VR Tech Times

TVS Motor Company plans to continue investing in Norton, which it acquired in 2020 , for the next eight quarters as it seeks to redefine the product portfolio to pave the way for growth.  Speaking to analysts in the post Q2 earnings call, KN Radhakrishnan, CEO of TVS Motor Company, said, "We have a series of products in design and development and we are getting closer to product readiness, we will continue to invest in the next 8 quarters in Norton. At present, we are trying to meet the pending requirement of Norton customers, but for future, we are completely redefining Norton and the TVS team is working with them to redefine the product in the pipeline. A very clear product pipeline has been set up and I am pretty confident, going forward you will see product Norton is going to delight the customers.''   During the year, TVS Motor Company invested about Rs 180 crore in the British brand. The South Indian two-wheeler maker has plans of investing Rs 800 crore during F...

The new Lexus LF-ZC concept paves the way for a premium electric saloon that’s due to launch in 2026. The new model is one of two EV concepts Toyota’s premium brand has unveiled at the Tokyo motor show. The other is the LF-ZL , which previews a future flagship SUV. Both models carry the LF – Lexus Future – nameplate used by the firm for concept cars, along with the production LFA. LF-ZC to offer up to 1,000km maximum range To go into production by 2026 Lexus LF-ZC battery and range The brand confirmed that the top-spec version of the LF-ZC will offer a range of 1,000km when it goes into production, and lower variants will be introduced with lower ranges. It sits on a new common architecture that will underpin a wide range of future battery-electric models from Lexus and Toyota. It features next-generation prismatic batteries that, the firm claims, will offer improved energy efficiency. The LF-ZC shares its platform with the Lexus LF-ZL, Toyota FT-3e and the Toyota FT-Se . It...

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Massive Release: December 7, 2023 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is the next canonical chapter of the Avatar mythos. Set during the one-year gap in Avatar: The Way of Water on the other side of Pandora in a new area called the Western Frontier, players control a Na’vi raised and trained by the Resources Development Administration (RDA) who finds themselves taking the fight to the corporation. That requires, quite literally, getting back to their roots as they reconnect with Eywa while learning what it means to be a Na’vi by ingratiating themselves with the game’s three new clans.  In a recent preview event, I spent about two hours playing four early story missions. Here’s a breakdown of the world, combat, and exploration mechanics I sampled during my stay on Pandora.  Combat and Stealth My demo begins a few hours into the game in the Kinglor Forest, a rainforest-like area home to the ...

Destiny 2 developer Bungie, which was acquired by PlayStation last year for $3.6 billion , is the latest game maker to be hit with layoffs in 2023. Various former Bungie employees announced on Twitter today they had been laid off, and  Bloomberg  has confirmed with its sources that an undisclosed number of staff were laid off today.  Bloomberg  reports that Bungie CEO Pete Parsons told staffers they'd be "hearing some news today" and that following it, there would be a team meeting later today to "discuss today's events."  As for why employees were laid off, that remains unclear, especially as the company is set to release a massive Destiny 2 expansion – The Final Shape – that's set to end the decade-long saga that began in the first Destiny game.  Bloomberg  states that its sources say The Final Shape has been delayed internally to June 2024, months after its previously announced February 27, 2024 release date .  Game Informer...

A couple of months after TVS revealed its mould-breaking X EV in Dubai, we’ve been given a brief opportunity to ride it at the company’s Hosur test track and there’s a lot to talk about. TVS calls the X a crossover thanks to the motorcycle-like frame that denies you a conventional floorboard. But since it has 12-inch wheels and a fairly scooter-like riding experience, we’ll stick with calling it a scooter.  TVS X design, quality Regardless, you just can’t get enough of staring at this machine because there are so many details to take in. I think it's a smashing-looking thing and it's remarkable how close it remains to the wild and much loved Creon concept from 2018. With its exposed aluminium chassis and subframe, the slim headlamp and aggressively contoured rear section, the X will always turn heads.  There are plenty of close up details to admire as well, every one of them is unique to this machine with no borrowed parts from existing products. You’ll find yourself admi...

Two years ago, Porsche announced that it would start making almost CO2-neutral synthetic fuel, as a drop-in replacement for petrol, by 2022. Its pilot project in the Patagonia region of southern Chile is now scheduled to make a modest 1,30,000 litres of its ‘e-fuel’ per year, rising to 550 million litres annually by the end of the decade. The terminology surrounding sustainable fuels can be confusing, so let’s clear that up. Porsche’s e-fuel is derived from air and water; it’s not a biofuel like ethanol or rapeseed oil. The difference is that what the engine sees is pretty much the same as it would were the tank filled with conventional petroleum. The e-fuel is a synthetic hydrocarbon, not alcohol like ethanol (the same as in drinks). Neither does it have anything to do with the bio-diesel made from waste cooking oil that became popular some years ago. The site at Punta Arenas was chosen because the area is remote and extremely windy, which makes it ideal for generating wind power; ...

Bajaj Auto’s the country’s largest three wheeler maker – which has mastered the CNG powertrain in the last mile space, plans to leverage multiple alternative powertrains to address the cost challenge faced by the customers and emission challenge faced by the country.  In an interview with our sister publication, Autocar Professional – Rakesh Sharma, ED of Bajaj Auto speaks about the virtues of Compressed Natural Gas and how it can be further democratized and how the government can help in promoting this cleaner fuel. In your assessment, how do you see CNG as an alternative in the coming decade, what are the prospects and challenges in expansion of CNG as a critical bridge towards zero emission? Foremost while CNG is a cleaner fuel than diesel because of negligible particulate matter emission, it is not a zero-emission fuel. Most likely the country’s progress towards lower emission fuels, self-dependency and reduction in forex outflow will be driven by a combination of options ...

On the sidelines of the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) senior management confirmed that retooling of its plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan for EV production will commence in 2024. Tapukara is Honda’s only operational plant New Amaze could launch next year First Honda EV to be based on the Elevate The brand's first EV for India will be an SUV based on the Honda Elevate , and thus, it too will have Tapukara as its global production hub. The as-yet-unnamed electric SUV is currently in development and is expected to go on sale in 2025. Tapukara is currently HCIL's only functioning plant in India as operations at its original Greater Noida plant were shuttered in late 2020 . It currently produces, and will continue to produce, the Amaze , City and Elevate, alongside the new EV. The plant currently still has available capacity, and hence, it can accommodate a new model line, but HCIL president and CEO Takuya Tsumura confirmed that an increase in capacity ...

Please suggest an SUV for Rs 13.50 lakh, on-road. My usage includes a mix of highway and rural roads. I liked the Citroen C3 Aircross 5+2, but in the absence of a service centre in my town, I'm not fully convinced. Kapil, via email Autocar India says: The Citroen C3 Aircross certainly spells great value for money, even more so since the company is already offering attractive cash discounts plus three years free maintenance. Sure, it misses out on a few features, but it has the basics covered with a strong turbo-petrol engine, comfortable suspension, slick touchscreen and a segment-first 5+2 seating configuration. To compensate for the lack of touchpoints, Citroen offers 'service on wheels', wherein the company will send technicians to your location for regular upkeep and smaller repair jobs. However, do keep in mind that you will need to send the vehicle to Citroen's authorised workshops for more extensive repair jobs, so the absence of a service center in your town...

BMW’s flagship SUV, the X7, has received a rather comprehensive update. A new face along with other exterior tweaks, a modern look inside and a set of new engines for our market, since the X7 is now available in xDrive40i and xDrive40d guises. We had the diesel on test to see what it’s like.   BMW X7 facelift exterior The X7 follows the i7 and 7 Series when it comes to its design language. It has LED DRLs up top and LED headlamps on the bumpers - a trend half the auto industry is currently on to. The massive kidney grille remains massive and since this is the M Sport version, the air intake gets a sporty design.  Massive kidney grille remains massive. On the whole, it remains a large SUV measuring over five metres and with a wheelbase of over three metres in length. Road presence is something it definitely has and the 21-inch wheels only add to that. The M Sport kit also gets M badges and blacked-out window surrounds. At the rear, the LED tail-lamps are sleek, there ...

DL 14 SQ 4583 has left our long-term fleet and I must say, I miss it! What made the V-Strom so likeable is its easygoing character and breadth of abilities. Our jobs revolve around testing the newest and the most cutting-edge vehicles on the market, and despite whatever I’d been testing on a particular day, I’d always look forward to hopping on the V-Strom for a leisurely ride home. Stock headlight intesity and spread leave more to be desired. The V-Strom spent around five months with us, during which it was largely with me. Over that time, the little Suzuki covered over 6,000km, including two long road trips. Let’s start off with that. I ventured out on my first ever solo road trip on the V-Strom, covering over 1,300km to Goa and back. And the V-Strom performed faultlessly and returned an impressive overall fuel efficiency of 35kpl. Mind you, this involved sitting at triple-digit speeds for a long time on the highway and some spirited riding in the ghats. Also, the comfy ergonomi...

Since Insomanic revealed its Wolverine game two years ago, fans have wondered if it’s set in the same universe as the studio’s Spider-Man games. In an interview with Kinda Funny , Spider-Man 2 director Bryan Intihar confirmed the answer is yes When host Greg Miller asked if it had been previously confirmed or denied whether or not their spin on Wolverine shared the same Earth as its Spider-Men, Intihar replied by saying, “They’re all 1048. I think I got that right, but yeah.” Inthiar is referring to Earth-1048, which is the designation for the Marvel universe Insonmiac’s superhero games occupy. You can watch the clip beginning at the 1:10:44 mark (thanks IGN ).  Whether or not that means we’ll see any Spider-Man references in Wolverine, which does not have a release window, remains to be seen, but that’s exciting news regardless. Marvel’s Spider-Man’s New York City is chock full of references to other heroes, such as Avengers Tower, the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the Wakanda...

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Publisher: EA Sports Developer: EA Vancouver Release: October 27, 2023 Rating: Mature A target appears on your back when you’re a long-reigning champ. No longer the enigma you once were, contenders begin studying your body of work to figure out the path to ending your time at the top. The best way to fend off would-be challengers is to continually build and evolve. Developer EA Vancouver seems to understand this because while no legitimate contenders have emerged in the mixed-martial-arts genre, EA Sports UFC 5 retools several key areas to show the franchise isn’t resting on its laurels. Like its predecessors, UFC 5 aptly captures the thrill of stepping into the Octagon. After thankfully truncated pomp and circumstance (gone are the grating pre-fight emotes from the last game), the fast-paced fistfighting had me on the edge of my seat until the final horn. I love that the licensed fighters are programmed ...

This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian and Marcus dive into the history of Mario, Sonic, and the rivalry that emerged between the two franchises and their companies. After running down the history of the longstanding rivalry, Brian shares some stories of talking with Nintendo and Sega luminaries about the '90s console wars and how the franchises continued moving forward. The show wraps up with a new ATN Draft. If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram/Threads  @BrianPShea  or Twitter  @BrianPShea . You can follow Marcus on Twitter:  @MarcusStewart7 . The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and e...

A new gameplay video for Little Nightmares III offers a lengthy look at its two-player cooperative gameplay. Like the previous games, this third outing looks every bit as moody and unsettling.  This pre-alpha footage shows playable characters, Low and Alone, exploring The Necropolis, a desert-like zone, working together to overcome its many obstacles. For example, when attacked by flying beetles, one shoots them down with a bow while the other smashes the downed targets with a wrench. The kids’ biggest threat, at least in this slice, comes in the form of a giant, rampaging doll aptly known as "Monster Baby". It’s supremely creepy, and you can see for yourself below. Unlike the first two games, which were developed by Tarsier Studios, Little Nightmares III is being made by Supermassive Games, makers of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology. It’s scheduled to launch next year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. from Game...

In this week's episode of The Game Informer Show,  I've assembled a panel of experts – including Blake Hester and Charles Harte – to discuss Alan Wake 2, the 13-year follow-up to Remedy Entertainment's cult classic thriller. After Charles gives the rest of us a refresher on all things Alan Wake, Blake regales us with his favorite non-spoiler moments from many hours into the newly-released sequel. Later, we talk about the written and physical comedy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and how web gliding is a game changer in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Stick around 'til the end of the show for a series of listener questions about soulmates, the afterlife, and the best years in gaming. Listen to  Game Informer's  Lords of the Alan Wake 2 Discussion: Follow us on social media: Alex Van Aken ( @itsVanAken ), Marcus Stewart ( @MarcusStewart7 ), Charles Harte ( @ChuckDuck365 ), Blake Hester ( @MetallicaIsRad ) The Game Informer Show  is a weekly gaming podcast...