VR Tech Times

Following the footsteps of the larger 390 Adventure , the KTM 250 Adventure also receives a low-seat 'V' variant. Like with the larger ADV, the 250 Adventure V is priced the same as the standard bike, meaning that it costs Rs 2.47 lakh (ex-showroom). Seat height down to 834mm from 855mm Engine, electronics same as regular 250 ADV Different suspension components with lower travel figures The 250 Adventure is currently the most affordable ADV in the Austrian marque's Indian portfolio but with a tall 855mm saddle height, it isn't the easiest to manage for shorter folks. This low-seat 250 ADV 'V' variant with its lower 834mm seat height should prove to be much more manageable and just like the larger 390 Adventure, everything else stays the same between the two variants.  What this means is that the 250 ADV 'V' will be powered by the same liquid-cooled, 249cc, single-cylinder engine making 30hp at 9,000rpm and 24 Nm at 7,500rpm. Much like the larger...

Technology continues to trickle down KTM's lineup in India, with the 200 Duke now all set to receive the LED headlight that was previously offered only on the larger 250 and 390 Dukes. This new version equipped with the LED headlight will be priced at Rs 1.97 lakh (ex-showroom). Halogen headlight version will remain on sale LED variant will be Rs 4,000 more expensive Instrumentation will continue to be an LCD display The 200 Duke was KTM’s very first motorcycle to be offered in India when the company began operations back in 2012, and its biggest update came in 2020 , when it received the current Super Duke-inspired styling from its larger siblings. It will soon more closely resemble the larger Dukes, with the addition of an LED headlight. The LED unit will be the same as that seen on the 250 and 390 Dukes, which will bring an improvement in brightness and spread compared to the halogen unit currently employed on the 200. Representative image of the LED headlight offered o...

Also See: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 with alloy wheels launched from Rs 3.03 lakh from Autocar India https://ift.tt/nePNUzy

Toyota launched the Hycross to carry forward the Innova’s legacy in India. This seven- or eight-seater MPV gets two powertrain options – a strong hybrid and a naturally aspirated petrol, both paired with automatic (CVT) transmissions powering the front wheels. The Innova Hycross is built on an all-new monocoque platform and it is nearly 200kg lighter than the Crysta . We put both versions through our instrumented real-world fuel efficiency tests to find out how they perform in the real world. Both versions get an Eco drive mode Ambient temperatures affect hybrid’s mileage No engine stop-start in petrol Toyota Innova Hycross fuel efficiency  Toyota uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine in both versions, however, in the hybrid, it runs a more efficient Atkinson cycle. In addition, the hybrid gets the assistance of a 1.6kWh NiMH battery and electric motor, and Toyota claims that 50-60 percent of an urban commute is possible in full electric mode, without using a single drop of fuel...

The Kia Seltos is soon due its first mid-lifecycle update in India this year, and was recently spied testing in its top-spec X-Line guise on our roads. The Seltos facelift was unveiled about a year ago for international markets, and will come with a revised front and rear design, a tweaked dashboard, and a lot of new equipment, but will carry forward the existing 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines unchanged. Additionally, a turbo-petrol engine is also going to make a comeback in the Seltos with the new 1.6-litre unit from the Verna joining the line-up. Seltos facelift will come with redesigned front and rear end Interior will be updated with new twin, connected screen layout 160hp, 1.6-litre turbo-petrol to join the Seltos line-up Kia Seltos facelift: exterior design The recently spied test mule can be seen wearing camouflage at the front and rear, suggesting where most of the changes are concentrated. Up front, the Seltos facelift will get an updated grille that’s much larg...

Not that one could ever accuse Honda of being lax in the Indian market, but the Japanese giant is really getting serious about its product lineup for our country. It recently launched the Shine 100 , its first-ever 100cc commuter, to take Hero head-on in that hugely competitive segment, and has big plans for upcoming launches too. At the time of the Shine’s launch , Honda announced a number of new models for India, including multiple electric scooters. Here’s the full list: Honda 350cc cruiser bike Honda’s CB350 platform currently offers the H’ness retro motorcycle and the CB350RS that sports a bit of a cafe racer vibe. These bikes allow Honda to take on the likes of the Royal Enfield Classic 350 and Hunter 350, but it doesn’t currently have an answer to the Meteor 350. That could be set to change soon. Honda has stated that it will be launching a new 350cc motorcycle by Diwali this year, and our educated guess is that this will be a cruiser to rival the Meteor. Expect it to sport ...

Just a couple of weeks after hiking the prices of its flagship offering , the Super Meteor 650 , Royal Enfield has increased the prices of the Hunter 350, Classic 350, Scram 411 and the Himalayan 411. Royal Enfield price hike: new prices The Hunter 350 has proven to be a strong seller for the Chennai-based marque and has already crossed the 1 lakh unit sales milestone within a few short months of its launch. The Classic 350, in its new-age avatar , is a very polished machine.  The Himalayan 411 is the company’s most off-road capable offering, with an all-new liquid-cooled, 450cc model on the way soon. Meanwhile, the Scram 411 is a more accessible, youthful version of the Himalayan, with a 19-inch front wheel and a palette of bright colours.  All the bikes that have seen a revision to their prices remain mechanically identical to the earlier models. To see the detailed price change, refer to the table below.  Prices mentioned are ex-showroom, Chennai.  ...

In the lead-up to the launch of the Hyundai Exter on July 10 , the company has been drip-feeding new details about the upcoming Tata Punch rival. Hyundai has now officially revealed the rear design of the Exter. We had already reported  on the Exter’s full design when it was spied undisguised in South Korea previously, and the India-spec model remains unchanged from that. Exter will come with 1.2-litre petrol and CNG powertrain options Underpinnings shared with Grand i10 Nios, Aura Will get 6 airbags as standard, a sunroof on higher trims Hyundai Exter rear design revealed The most distinguishing element about the Exter’s rear design is a thick black trim that spans the tail gate and connects the squarish LED tail-lamps at either end. The black contrasting trim gets a textured finish with the Hyundai logo positioned at the centre. And like the LED daytime running lamps at the front, the tail-lamps also have an ‘H’ lighting signature. The Exter seems quite upright fr...

Reviewed on: PC Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Release: June 2, 2023 Rating: Teen It’s no secret that Street Fighter V got off to a disastrous start, and despite years of course correction, its flawed foundation made a comeback difficult. By contrast, Street Fighter 6 is a thorough response to its predecessor’s failings, defined by well-considered central mechanics, formidable single-player offerings, and a plethora of smart decisions that make for a powerful opening punch. Those primarily interested in duking it out against other players have a lot to look forward to; between the snappy movement and wealth of strategic options, it’s a joy to play. The biggest addition is the new Drive System, which elegantly combines several mechanics like powered-up special attacks, cancels, and defensive maneuvers under a shared resource. This meter starts fully stocked and replenishes automatically, giving ready access t...

The Ola S1 Pro is the company’s flagship offering, and comes powered by a mid-mounted motor rated at 8.5kW (peak) and 58Nm. These figures make it the most powerful electric scooter in the country, but when we last rode it , we still felt that its initial response off the line was quite sluggish, even in its quickest Hyper mode. And it's also 13kg heavier than tthe Ather. Ola S1 Pro vs Ather 450X Specs Ola S1 Pro Ather 450X Motor Mid-mounted, permanent magnet motor Mid-mounted, permanent magnet motor Power 8.5kW 6.2kW Torque 58Nm 26Nm Gearbox Single-speed Single-speed Weight 121kg 108kg Power-to-weight 70.25kW per tonne 57.41kW per tonne Torque-to-weight 479.34Nm per tonne 240.74Nm per tonne Though it became slightly more powerful with its Gen 3 update , the Ather 450X, at 6.2kW (peak), is still down compared to the Ola. But accelerator response is crisp, and it zips off the line exactly like you’d expect from a sporty electr...

The Mahindra Thar SUV has been one of the most popular models for the brand in recent times.  The brand is gearing up to expand the line-up with the Thar 5-door.  Fresh spy shots show the upcoming SUV equipped with a sunroof. Thar 5-door price announcement in 2024 Will come with petrol and diesel engine options To get sunroof, multiple seating options Mahindra Thar 5 door to be feature laden While the Thar 3 door has carved out its own niche among Indian lifestyle vehicle customers, Mahindra wants to aim the Thar 5-door at buyers who are looking for a rugged and practical lifestyle SUV with similar character as the Thar 3 door.  The Thar 5-door will not have just an additional set of doors but will have a much longer feature list too including a sunroof, which has now been confirmed, thanks to the new set of spy shots that have surfaced online. Unlike the Thar 3-door, Mahindra will most likely not have a soft-top variant on the Thar 5-door.  Mahindra will e...

Loud, harsh, unforgiving and eerily low are all perfect adjectives to describe the Porsche 718 GT4 RS. A full day of shooting and yelling expletives as I tried to wrap my head around the 500hp road-legal monster was nothing short of exhausting. So, once the cameras were packed and my heart rate restored to normal, the Brezza, which had been an incredible support throughout the day, felt like home. As amazing as the Porsche was, it was lightyears behind the Brezza when it came to daily duties. Getting in was a breeze as the seat height and ingress are perfect. Once in, sitting on the soft seats felt like lounging on a cloud in comparison, and the smooth petrol engine meant my ears weren’t bleeding any more.  Quick-cooling AC is a boon to battle heat waves. The Brezza had been confined to city runs for the most part, but this shoot allowed it to stretch its legs and venture out. It had been superb as a city runabout, despite being a manual, so a highway run was perfect timing. I...

Is there any information about the Yamaha XSR 155 launch in India? If yes, when will it be launched? I am eagerly waiting for that bike as I don't like any other bike in that segment and price range. Shiva Sai Nath Chittipolu, via email Autocar India says: The last time we received an update from Yamaha regarding the XSR155 was during the FZ-X launch in 2021. At that time we asked the company officials what their plan was for the XSR155. We were told that Yamaha was aware of the customer interest in the XSR, but had instead decided to make the FZ-X to meet that demand in India. You can read more about that here . There has always been a high level of interest in the Yamaha XSR 155 in India and considering how popular the Yamaha R15 V4 and even the MT-15 are, it is surprising that Yamaha has not considered the XSR for our market. However, given the rather lacklustre response to the FZ-X in the past two years, there is still hope that Yamaha may reconsider. For now, however,...

MG Motor India  has launched the Blackstorm Edition of the  Gloster  SUV at Rs 40.3 lakh. The SUV features a black theme across the exterior and interior of the car, however, it remains mechanically unchanged.  Red accents on the interior and exterior  Blackstorm is available in 6- and 7-seater options  MG has revealed the Gloster will get an 8-seat option   MG Gloster Blackstorm Edition exterior  The dimensions of the Gloster remain unchanged with a length of 4,985mm, width of 1,926mm and height of 1,867mm. However, the exterior gets a new look for this edition. MG has opted for the popular all-black look that has worked well for other manufacturers like Tata Motors'   ‘Dark Edition’ , Maruti Suzuki’s ‘Black Edition’  and Volkswagen’s ‘Deep Black Pearl’ to name a few. The Gloster Blackstorm comes in two paint options, Metal Black and Metal Ash, along with black elements for the roof rails, tail-lamp and headla...

It's no secret that Royal Enfield is readying a bunch of motorcycles based on the upcoming Himalayan 450’s platform . One of those is a 450cc roadster and fresh spy shots of the same are out on the internet. Powered by 450cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine Gets 17-inch wheels at both ends Telescopic fork instead of USD on the Himalayan 450 Royal Enfield 450cc roadster: what can be seen? These fresh pics of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450-based roadster showcase a few design highlights of the bike as well as the stance. While much of the bodywork is draped in camouflage, the large tank appears to have a teardrop shape. The side panels are minimal, while the tail section is similar to what we've seen on Himalayan 450 test mules. The integrated LED tail-light/turn indicator set-up is very BMW-like and it looks pretty neat as well. What can also be seen in the spy video is that this roadster sports the same LED headlight as seen on the Super Meteor 650 and the u...

Roberto Merhi will be making his Formula E debut with Mahindra Racing at the Jakarta E-Prix this weekend. He’ll be replacing Oliver Rowland, who has parted ways with the Indian team for the rest of the season. The double-header round will take place on June 3-4. Merhi replacing Rowland at Mahindra Only Jakarta outing confirmed so far Ex-F1 driver Roberto Merhi joins Mahindra Merhi participated in the Berlin rookie test for Mahindra alongside Jehan Daruvala and sim driver Jordan King. He’d earlier raced for Marussia in the 2015 F1 season, later switching to sportscar and endurance racing. “Roberto has impressive experience in top-level racing and a good track record in major championships. He had a great run with us at the Rookie Test in Berlin last month and we could see he had the potential to become a great asset for the Mahindra Racing team,” said Mahindra Racing CEO Frederic Bertrand. He added, “It’s not easy to jump in mid-season, but Roberto has experience of working wi...

In theory, CNG cars offer the best of both worlds. You get lower running costs compared to your normal petrol and diesel cars and they’re lower on emissions as well, making them kinder to the environment. But there’s always been some compromises with CNG cars in general – boot space and drivability – that’s discouraged potential buyers, until now; enter the Tata Altroz iCNG. Tata Altroz iCNG tanks, boot space and spare tyre The Altroz iCNG’s USP is the fact that you get lower running costs without having to sacrifice boot space entirely. Tata Motors has used an innovative twin-cylinder setup for the CNG tanks that are placed under the boot floor, where you’d normally find the spare wheel. This packaging liberates 210 litres of boot space, which, though down on the standard Altroz’s 345-litre boot, is still better than nothing at all. Boot space is down from the standard Altroz's 345 litres to 210 litres. The positioning of the tanks raises another question: what about the sp...