VR Tech Times

Sony has revealed a new PlayStation 5 system software beta rolling out today that brings the highly requested audio format, Dolby Atmos, to the console alongside a larger SSD capacity, accessibility features, and more.  Since the launch of the PS5, audiophiles have asked for Dolby Atmos audio support on the console. Without diving too deep into the nitty gritty, Dolby Atmos is one of the best audio formats when adequately supported. While the PS5’s 3D Tempest audio tech is impressive, players have also wished for Dolby Atmos support. And now, with the latest system software beta, it has arrived.  “3D Audio powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech can now be enjoyed by those who own compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as soundbars, TVs, or home theater systems,” a PlayStation Blog post reads. “Tempest 3D AudioTech specifically renders to the Dolby Atmos audio devices in use – including overhead channels – allowing for even greater levels of immersion in the audio scape...

The Ola S1 electric scooter has seen plenty of change in the last couple of years with a constantly evolving model mix. The latest change is that Ola has now dropped the mid-spec S1 model making it a simpler two-model line-up. S1 Air is now the base model S1 Pro remains top model S1 Air introductory price window extended till 15 August 2023 Last week, we reported that Ola Electric was going to open its purchase window for the new base model S1 Air electric scooter from July 27 to July 31 at an introductory price of Rs 1.1 lakh rupees, following which, the price would rise to 1.2 lakh rupees.  However, the company says that it has received a strong response, citing over 3,000 sales “within a few hours of opening the purchase window”. Company founder Bhavish Agarwal then went on to tweet that they would extend the initial price of Rs 1.1 lakh to all potential customers till 12pm on August 15th. The Ola S1 Air was first announced in October 2022 with a 2.5kWh battery and an...

Exponent Energy is a Bengaluru-based startup that has today revealed its proprietary fast-charging technology and with it, it claims any vehicle using its battery management system and charger can be fully charged in just 15 minutes.  The startup doesn't make the cells in-house. Instead of specialised cells it uses its own unique battery pack design as well as a bespoke battery management system. The big talking point though is the incorporation of an HVAC (heating, ventilation & air-conditioning) system to keep the cells from overheating. The company claims that over 3,000 rapid charging cycles, its battery pack deteriorated just 13 percent, which is half the industry average.  The HVAC system is a part of the stationary charger and not an on-board element of the battery. As of today, this technology only works with fixed chargers and portable chargers are not an option. The company says that its technology stops the battery pack from degrading despite frequent rapid ...

As beautiful and picturesque as it is, Meghalaya is severely underrated. Lush green forests, gorgeous valleys, warm people and some of the best roads in the country. It might not sound like the perfect setting for a luxury SUV, but it sure is perfect for a Porsche. So to sample the Cayenne facelift, we were flown to Guwahati, from where we would be driving on a beautiful road, for around 150km to Cherrapunji – one of the wettest places on earth.  In perfect driving scenarios like these, there is no rivalling the Cayenne. Rainfall here averages around the 11,000mm mark, which, for reference, is almost six times that of Mumbai (which is supposedly always flooded). Also, this was the peak of the monsoons, so the expectation was that the wipers would be doing more work than anything else in the car.  Porsche Cayenne facelift suspension, tech and features We started the day on a surprisingly warm morning with no signs of the infamous downpour. It was hot! With the Cayennes ...

Nick Cassidy won the rain-hit 2023 Formula E finale in London to hand Envision Racing its maiden teams’ title. Cassidy’s own title hopes were wiped away in the previous race after a clash with teammate Sebastien Buemi. Andretti’s Jake Dennis finished that race in P2 to seal the drivers’ title . Cassidy wins finale, 4.934 secs from Evans Mahindra P10 in teams’ championship Cassidy wins rain-hit London E-Prix Attempts to start the finale were aborted twice as rain lashed down on the unique London track, which features indoor and outdoor sections. But once the race did finally get underway – nearly 90 mins after initially scheduled – Cassidy put on a dominant display. He started from pole, led from lights-to-flag and even set the fastest lap on course to victory. This also ensured he secured second place in the drivers’ championship. “It’s mixed emotions but ultimately I’m very happy because today was a difficult day for me mostly because I didn’t sleep well last night, I arrived ...

TVS’ first ever electric scooter, the iQube, has surpassed the 1,50,000-unit sales milestone in the domestic market (it was also recently launched in Nepal). As of July 22, 2023, the iQube has clocked cumulative sales of 154,263 units. Total iQube production till end-June 2023 was 147,309 units, with July 2023 output details to be announced by mid-August 2023. Launched in January 2020 , the same month that the Bajaj Chetak was also introduced, the TVS iQube has taken 43 months to achieve sales of 1,50,000 units in India. The e-scooter delivered its best fiscal performance in FY23, when it registered wholesale volumes of 96,654 units, just narrowly missing the 100,000 mark. In the first three months of the ongoing fiscal year (FY24), TVS has recorded wholesale volumes of 38,602 units, up 342% year-on-year (April-June 2022: 8,724 units) comprising 6,227 units in April 2023, 17,913 units in May 2023 and 14,462 units in June 2023. That means from launch in January 2020 through to end-Ju...

I want to buy a scooter for my 20km daily commute in Bengaluru city. I’m looking for something with good seat comfort and boot space. I will be using this scooter and also my family. Please suggest if I should go for petrol or electric and give me some good options. Likith Raj Hagal, Bengaluru Autocar India says: If you have a space at home where you can charge the scooter, an EV will be worth going for as they are stress-free and enjoyable to ride in the city, and also have very low running costs. When it comes to a practical and comfortable EV, we’d suggest you consider the Hero Vida V1 , the TVS iQube S and the Bajaj Chetak . Take test rides on all three and decide which one you find to be the most comfortable. Unfortunately, none of them have very large boots. As for petrol scooters, the TVS Jupiter 125 will meet your needs nicely as it has a comfortable suspension set-up and a very spacious underseat boot. The petrol scooter will cost much more to run, but it will be signif...

Max Verstappen overcame a five-place grid penalty to win the Belgian GP, scoring his eighth consecutive victory so far this season. His teammate Sergio Perez joined him on the podium, handing Red Bull a 1-2 finish, while Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari. Verstappen wins, 22.305 secs ahead of Perez Leclerc completes podium for Ferrari Verstappen wins from P6 on grid Heading into the weekend, Verstappen was hit with a five-place grid for taking new gearbox components. But given his recent dominant form, few expected this to hamper the reigning world champion. Starting from P6 on the grid, he swiftly picked off his rivals. A strong out-lap after his first pit stop helped narrow the gap to Perez and on Lap 17, he cruised past his teammate to take the lead. With the threat of rainfall never materialising, Verstappen crossed the line with a 22.305 secs advantage. He’s now gunning for Sebastian Vettel’s all-time record of nine consecutive race wins. Verstappen’s victory als...

Andretti driver Jake Dennis clinched the 2023 Formula E world championship title with one race to spare, after successfully navigating a chaotic London E-Prix. Jaguar’s Mitch Evans won the race, which saw two red flag stoppages. But a retirement wiped out Nick Cassidy’s championship hopes, and a P2 finish was enough for Dennis to seal the title. Dennis seals title after finishing P2 Evans wins London E-Prix, Buemi P3 Mahindra’s Di Grassi goes from P20 to P7 Cassidy out of running after Buemi collision Dennis headed into the race with a 24 points lead over Cassidy, who started from pole. After leading in the early stages, Cassidy dropped a few places after taking his attack mode, and this is where his race started to unravel. While trying to overtake teammate Sebastien Buemi, two made contact, dislodging Cassidy’s front wing. After pitting for a new front wing, he was able to rejoin the grid and progressed up to 16th place. But his race couldn’t be salvaged and eventually had ...

Can you please suggest an automatic car under Rs 40 lakh, which is fun to drive, is a good handler, has good ground clearance? It also needs to be comfortable and spacious for all passengers, and preferably get ventilated seats, although I am not a fan of loaded features and a sunroof. Gautham Reddy, Hyderabad Autocar India says : No car fits your bill better than the Skoda Octavia, which has all the attributes you are looking for. And it doesn’t come with a sunroof! The suspension though is a bit soft and there is a bit of body roll when you push it hard. However, you may be a bit too late to pick up one as the company has stopped selling them. Nevertheless, call a Skoda dealer at the earliest, and if you are lucky, he may have one in stock, albeit not the specification of your choice. If the Octavia is unavailable then the VW Tiguan, which is an SUV, is the next best option. It is solid, has good ground clearance and is quite spacious and comfortable. Also See: Volkswagen Tigu...

What are you driving and why? I drive a Land Rover Defender 110 daily for its ruggedness and beast-like road presence, and on the weekends I drive a BMW M3 (E93). I also have an Audi RS4, which I’ve taken to the Modern Classic Rally, and a Mercedes CLK 320, which I’ve driven to the MBCCR. What’s next on your wish list? I’m currently in the process of restoring my 1970 Chevrolet Nova. The most fun you’ve had in a car or bike? When I took the Defender on a road trip to Rajasthan, with some dear friends of mine. Favourite/Dream money-no-object car? It’s either going to be a 1969 Ford Mustang or a Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series. Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero? I really admire Narain Karthikeyan. He broke the glass ceiling for Indian F1 drivers. Favourite road? From Belgaum to Tumkur in Karnataka. I would also love to drive on the Autobahn in Germany someday. Sagar also drives this manual Audi RS4. What’s on your automotive bucket list? I try to keep as many ‘...

I want to buy a new Royal Enfield, but I am confused about which one to go for. I don’t like the Hunter 350 as it is too small. I prefer the new Classic, but it is out of my budget. Please suggest. G Karthik, Vellore Autocar India says: We would suggest you wait a little longer till the launch of the new Royal Enfield Bullet 350 . After months of delay, the launch date is finally out and the bike will go on sale in early September 2023. The current Bullet 350 is based on the old UCE platform and it is priced a little higher than the new Hunter 350 . Logically, the next-gen Bullet 350 will command a small premium, but after the aggressively priced competition from Triumph and Harley-Davidson , it will be interesting to see how Royal Enfield responds and they might give the bike a very tempting price.  The new Royal Enfield Bullet 350 will be based on the Classic 350 platform and the riding experience will be quite similar. The differences will mostly come down to the overall ...

After over a year of spy shots on public roads , Royal Enfield has finally given us a launch date for the new Bullet 350 . Its oldest and most iconic model will enter its next generation on August 30 , and here’s what you can expect. New RE Bullet 350: engine The biggest change to the new Bullet will be right at its heart, in the form of the new 349cc J-platform engine. This motor is already deployed in the current Classic 350, Hunter 350 and Meteor 350, and is likely to be carried over as is – producing 20.2hp, 27Nm and paired to a 5-speed gearbox. Aside from specs and output figures, this new motor will also bring a huge improvement to overall refinement, and the crippling high-RPM vibrations that currently plague the Bullet are likely to be a thing of the past very soon. Another by-product will be the elimination of the kickstarter. The Bullet is currently offered in a more affordable kick-start-only variant, as well as costlier versions equipped with an electric starter. The fo...

In a bizarre move, a clutch of electric vehicle makers - Hero Electric, Benling and Ammo Mobility will approach the customer to refund money for a product sold to them at a lower price and become a 'recovery agent'.   Stuck between a loss making operation and outstanding penalty dues to be paid to the government, these EV makers collectively wrote to Society of Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Association to recover money from the customers to stay afloat.   Given the significant penalty levied by the government on these vehicle makers and a significant slowdown in sales over the last 18 months on disrupted sales, the impacted vehicle makers may potentially  have to file for bankruptcy , the association feared.   SMEV said that post numerous discussions with EV manufacturers, and those who are impacted by MHI’s decisions since the last 18 months, an unusual, but obvious, possibility for a logical solution has emerged and the OEMs have come around to accepting it...

I have decided to buy the Kia Carens, but I am confused about whether I should go in for the Prestige manual or Prestige Plus iMT? I only want to go in for a petrol as my monthly run is hardly 300km. What’s confusing me is the fact that the Prestige manual comes with a naturally aspirated engine, while the iMT gets a turbo-petrol. So is it good to buy a manual with a NA engine or is turbo preferable as per trend? Chetan Amesur, Nashik Autocar India says: The Carens turbo-petrol is worth looking at if you are driving regularly on the highway or long distances where the power and performance makes your commute easier and more relaxed. However, for a run of just 300km a month, the 1.5 naturally aspirated engine will do just fine if you don’t mind using a manual. Also See: 2022 Kia Carens review, test drive 2022 Kia Carens video review Kia Carens long term review, 7100km report Kia Carens 1.5 turbo-petrol iMT review: People pleaser Kia Carens 1.5 turbo-petrol iMT video review ...

I like the new Triumph Speed 400, but I feel like the Honda CB300R is a close rival and I am confused about which bike to go for. How come you have not conducted a comparison review?  Ramesh Vaswani,  Mumbai Autocar India says: You’re right, the CB300R is quite a close rival to the Triumph in the way that it performs. Of all the bikes we’ve reviewed, the CB punches well above what the spec sheet may suggest. Even though it has just 30hp compared with the Triumph’s 40hp, our tests have shown that the CB can pretty much match the Speed in the 0-100kph run. That comes down to the magic of low weight as the 146kg CB300R weighs a full 30kg less than the Triumph.  Nevertheless, the Honda cannot hope to compare with the Triumph's exceptional mid-range performance. In that sense, the Triumph's performance is much easier to use and it also happens to be a more spacious and comfortable bike, although the little Honda is not bad in this regard either. Given the extra performan...

Yes, you’re right. The Triumph Speed 400 is nothing like the Royal Enfield Classic 350 , but that doesn’t change the fact that this bike was born to battle with Royal Enfield. That is the main reason why Bajaj priced the Triumph so shockingly low. While the Speed 400 is priced close to the Classic, in reality, it’s the Hunter 350 that is the closer RE when it comes to appearance and character. That’s why we’ve brought RE’s second bestselling bike (after the Classic 350) here as well. While Royal Enfield is the clear target for Bajaj, there are a few other potential rivals like the Honda CB350s and the Jawas and Yezdis. However, those bikes simply haven’t been able to match the Enfields, not just in sales figures but also in our previous comparison reviews. And as for the new Harley X440, that will have to wait till we get the bike to properly test in a few weeks’ time.  For now, this comparo is aimed at all those tens of thousands of potential RE customers that Bajaj wishes to...

Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Release: July 14, 2023 Rating: Mature As an omnipresent robotic voice condescendingly wishes my team luck, my eyes widen in disbelief as a massive portal materializes over a city block. It spews hundreds of raptors that rain from the sky, tumbling down buildings before they sprint in our direction. It’s a jaw-dropping sight, but that awe turns to intimidation at the staggering number of adversaries thirsty for our blood. Our tank units move forward and activate their shields to create a defensive wall. A healer fills health bars to the brim. A sniper takes point on an elevated perch. All the while, my finger rests on the trigger of my grenade launcher, waiting to see the whites of my scaly enemies’ eyes before unleashing hell.  I’ve experienced this tense situation dozens of times in Exoprimal’s cooperative wargames. Capcom uses a 5v5 ...

The new Lamborghini Revuelto has already been sold out until 2026, according to company boss Stephan Winkelmann. The firm’s first plug-in hybrid supercar is the most potent Lamborghini in the carmaker’s history and it features a new hybrid V12 powerplant. Battery pack can be recharged via a rear motor in 6 minutes Carbon-fibre tub is 40 percent stiffer than previous flagship Lamborghini  Lamborghini India has managed a few allocations of the hybrid supercar Lamborghini CEO confirms that Revuelto sold out until 2026  While the addition of electric power marks a significant departure for Lamborghini's flagship model, Winkelmann, speaking exclusively to our sister publication, Autocar UK at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, said "Hybridisation has been digested by our customers and the greater public. With the Revuelto, we have an order bank that is exceeding all our expectations. We are in the year 2026 with orders.." Winkelmann added that many early buyers were ex...

Hero MotoCorp has today announced that online bookings for the Harley-Davidson X440 will close on August 3. Prices likely to go up in next booking window Production to begin in Sept at Hero’s Neemrana, Rajasthan plant Customer deliveries slated to start in October The company says that it has received “an overwhelming response” for the smallest, most affordable Harley, and it will begin production of the X440 in September. This will occur at its ‘Garden Factory’ at Neemrana in Rajasthan, where it is currently ramping up the production capacity in response to the demand it has seen. Customer test rides of the X440 will begin from September 1, and Hero says it will start delivering bikes to customers in October. While it hasn’t yet announced when the next online booking window will open, it has indicated that prices will go up as and when bookings do reopen. At present, the Harley X440 is being offered at introductory prices starting at Rs 2.29 lakh and going up to Rs 2.69 lakh ...

News broke back in September of last year that Hero MotoCorp and California-based Zero Motorcycles were considering a partnership to co-develop electric motorcycles and both the manufacturers signed an agreement to confirm the same in March this year. Hero MotoCorp’s annual report now reveals there has been a significant development in its partnership with Zero Motorcycles which now allows Hero to co-develop premium electric motorcycles. This opens the door to a premium Hero (or even Vida) badged electric bike down the road.  By diversifying its EV portfolio, the company aims to ‘capture a wider customer base’ and ‘capitalise on the global shift towards electric mobility’. This collaboration combines the expertise and technology of Zero’s in-house developed powertrain with the scale of manufacturing, sourcing, and marketing of Hero MotoCorp. The annual report doesn’t state who will be building the Zero EVs in India but in all likelihood, it will be Hero MotoCorp itself. Zero...

August has a bunch of launches lined up, with a majority of them in the luxury segment. Tata Motors will add a CNG powertrain to the Punch , and Toyota is all set to launch the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga -based Rumion MPV. In the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz will launch the second generation of one of its highest-selling SUVs, while Volvo and Audi will launch two electric SUVs. Here’s the list of what will be launching in August.  1) Tata Punch CNG - Early August Tata Motors first showcased the Punch CNG at the Auto Expo earlier this year . The Punch will be Tata’s fourth CNG model but the second to get its new twin-cylinder tanks. The 1.2-litre, three-cylinder engine will be carried forward from the petrol version and will be paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. In petrol mode, it produces 86hp and 113Nm of torque, while in CNG mode, it will develop 77hp and 97Nm of peak torque. Upon launch, the Punch CNG will go up against the Hyundai Exter CNG.  2) Second-gen Mercedes...