VR Tech Times

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When we rode the TVS Apache RTR 310 in Thailand last year, we had some complaints, which the company has now addressed via its ‘Carecraft’ service camp. Much to my chagrin, we did not experience the updated RTR 310 on dry, well-paved Thai roads. Instead, the setting was Mumbai during the peak of monsoon, which is when the roads start to go the way of the Dodo. To be fair, a bike tackling such roads in torrential rain is one of the best litmus tests there is, so let’s dive in.    Our main complaints last year were excessive vibration, an erratic quickshifter and an uncomfortable climate-controlled seat, and TVS now has fixes for all these issues. In a bid to quell the RTR 310’s buzz, the bike has been given larger bar-end weights and a revised tank mounting. The cooled seat’s padding has been changed to improve comfort. Finally, a revised throttle map and new routing for the quickshifter’s wiring eliminate random cut-offs. 5-inch TFT display is well laid out and has a myri...

Does it make sense to buy the Camry in 2024 with a discount of Rs 10 lakh? I am planning it as a Virtus replacement. Sagar Gupta, Kanpur Autocar India says: A Rs 10 lakh discount for the Camry hybrid is good. It’s more spacious, smoother and luxurious than your Virtus, but it’s much bigger, too so it won’t be as manoeuvrable. Also bear in mind that there is a new Camry coming next year. The Camry is a reliable premium sedan that is easy on the pocket and definitely worth considering. Also see: 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid video review 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid: 5 things to know New Toyota Camry makes global debut     from Autocar India https://ift.tt/6Oin4GT

The Mini Cooper was one of the first cars to introduce the concept of an affordable, fun-to-drive small car. As time passed, affordability reduced as the new Mini models climbed up into the premium end. But, of course, the fun element remained. In a similar vein, albeit at the other end of the spectrum, is the Maruti Swift . The first generation Swift was fun, and in keeping with Maruti’s ethos, affordable too. However, since the launch of the fourth-generation Swift, there has been a lot of talk about the smaller three-cylinder engine – lacking in power and grunt – and the price climbing higher, reaching levels of its elder sibling, the Baleno. Yes, the price has climbed higher for sure, but as for performance, it hasn’t been an issue for me at all. I say this after using the new Swift as my daily driver for around a month now.  A full-fledged dead-pedal adds to comfort, especially in stop-go traffic. The shape and size are just right for the city, the seats are soft and com...

At one point, it seemed unlikely that the Yamaha Aerox would come to India – it has the liquid-cooled engine from the R15, which makes it expensive, and a big spine section that makes it impractical. But Yamaha was brave enough to launch it here in 2021, and at that point, we at Autocar India praised it quite highly. But, we also questioned if the Indian market was ready for such a scooter. A few years down the line, it’s safe to say that the Aerox has been a success, and has done even better than Yamaha initially expected, to the point where the Japanese brand has now rolled out an update to try and sweeten the deal, and make it a little more India-friendly. Yamaha Aerox Version S: changes to standard model You now get a top-spec variant called Version S, which comes with a keyless system. The international Aerox has had this feature for a while now – it was removed as a cost-cutting measure when the scooter first came to India, but is now being offered if you’re willing to pay for...

“What if we design our own car?” That got many interested at our edit meet. The thing is, while we evaluate objective stuff like performance and space, we also evaluate a car’s styling; something far more subjective. And thus, when we do so, there’s often the lament from many a dejected car designer: ‘We spend months and years designing a car and then, in a second, it’s loved or dismissed.’ So I thought, why not design our own car and have an automaker critique it? Among nods of excited approval, Gavin – incidentally, the person I had in mind to actually create the designs – had all the doubts. “It’s just random doodles,” he said, but that’s what all designs start with. “What kind of car?” A sportscar, of course. “We know little about productionable shapes,” he continued. We’ll take it to a manufacturer for help, and besides, it’s not like it will make it to production. “But what would we even base it on?” Gavin asked. A car from their portfolio, of course. And so began an exciting j...

With the festive season upon us, October will see the launch of as many as five cars. While most of these will be at the premium end of the market, there are a couple of mass-market models, too. New Kia Carnival October 3 The Kia Carnival will be back in its latest generation after the previous model was discontinued last June. It promises to be even more spacious and luxurious than the earlier model, and will be offered in two trims initially – Limousine and Limousine Plus. At launch, the new Carnival will only be available as a 7-seater (2+2+3) – the second row will feature captain's seats, while the third row will be a bench seat. It will be powered by a 193hp, 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine mated to an 8-speed torque converter automatic that sends power to the front wheels. Being brought in as a CBU initially, it is expected to be priced over Rs 50 lakh; local assembly is expected to begin a little later. Kia EV9 October 3 Alongside the Carnival, Kia will ...

There are many, many similarities between the two motorcycles that we have here today. For example, they both wear very old British badges but are actually thoroughly modern, made-in-India machines. Both produce exactly 40 horsepower from their liquid-cooled single-cylinder engines, and both have a starting price of under Rs 2.4 lakh. Having ridden them intensively for a few days, I can tell you that there’s no simple answer as to which is better because both have many appealing pros as well as a few significant cons. The first impression Starting with the pros, design is a big one on the Triumph, and it has the best attention to detail of any made-in-India motorcycle, including the new-age Royal Enfield seen here. There’s only one downside that becomes apparent when parked next to most other 350-400cc bikes – it doesn’t really have that much presence. The Speed 400 is not a small bike, and even tall riders will fit on it well, but it does look and feel a little too slender. The ...

Nearly a year after Royal Enfield launched the new Himalayan 450, the bike has received tubeless spoked rims. These are optional extras and will cost you Rs 11,000, which is superb pricing for an option like this.  Tubeless wheels are optional accessories Can be fitted to new as well as existing bikes Himalayan priced between Rs 2.85 lakh - Rs 2.98 lakh Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 finally gets tubeless wheels At the launch of the Himalayan, Royal Enfield had announced that the ADV would receive tubeless spoke wheels in a short duration. The same option was available for bikes exported from India but the bikes sold in India didn't get it because BIS certification for these rims threw a wrench in the works.  Tubes for the Himalayan’s tyres are also relatively harder to source due to the tyre sizes, which has further increased the complexity of fixing the puncture. This move will surely come as a welcome relief for owners who have been facing problems with fixing punctur...

GOOD FOR:  Punchy engines, Comfy cabin LOOK OUT FOR:  Body damage, Infotainment issues The seventh generation (G20) of BMW’s popular 3 Series luxury sedan was launched in August 2019, and it marked a shift from being a driver-focused model to being more of an all-rounder with a bigger focus on comfort. So, if you are looking for a pre-owned luxury sedan that can be used to chauffeur you to your meetings on the weekdays and will be exciting enough for you to drive on the weekends, the G20 3 Series might just be the one for you. Here’s what you need to know. The pre-facelift, or pre-LCI in BMW speak, was on sale from 2019 until 2022, after which the company introduced the long wheelbase versions that are even more comfort-oriented. But that’s not to say this one isn’t comfortable at the back. There’s a good amount of legroom, and the seat cushioning is really well-judged. The backrest recline angle is spot-on. There’s even great thigh support on offer. And for those who jus...

Triumph has had a great run in India since its first bikes went on sale here in 2013. Few others have been able to match its spread of machines, which have included pretty retros, modern roadsters, supersports, big ADVs and even a few giant cruisers. But there was much more to Triumph’s success than just choice. The brand also found its strong following for offering that premium, Euro-bike experience but at a tangibly lower price than the Italian and German rivals. A good reputation for reliability also helped, and Triumph found itself in a sweet spot where there were very few sporty and exciting big bike options priced below its offerings. The Tiger 800/900 is a great example, with the affordable alternatives being the 650 twins from Japan, which were a big step down in every way. But the times have changed, and a few developments in the past year or so have made things more challenging for the British brand’s big-bike line-up. The first is that the Japanese have closed the gap in...

Also See: 2024 Mini Cooper S video review     from Autocar India https://ift.tt/er6jUzC