VR Tech Times

Ever since the Xpulse 210 was launched, I was fascinated by the balance it strikes between a dual-sport motorcycle and an adventure tourer. With its slim midsection, 21-inch front wheel, long-travel suspension and commanding riding position, it seemed like the ideal companion for our less-than-perfect roads. After spending over two months with the bike, I can confidently say it has lived up to those expectations. The odometer has now crossed the 5,600km mark, and the Xpulse continues to reinforce why it’s such a unique proposition. The 21-inch front wheel and beak lend the Xpulse an imposing stance There really isn’t another motorcycle at this price point that offers the same blend of everyday usability, touring ability and genuine off-road capability. Spend another Rs 30,000-40,000, and you’ll find yourself looking at the TVS Apache RTX , which is a more touring-oriented adventure motorcycle. The Hero , meanwhile, stays true to its dual-sport roots, making it just as happy on broke...

If Lamborghinis look like they’ve time-travelled from the future, and Ferraris appear shaped in wind tunnels, Maseratis are all about sculpture – flowing lines, gentle curves and delicate details. I’m no art connoisseur, but the gorgeous GranTurismo seems very much part of the awe-inspiring scenery at Italian seaside town Trieste’s Piazza Unità d’Italia.   Maserati GranTurismo Exterior Design and Engineering - 9/10 Classic GT proportions and Maserati details make it very eye-catching. There’s the impossibly long bonnet, the neatly tucked-in cabin and the flowing rear that has become a GranTurismo trademark. Signature Maserati cues remain intact too, from the triple vents behind the front wheels to the distinctive rear quarter window and the Trident proudly displayed on the C-pillar. Even the way the muscular rear haunches merge into the tail has an elegance that’s hard to ignore. Revised front bumper adds aggression to GranTurismo look. 2026’s styling revisions are concentrated a...

Bajaj has revealed the updated Pulsar N160 , celebrating 25 years of the Pulsar brand’s legacy, and a simplified variant nomenclature. The motorcycle now gets a brand-new four valve engine that has more power than before. The higher variant gets a host of new features including a TFT instrument cluster with Google Maps mirroring, traction control, and four ride modes. This is perhaps the biggest challenger yet to the current segment leader, the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V , upgraded last year. Let’s see how the popular street-nakeds compare, on paper. Bajaj Pulsar N160 (4V) vs TVS Apache RTR 160 4V: Engine and output Similar peak power and torque figures   Bajaj Pulsar N160 (4V) TVS Apache RTR 160 4V Engine 164.5cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled 159.9cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled Power 18.5hp at 9,500rpm 17.55hp at 9,250rpm Torque 14.4Nm at 8,000rpm 14.73Nm at 7,500rpm Gearbox 5-speed 5-speed Power-to-weight ratio 122.52hp/tonne 120.21hp/tonne Bajaj has given the N160 an all new 4V engi...

It’s no secret that Bajaj is working on multiple product launches over the next few months. We know the updated Pulsar N160 will launch on August 12, while the all-new Pulsar 125 was also spotted at a dealership earlier this week. Now, the new Bajaj Pulsar 150, too, has been spotted at a dealership, giving us a production-ready look at the motorcycle ahead of its expected launch in the near future. Gets a new air- and oil-cooled engine Features a new single-downtube frame with monoshock rear suspension All-new Bajaj Pulsar 150 details Shares design DNA and platform with the all-new Pulsar 125 The new Pulsar 150 sits on an entirely new platform with a single-downtube frame like the one seen on the all-new Pulsar 125 earlier this week. This replaces the older architecture that has underpinned the Classic Pulsar range for years. Suspension comprises a telescopic fork at the front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear, again mirroring the new Pulsar 125 setup and marking an up...

Introduced in 2023, the Jimny debuted in India as Maruti’s successor to the Gypsy. And while the Jimny was sold internationally as a 3-door model, India was the first country to have the 5-door Jimny. It gets retro-futuristic looks, high ground clearance, and a 4x4 drive system with low range. If you’re looking for a hardcore compact off-road SUV, should you consider the Jimny? We list out reasons to buy one and why it may not be the SUV for you. Reasons to buy the Maruti Jimny   Superb Off-road ability  Underpinning the Jimny is a ladder frame chassis that's best suited for heavy off-roading. Additionally, it gets Suzuki’s All Grip Pro 4x4 drive system with a lever to switch to ‘2WD-high’, ‘4WD-high’ and ‘4WD-low.’ High approach (36-degree) and departure (47-degree) angles, solid front and rear axles along with tech like hill-start assist, hill-descent control, and electronic braking differential (front and rear), help the Jimny feel right at home when off-roading. It perf...

After we recently reported price hikes for the 390 Duke and 390 Adventure range , KTM has now increased prices of its other lower-capacity, made-in-India motorcycles. The latest revision affects the 160 Duke, 200 Duke, 250 Duke, RC 160 and RC 390, with hikes ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000. RC 160 gets the steepest Rs 15,000 price hike 160 Duke is now priced from Rs 1.84 lakh RC 390 price rises by Rs 10,000 to Rs 3.33 lakh KTM Duke and RC range prices increased 160 Duke gets up to Rs 10,000 more expensive The standard 160 Duke has received the largest hike among the Duke models, with its price rising by Rs 10,000, from Rs 1.74 lakh to Rs 1.84 lakh. The higher-spec 160 Duke TFT is now priced at Rs 1.91 lakh, following a smaller Rs 5,000 increase. Prices of the 200 Duke and 250 Duke have gone up by Rs 6,000 each. The 200 Duke now costs Rs 2.06 lakh, while the 250 Duke is priced at Rs 2.27 lakh.  Model Old price New price Difference 160 Duke Rs 1.74 lakh Rs 1.84 lakh Rs 10,000 1...

Volkswagen has launched the Anniversary Edition of the Virtus sedan at Rs 19.20 lakh (ex-showroom, India). It arrives about four years after the model was first introduced in the Indian market. The Virtus Anniversary Edition is based on the sedan’s top-spec GT Plus Sport trim, so it shares several of its visual aesthetics and feature set. The price of the Anniversary Edition is identical to the trim it is based on, despite offering additional equipment. Based on the top-spec GT Plus Sport trim Finished in an exclusive Avocado Pearl colour Features puddle lamps, 360-degree cameras, front parking sensors and more Only available with the 1.5 TSI engine and DSG gearbox Volkswagen Virtus Anniversary Edition: Exterior and interior features The Anniversary Edition of the Volkswagen Virtus comes finished in an Avocado Pearl exterior colour, which Volkswagen says is exclusive to this edition. It also gets a contrasting black roof, black alloy wheels with red brake calipers and a black boot-l...

Four years after its introduction, Mahindra has facelifted the Scorpio N for 2026. The Scorpio N facelift gains a revised interior, new features and very minor styling tweaks. We go in-depth, comparing the Scorpio N facelift with its previous version and list out all differences and similarities from exterior, interior, features, engines and price. Mahindra Scorpio N new vs old: Exterior Except for new alloy wheels, everything else remains the same   Updates on the outside of the Scorpio facelift aren’t very comprehensive. There’s a new design for the dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels. Apart from that, things remain unchanged over the older model. The Scorpio N facelift retains the pre-facelift’s butch, and boxy looks, including a rugged design for the bumpers, six-slatted grille, faux skid plates, LED light setups, cladding on the lower sides of the doors, roof rails, and a ‘scorpion tail’ chrome element for the windowline. Mahindra Scorpio N new vs old: Interior and features Gets...

With the newly launched Syros EV and the flagship Sorento SUV inbound, Kia India has been strengthening its presence in our market. At the same time, the Korean carmaker is providing appealing offers on select models currently across its lineup in August 2026. Except for the EV6 and EV9 , the remaining models in Kia’s portfolio get cash discounts, exchange or scrappage offers, and corporate benefits.  Disclaimer: Offers/benefits may vary by city and are subject to stock availability. Buyers are advised to check with their local dealer for exact figures. Kia Carens Clavis offers in August 2026 Benefits of up to Rs 1.2 lakh  The Carens Clavis MPV is available with benefits of up to Rs 1.2 lakh. MY26 models get a cash discount of Rs 10,000, a loyalty benefit of Rs 20,000, a corporate offer of up to Rs 15,000 and either an exchange or scrappage bonus of up to Rs 30,000.  However, MY25 models of the Clavis get up to Rs 75,000 cash discount, and have the same loyalty, exc...

“Where is the Gen-3 Duke-based RC 390?” has been a pressing question in many people’s minds. While we still wait to hear about the 390, we now know that there’s an RC 490 and a 790 coming, according to KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister in a recent interview. RC 490 to be based on a new platform not shared with China-exclusive RC 450 RC 790 should share a lot with the freshly updated KTM 790 Duke KTM RC 490 and RC 790: What do we know so far? While it sounds closer to RC 450, RC 490 will be based on a different platform “We definitely want to extend our RC [supersport] line-up; the 990 was first, and we’ll have a 790 and a 490, like other brands with mid- and lower-class presence and in a segment that is growing,” were his exact words, which tell us two things. One, there will be not one but two new RC motorcycles, and two, the absence of the 390 could mean that KTM intends for the 490 to be the new entry-level supersport in global markets at least. Based on previous information, we know t...

Bajaj has teased the updated Pulsar N160 by sharing an image of a lightly camouflaged test mule on its official Instagram handle. The now-deleted post all but confirms the bike is on its way and will likely be one of the models unveiled at the August 12 event. Updated Pulsar N160 test mule teased Gets revised headlight design Launch expected on August 12 Updated Bajaj Pulsar N160: What to expect Changes appear focused on the front end; the rest of the bike looks largely unchanged It's no secret that Bajaj is preparing a major product offensive ahead of the festive season . The company had earlier confirmed that it would launch 10 new two-wheelers over the coming weeks, including two all-new Pulsars. We've also learnt that the August 12 event is expected to focus heavily on the Pulsar range, with the updated N160 set to be one of the key launches. The camouflaged test mule gives us a fair idea of what to expect. For starters, the overall design appears to be largely unchanged,...