VR Tech Times

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Avid Autocar readers may know that we’ve already had an Audi Q3 Sportback as a long termer before. And it was appreciated and missed by so many in our team that we had to have it back to spend some extended time with it. Audi obliged, and the Q3 Sportback has returned to our fleet. Albeit in a different shade of blue this time around. This SUV does make a good first impression – classy design, elegant use of chrome, compact proportions, and of course, that swooping roofline for an added dose of style. Step in, and it’s a similar story. The dash is finished in all black and is logically laid out, the brown upholstery on the seats looks rich, and everything you touch and feel is of the highest quality. I swiped the keys to the Q3 Sportback as soon as it arrived and drafted it as a temporary replacement for my Ignis as a daily commute machine. And although I wasn’t immediately bowled over by it, it has grown on me as I’ve spent time with it. It’s typically Audi in that sense. 2.0-litre...

With the Norton Atlas and Atlas GT now fully revealed ahead of their expected launch later this year, we finally have a clear picture of what the brand's first new motorcycles for our market  will offer. While they share the same 585cc parallel-twin engine and electronics package, the Atlas and Atlas GT have been engineered for very different purposes. Here's a closer look at what sets them apart. Norton Atlas vs Atlas GT: What stays the same? The engine, electronics and braking hardware are identical on both bikes Both the Atlas and Atlas GT are powered by the same 585cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine producing 70hp at 9,300rpm and 57.5Nm at 7,300rpm, paired with a six-speed gearbox, slipper clutch and bidirectional quickshifter as standard. The electronics package is also shared – a Bosch six-axis IMU underpins lean-sensitive ABS, cornering traction control, cornering cruise control, wheelie control, rear lift control and rear slide control, with five riding modes (Urba...

With the Kerala government recently legalising a host of aftermarket modifications and accessories, vehicle customisation has again become a hot topic among enthusiasts. But beyond the question of legality, car users are often confused about the implications of fitting an accessory on their car’s warranty. The good news, however, is that some accessories can be installed without violating the warranty clauses. Here’s a detailed account of such accessories. Note: An aftermarket accessory does not void the car's entire warranty. If a component is affected by a modification, a manufacturer can only deny warranty claims for that component, meaning that the coverage for unrelated parts of the vehicle remains intact. Decorative accessories generally do not affect a car’s warranty Unless drilled or welded into the body, the warranty is not voided by a styling accessory Accessories which are generally fixed to a car’s body without the need for drilling or making any modifications to the ...

The Hero Xoom 160 is unlike anything else currently on sale in India. With its adventure-scooter styling, maxi-scooter proportions and 156cc liquid-cooled engine, it promises more performance and touring ability than a conventional scooter. But how efficient is Hero's flagship scooter in the real world? We put it through our standard fuel-efficiency test cycle to find out. Hero Xoom 160 real-world fuel efficiency We began with our city fuel-efficiency test, riding the Xoom 160 through the busy roads of South Mumbai, where traffic congestion, frequent signals and stop-go conditions closely replicate everyday urban usage. Over a distance of 47.1km, the scooter consumed 1.24 litres of fuel, returning a fuel-efficiency figure of 37.98kpl. The highway test followed on our fixed route, where the Xoom 160 covered 49.2km. Refilling the tank, again required 1.24 litres of fuel, resulting in a highway fuel-efficiency figure of 39.67kpl. Taken together, the Hero Xoom 160 delivered an avera...

Our first impression of the new Hero -built Harley-Davidson X440 T, when we rode it in Goa, was that it carried forward the platform’s signature strengths while ironing out most of the glaring issues that plagued the original X440. However, to see how the bike fares outside usual road test parameters and handles typical daily life, the X440 T has now entered the Autocar long-term fleet, and we’ve been told it’s going to be with us for a full year – what joy! However, there was a small hiccup in our initial days with the X440 T . Our bike was running an older version of the display software, which didn’t allow us to switch the traction control off. We returned the bike to Harley-Davidson, and the company was able to find a fix, so now the bike runs as it was intended. The good news is that this isn’t an issue that’s ever going to happen to customer bikes, because that version of the software was only on the early lot of bikes allocated for the media, a Harley spokesperson assures us. ...

The 2026 Tiago EV continues with the same 320V electrical architecture, 24kWh battery pack and electric motor as before. However, Tata has focused on refining the underlying software and battery management systems. The updates include revised accelerator mapping for smoother power delivery, software enhancements aimed at improving energy efficiency, dual-cell balancing during both charging and driving, dynamic state-of-charge (SoC) calibration, and more accurate range prediction algorithms. Tata claims it has reduced charging times by 40 percent  It achieved an average charging speed of 24kW in our tests using a 120kW DC charger  Tata also claims to have improved the chemistry of its LFP battery cells and optimised the battery management software. According to the company, these changes have resulted in significantly faster charging performance, reducing charging times by as much as 40 percent compared to the outgoing model. 2026 Tata Tiago Charging times explained  To...

The Hero Xtreme 250R uses a 149.7cc, single-cyl, liquid-cooled engine putting out 30hp at 9,250rpm, a peak torque of 25Nm at 7,250rpm, and is paired with a six speed gearbox.  Hero Xtreme 250R real-world fuel efficiency The Hero Xtreme 250R managed 32.84kpl in the city and 39.21kpl out on the highway For this test, we ran the Xtreme 250R on the highway for 49.8km, after which the bike needed 1.27 litres of fuel to fill up the tank again. Therefore, we arrived at a highway fuel economy number of 39.21kpl. Once that was done, we rode the Xtreme 250R through the busy streets of Mumbai for 47.3km, after which the fuel tank needed 1.44 litres. Thereby, we achieved a city fuel efficiency figure of 32.84kpl. On an average, this translates to a mileage of 36.02kpl. Hero Xtreme 250R fuel economy analysis  The Hero Xtreme 250R is a sporty naked bike that offers really potent performance for daily commuting as well as highway riding. For our city fuel efficiency run, we were cruising ...

Dubbed ‘Welcome to Japan’, Forza Horizon 6 Series 1 commenced on May 21 and will run through June 18, bringing new seasonal events, reward cars and Festival Playlist activities to the highly popular open-world racer. Below, we’ve compiled all you need to know about Forza Horizon 6 Series 1. Forza Horizon 6 Series 1 Weekly Festival Playlist schedule As the inaugural update for Forza Horizon 6 , Series 1 is a continuation of the game’s heavy focus on Japanese car culture. Like prior Forza Horizon games, series updates for Forza Horizon 6 will follow a monthly cadence and include a Festival Playlist, which is a list of challenges that refreshes each week and changes the in-game season. How to get Festival Playlist Rewards in Forza Horizon 6  Every weekly Festival Playlist in Forza Horizon 6 has two main reward cars that can be unlocked using points that you earn by completing Festival Playlist challenges – there are two reward cars for the full month, too, making for a total of ...

Navnit Motors is set to start selling Maserati cars in Mumbai soon. Our sources suggest that it will take over Maserati's Western India dealership operations from the Group Planet Petal (often referred to as Petal Group). The Navnit Group is an authorised car dealer that operates in Mumbai and Thane. Maserati set to be Navnit Motors’ next luxury brand after Ferrari, BMW, Mini and JLR Petal Group expected to continue as dealer partner of Hyundai, Jeep and Nissan Notably, Maserati’s North and South India operations will continue to be operated by AMP Supercars Pvt. Ltd and VST Group, respectively. While the location of Navnit Motors’ upcoming Maserati dealership is yet to be revealed, the Petal Maserati dealership is located inside the Taj Santacruz Hotel in Mumbai. That said, the automotive dealership division of Group Planet Petal is expected to continue as a dealer partner for car brands such as Hyundai , Jeep and Nissan , as well as two-wheeler brands including Harley Davidson...

In India, where summer temperatures regularly cross the 40deg C mark, using AC while driving is non-negotiable. Although all cars in India have had climate control for a long time, AC performance varies across models. In the compact SUV segment – alongside the Tata Nexon and Maruti Brezza , whose AC performances we have compared before – the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are also the top choices for the same set of buyers. So, we tested both Korean compact SUVs at an ambient temperature of 41.2deg C to find out which one’s AC unit performs better under the scorching sun.  Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Venue vs Sonet comparison. Autocar India’s testing methodology In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with the engine switched off and windows rolled up. The sunroof shade is kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. Once a car is ‘soaked’, a two-member team enters the vehicle quickly to minimise l...

Harley-Davidson has announced that production of its Revolution Max platform for the North American market will be moved back to the United States, with the transition expected to be completed ahead of the start of MY28 production in 2027. The Revolution Max platform underpins three current models – the Pan America, Sportster S, and the Nightster.  Revolution Max production for North America to return to US facilities from 2027 Move affects the Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster Harley-Davidson expects to build more than 1,00,000 motorcycles at its York, Pennsylvania facility in 2027 Harley-Davidson Revolution Max production move: What it means The decision comes amid broader changes to US trade policy and manufacturing priorities The announcement forms part of Harley-Davidson's ongoing "Back to the Bricks" strategy under CEO Artie Starrs. As part of the transition, machining, powertrain assembly, paint operations and final vehicle assembly for North American-market ...

India’s renewable energy ambitions are impossible to miss now. Solar farms stretch across highways, charging stations are steadily becoming part of the roadside landscape, and somewhere outside Satara, hundreds of wind turbines quietly power vast sections of Maharashtra’s grid. The shift towards green mobility no longer feels theoretical. Increasingly, it feels normal. Which is precisely what made this drive interesting. Waiting in Mumbai’s sultry summer heat were two cars that underline sustainable mobility from very different angles: the urbane VinFast VF 6 and the more performance-focused VF 7 AWD. Both mark VinFast’s first steps in India, arriving at a time when the EV conversation itself is beginning to mature. Buyers are no longer asking whether electric cars can handle long-distance journeys. Instead, the more interesting question has become what kind of long-distance experience they offer. And with a near-300km drive to the Chalkewadi wind farm near Satara ahead of us, there...