VR Tech Times

Tyre pressure makes a world of a difference to how a car drives, yet it’s seldom given much thought. A basic question though is, what is the ideal tyre pressure? And the answer is simple enough – follow the carmaker’s recommended settings. The recommendation will usually have two values, for a lightly loaded as well as a fully loaded car, and this is usually found stickered inside the driver’s door pillar, the fuel filler cap and in the owner’s manual. There are, of course, a few more things to keep in mind when setting your tyre’s pressure. Set pressure when tyres are cold Air contracts when cold and expands when hot, and temperature can vary tyre pressure to a great extent. An ambient temperature drop of 10deg Celsius can drop tyre pressure by 1 to 2 PSI. So, it’s suggested to check your tyre pressure when a tyre is cold, right at the beginning of a drive. Manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressures can be found on door sill, the fuel flap or owner’s manual. It is equally import...

The brand new Triumph Speed 400 enters a hotly contested segment and we stack it up against its primary rivals on paper. Triumph Speed 400 vs rivals: engine & output Engine & output Triumph Speed 400 KTM 390 Duke RE INT 650 BMW G 310 R Engine Liquid-cooled, 398cc, single-cyl Liquid-cooled, 373cc, single-cyl Air/oil-cooled, 648cc, parallel-twin Liquid-cooled, 312cc, single-cyl Power 40hp at 8,000rpm 43.5hp at 9,000rpm 47hp at 7,250rpm 34hp at 9,250rpm Torque 37.5Nm at 6,500rpm 37Nm at 7,000rpm 52.3Nm at 5,150rpm 28Nm at 7,500rpm Gearbox 6-speed 6-speed 6-speed 6-speed Power-to-weight ratio 235hp/tonne 254hp/tonne 215hp/tonne 207hp/tonne The Speed 400’s brand new engine isn’t the most powerful in this company, but it makes more torque than any other single-cylinder competitor. And with the Speed being a roadster rather than a sporty naked, this engine’s mid-range performance should be quite enjoyable. Unsurprisingly, the...

The new 2024 Ferrari SF90 XX is among the marque’s most extreme road-going models to date. It evolves the flagship SF90 supercar with a host of technologies honed on the series of track-day specials from which it takes its name. Ferrari SF90 XX models develop 1,030hp, 804Nm All 1,398 units (799 Stradale, 599 Spiders) have been sold out It is the first road-going Ferrari since F50 to have a fixed rear wing Available in Stradale (coupe) and Spider (convertible) forms, the SF90 XX is intended to “push the car on the edge” of its potential, according to development boss Gianmaria Fulgenzi. The brief was to drastically enhance performance, but to also “give the confidence to the driver to push the car at its limit”, said chief test driver Raffaele de Simone. Ferrari SF90 XX Stradale, SF 90 XX Spider exterior, aerodynamics The car features the first fixed rear spoiler mounted to a road-going Ferrari since the F50 of 1995, and it has been added as part of an aggressive aerodynamic o...

Kia is gearing up to introduce the mid-lifecycle facelift for the Seltos SUV in India next week that will bring a raft of new of cosmetic updates, a heavily revised cabin and even a new powertrain option. There will also be important updates to the equipment list that will bring it at par with the competition and some will even be segment-first. The price announcement is slated towards the end of July, so ahead of its launch, here we are taking a look at the top five features that will Seltos facelift will gain over its predecessor. 1. Panoramic Sunroof A panoramic sunroof is among the most loved features for Indian car buyers, but so far, the Seltos was only available with a single-pane unit. Notably, the Seltos’ cousin, the  Hyundai Creta , came with a panoramic sunroof right from launch in 2020, so this was quite a miss for the Seltos. It’s also almost become a norm in the segment with the Maruti Grand Vitara , Toyota Hyryder and MG Astor also offering one. This will be a...

Also see: Range Rover SV review: Range topper from Autocar India https://ift.tt/kOC9gSB

Skoda took the wraps off another unique project, the Roadiaq Camper, based on the Enyaq EV . The Roadiaq was conceived by students at the Skoda Vocational School, where a total of 29 students took about nine months to build it. Roadiaq is the ninth Skoda Student project globally It's the first EV-based student project from Skoda Indian batch recently showcased a Rapid Cabriolet Skoda Roadiaq Camper: design, interior and features Skoda donated an Enyaq 80x Sportline for this one-off project, which took nine months to complete. The Enyaq’s exterior got a Moon White and Emerald Green paint job, for starters, with 21-inch Supernova tyres. While Roadiaq retains the length and width of the regular Enyaq – 4,649mm and 1,879mm, respectively – the wheelbase has slightly increased to 2,770mm with an increased ground clearance of 190mm.  What is most distinctive about the Roadiaq is the unique-looking roof, thanks to which the height of the car has now gone up by ove...

Pretty much all the information about a tyre can be read right from the tyre itself. It’s all embossed on the sidewall, however, it’s not really straightforward and a lot of it is in code. So here’s a handy guide on reading a tyre right.  Tyre size Let’s start with the most often read piece of information – tyre size. It will be represented in a number code, for instance: P215/65 R16 95H. P: Here, the first character stands for the tyre type. In this case, it’s P for a passenger vehicle. Likewise, LT is meant for light trucks. 215: This number is the width in millimetres of the tyre when measured from sidewall to sidewall. 65: The number following the slash is the aspect ratio of the tyre. It represents the percentage of the height of the sidewalls in relation to a tyre’s width. Thus, in this case, it means that the sidewall height is 65 percent of the tyre’s width. A higher sidewall or profile delivers a comfortable ride, but at the cost of vehicle handling. R: Stands f...

The much-awaited new 400cc models from Triumph have been unveiled globally and here’s 5 key facts you need to know.  Engine & frame Both the new Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X are powered by the TR-series liquid-cooled, 398cc, single-cylinder mill making 40hp and 37.5Nm. This engine gets a 6-speed gearbox (as opposed to the larger 900s which make do with a 5-speed unit) with a torque-assist clutch.  Nestling this engine is an all-new frame which Triumph describes as a hybrid spine/perimeter frame built from tubular steel. The company claims each bike has a dedicated chassis and suspension setup to suit it’s unique character.  Cycle parts Both bikes are suspended by a 43mm USD fork/monoshock setup but the Scrambler has 150mm of travel at both ends, while the Speed has 140mm/130mm at the front and back, respectively. The Scrambler also has a larger 320mm front disc, compared to the Speed’s 300mm unit, which should prove to be helpful when bringing the former (which...

Toyota dealers are offering mouthwatering discounts on the Hilux lifestyle pickup. Lifestyle pickups in India are already a niche, and the Hilux – currently priced from Rs 30.40 lakh – was positioned at the higher end of the segment. The Hilux went on sale in March 2022 and has sold around 1,300 units so far. The Isuzu V-Cross is also part of the same segment, although it's priced much lower. Hilux gets minimum Rs 6 lakh discount at most outlets Higher variants can be had with more benefits depending on inventory Isuzu V-Cross available with discounts of around Rs 2.5 lakh too Toyota Hilux: discounts between Rs 6-8 lakh  The entry level Hilux was priced at Rs 33.99 lakh at launch in March 2022, but a year later, Toyota reintroduced the Hilux at a starting price of Rs 30.40 lakh – a Rs 3.59 lakh reduction. While the entry level Hilux Standard 4WD MT got the aforemented price cut, Toyota raised the prices of the top-spec High trim by Rs 1.35 lakh for the m...

Theorycraft Games has revealed the first look at its debut unannounced title, Project Loki, and it’s a competitive, team-based PvP game that appears to blend the MOBA genre with hero-based combat action and more.  Theorycraft is a relatively new studio made up of developers who, collectively, have worked on franchises like League of Legends, Valorant, Apex Legends, Overwatch, Destiny, and Halo. While the team has publicly talked about Project Loki (not the official title), today’s new trailer marks the first time the studio has shown it in action.  Check out roughly 3 minutes of Project Loki gameplay below :  “As players and developers, we feel like it’s been a minute since there’s been something truly new and fun to play with your friends,” Theorycraft CEO Joe Tung writes in a press release. “To make Project Loki, we took our collective experiences working on some of the biggest team-based PvP games like League, Valorant, Apex, and Overwatch, and have been build...

BMW has launched the road-legal version of its Superbike World Championship (also known as WSBK) machine, the updated M 1000 RR , at Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Equipping the bike with the M Competition Package will set you back by another Rs 6 lakh, taking the price up to Rs 55 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Most expensive BMW bike in India currently M Competition package brings more goodies Powering the BMW M 1000 RR is a liquid-cooled, 999cc, inline four engine making 212hp at 14,500rpm and 113Nm of torque at 11,000rpm. While torque stays the same, peak power has risen by 2hp (and is made 750rpm higher), compared to the 2023 S 1000 RR Pro M Sport . Compared to the latter, the M 1000 RR is also 1.5kg lighter, with the M Competition Package reducing another 200g. The design of the M 1000 RR is much different than the S 1000 RR with a large air intake at the front and massive winglets on each side of the full carbon-fibre fairing. A full suite of race-spec electronic rider ai...

The Tata Punch EV has been spotted testing again. This time, interestingly, the Punch EV dons new alloy wheels and has new interior bits.  Tata Punch EV to also get 360-degree camera Will rival Citroen eC3, MG Comet Punch EV will get disc brakes on all wheels Tata Punch EV exterior The spy shots suggest that the Punch EV will get a different design for the alloy wheels compared to the ICE-powered Punch. The new test mules of the electric Punch will get a five-spoke design, whereas older ones had the same design as the ICE punch. The new test car was again seen with disc brakes for the rear wheels.  Tata Punch EV interior and features Inside, the biggest change in the Punch EV is likely to be Tata Motors ’ new two-spoke steering wheel, first showcased on the Curvv Concept and also seen on the upcoming Nexon facelift’s test mules. This steering wheel will get an illuminated logo in the centre and haptic touch controls.  The Punch EV will also get a 360-degre...

The BMW M5 Touring is set to return in 2024 after over 10 years since the E60 generation model was discontinued in 2010. The new M5 will be available in both sedan and estate body styles, and the Touring version, too, will feature BMW's plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a rear-mounted electric motor. The German manufacturer claims the combined power output is in the region of 800hp. Third Touring variant to be introduced in six generations of the M5 Will rival the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes E63 S Estate globally BMW M5 Touring teased There hasn't been an M5 Touring since the V10-powered E61 version that bowed out over a decade ago, so this is a big deal. From what we can decipher from photos of the camouflaged prototype, the new M5 Touring takes the latest  G60-generation 5 Series'  bodywork and adds flared fenders, an aggressive-looking rear bumper with quad circular exhaust tips and a prominent spoiler mounted on the roof. Ea...

The Ministry of Heavy Industries’ recent reduction of the FAME-II subsidy is severely impacting India’s electric two-wheeler growth. The number is likely to plummet back to the modest sales numbers of June 2022 in the 40,000 – 45,000 units region, in the opinion of industry analysts and experts.  The numbers as analysed by our sister publication Autocar Professional from the VAHAN data show that electric two-wheeler sales are down more than 60 percent at 35,464 units as of June 26, 2023, compared to an all-time May high of 1.50 lakh units, this being the exception as a pre-subsidy slash month. Rohan Kanwar Gupta, Vice President and Sector Head - Corporate Ratings, ICRA, told Autocar Professional that the steep fall in sales figures is a direct fallout of capping incentives, as it led to an increase in retail prices of Rs 15,000-Rs 35,000 across the EV two-wheeler industry. Kanwar says that the industry had ramped up volumes to 1.50 lakh units in May 2023 as compared to 66,000...

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Publisher: Xseed, Marvelous Games Developer: Marvelous Inc. Release: June 27, 2023 Rating: Everyone Remakes and remasters are more common than ever in 2023. What's most interesting is seeing how these new versions handle the issue of completely rebuilding versus simply making modern visual improvements. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life that straddles the line between these two philosophies fairly evenly but still delivers an outdated experience in various aspects. Releasing on modern consoles, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life initially looks like nothing more than an updated re-skin on the surface. However, some significant changes have made it more inclusive for players. A Wonderful Life establishes each player as a young person who has inherited a farm from their father in a small town called Forgotten Valley. Before claiming your inherit...

Toyota has finally released the first details of its diesel mild-hybrid powertrain that will be seen on duty on the Hilux initially. The same powertrain will also make its way to the Fortuner  in the future. Toyota recently conducted trials of the hybrid powertrain on a Hilux GR-S prototype at the WRC Safari Rally 2023 in Kenya. Hilux GR-S MHEV prototype gets mild hybrid powertrain Hilux MHEV to go on sale overseas next year Fortuner expected to get the same powertrain in future Toyota Hilux MHEV: powertrain details In an official release, Toyota has said that the Hilux mild hybrid, likely to be called Hilux MHEV upon debut, will be introduced subsequently in many markets, including South Africa and Australia, next year. Toyota South Africa confirmed in March this year that Hilux and Fortuner will get mild hybrid tech from 2024. The 2.8-litre diesel engine that does duty on the Hilux and the Fortuner will get 48V mild-hybrid tech and will likely be available with a 6-s...

Hyundai is in the final stages of testing the high-performance version of the Ioniq 5 EV. Dubbed the Ioniq 5 N, it will make its global debut on July 13, and will be the first high-performance, all-electric Hyundai model. The South Korean carmaker is testing the Ioniq 5 N at the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.  Hyundai Ioniq 5 will have a 10-speaker system to simulate engine sounds It will also get a simulated gearshifting experience Hyundai has tested Ioniq 5 N for 10,000km Hyundai Ioniq 5 N performance upgrades While Hyundai hasn’t revealed the power figures or the powertrain details, it has revealed the Ioniq 5 N will get larger, 400mm disc brakes, made out of new lightweight material. Hyundai has also tweaked the regenerative braking system of the Ioniq 5 N as it will now have a maximum of 0.6G decelerative force.  Hyundai has also updated the cooling system in the Ioniq 5 N by giving it a larger cooling area. It also gets new N-specific radiator packaging, ne...

Kavin Samaar Quintal handed the Idemitsu Honda Racing India team some valuable points after finishing eighth in Round 3 of the 2023 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in Japan. His teammate Mohsin Paramban had to sit out of the round due to an injury sustained while racing in the Honda India Talent Cup. Quintal goes from P18 to P8 in Race 2 Paramban sat out the Japan round due to injury Scorching temperatures at Japan’s Sportsland SUGO circuit resulted in challenging racing conditions, and Quintal could only manage finishing 18th in Race 1. But he bounced back in Race 2, going from P18 to P8. Within the first few laps, he’d made his way up to 11th, taking advantage of all the opportunities as multiple crashes took our several riders. He continued his charge up the order and crossed the chequered flag in eighth place, handing Honda India eight points. “Yesterday, I was dissatisfied with my performance and thus wanted to push harder to earn points for the team. Today, my focus ...

Hero has plans afoot to expand its presence in the premium space with multiple new models spanning different displacements . At the same time, the company is also working on new products in the more price-conscious end of the market . Such as this new Xoom model that’s been spied, which we believe could have a larger 125cc engine.  Similar styling to current Xoom 110 Redesigned rear with split grab rails, LED indicators At first glance, this seems very similar to the Xoom 110 but once you dive deeper, you can see that the rear is quite different from the current model. The rear reflector has been moved down to the mud guard and the indicators are LED units instead of the halogen bulbs on the Xoom 110. Even the side profile and the panels behind the headlamp are quite different, with more layered design elements on this new Xoom test mule. Considering that the current Xoom shares its powertrain largely unchanged with the other two 110cc Hero scooters, it could well be the sa...

While the Hyundai Verna, Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are each available in level-headed (read lesser-powered versions), this comparison is all about their spiciest iterations. Meet the 160hp Hyundai Verna Turbo that’s sharing road space with the 150hp Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI and the 150hp Volkswagen Virtus GT. These are sedans that will lure you to spend more over their mainstream versions for the added performance they pack in. Ardent petrolheads will sure find the added money well spent. All three sedans come powered by 1.5-litre direct-injection, turbo-petrol engines and can be had with 6-speed manual gearboxes. For this comparison, we’ve opted for their 7-speed dual-clutch transmission versions that blend engagement with convenience. What makes the competition all the more interesting is that these are all new cars. The Slavia is the oldest of the trio and it’s just been on sale since February last year. That’s the back story. Let’s get to the competition. Hyundai Verna vs S...