launching combustion-engine cars beyond 2026. The German manufacturer had planned to release its  final ICE car next year , but plateauing EV adoption and investment in new hybrid technology have led Audi to consider prolonging its use of petrol and diesel engines. Audi reassessing prior plans to discontinue ICE car launches after 2026 EV adoption is slower than Audi expected, increasing the relevance of hybrid powertrains Current ICE cars from Audi are slated to be available well beyond 2030 Audi rethinking ICE phase-out plans Audi’s final ICE car was originally anticipated to be the  next-generation Q7 , which would’ve been launched in 2026 and discontinued in 2032. However, CEO Gernot Döllner recently outlined during Audi’s FY2025 earnings call that the company will “take a look at the life of combustion engines” and “reassess” its previously stipulated timeline of 2032 to phase out ICE cars. More hybrid Audi models inbound Döllner explaine...

Following on from the Karizma XMR 210 and Mavrick 440, the new Xtreme 250R marks Hero’s latest venture into the premium space, and it’s an important one because this is the debut of a new quarter-litre engine – one that’s Hero’s most powerful to date. Hero Xtreme 250R engine refinement, performance New 250cc engine derived from Hero's existing 210cc mill Well, I say new engine, but in essence, this is a stroked-out version of the 210cc motor we’ve already seen in the Karizma. So capacity is up to 249cc, and you get 30hp and 25Nm. All these numbers, combined with other aspects of this motorcycle, make it pretty easy to see that it’s been benchmarked against the KTM 250 Duke – in other words, it’s aiming to be the sportiest 250cc bike out there. The engine has strong performance but is a little vibey. To that end, the engine pulls quite cleanly and strongly all across the rev range; it’s fairly tractable at the bottom end and there’s a good spread of torque all the way across...