VR Tech Times

The fourth-gen Maruti Dzire has been revealed before its launch on November 11, and we now know how frugal the all-new compact sedan is. The new Dzire shares the Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with the Swift – it makes the same 82hp and 112Nm – and comes with 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT gearbox options. New Dzire MT rated at 24.79kpl, AMT at 25.71kpl New Maruti Dzire nearly as frugal as the Swift Likely to be the most fuel-efficient compact sedan The new Dzire’s ARAI-rated fuel efficiency figure is 24.79kpl in manual form, and 25.71kpl in AMT guise. This puts it just below the Swift (24.8kpl and 25.74kpl, in MT and AMT form, respectively) in terms of mileage. This is most likely due to the additional weight that the compact sedan carries due to the boot – the Swift weighs between 920-925kg, while the Dzire’s kerb weight stands at 920-960kg, depending on the variant. However, it should be noted that the new Dzire is more frugal than the outgoing model (22.41kpl f

Festive cheer and high discounting by CNG carmakers see retail sales hit a new monthly high. Cumulative January-October retails at 607,287 units are up 43 percent and have surpassed CY2023’s 590,000 units. While Maruti Suzuki, with 433,033 units, has a 72 percent market share, Tata Motors, with 94,374 units and 104 percent year-on-year growth, has increased its CNG market share by 5 percent to 16 percent. Hyundai has rolled out new variants even as Toyota doubles its sales to 12,355 units. As per the latest Vahan data (as of November 3, 2024), at 99,967 units, retail sales of CNG-powered vehicles were a handsome 67 percent year-on-year increase (October 2023: 59,909 units). The CNG PV industry's previous monthly best was January 2024’s 67,427 units. This mega performance in October has resulted in the combined sales of India’s four CNG carmakers in the January-October 2024 period registering a total of 607,287 units, an increase of 43 percent YoY (January-October 2023: 426,014 un

Mere days after Ducati revealed its new 890cc, 90-degree, V-twin engine, it has now revealed the first new models it has plonked it into - the all-new Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2. The 890cc motor is rated for the same 120hp and 93.3Nm of torque on both the 2025 Panigale V2 and Streetfighter V2. Both bikes available with a higher-spec S variant Full suite of electronic rider aids on both Both models lighter than outgoing 955cc quivalents Ducati Panigale V2, Streetfighter V2: Step down from the Superquadro? The outgoing 955cc Superquadro engine makes over 150hp so on paper, this new 890cc engine with just 120hp might feel like a step down. But where Ducati has really focused on with these models (and this engine as well) is in making them lightweight. The Panigale V2 S weighs 176kg, while the Streetfighter V2 S is a kilo lighter, at 175kg. This marks a big step down from the near 200-kilo kerb weights their outgoing equivalents were approaching.  An aluminium monocoque fram

Volkswagen India has announced massive benefits on its portfolio of cars and SUVs, which includes the Taigun mid-size SUV, Virtus mid-size sedan and the larger Tiguan SUV. Other than special offer prices for select variants, the models are available with cash discounts, an exchange bonus or a scrappage bonus (they can’t be clubbed), and a loyalty bonus. Here’s how much you could save on your new Taigun, Virtus or Tiguan during this month. Disclaimer:  Discounts vary from city to city, and are subject to the availability of stock. Check with your local dealer for the exact figures. MY2023 Taigun GT 1.5 TSI Chrome gets the maximum discount MY 2023 Virtus gets up to Rs 2 lakh off this month Discounts worth Rs 2.4 lakh available on the VW Tiguan Volkswagen Taigun discounts in November 2024 During this month, Volkswagen is offering discounts to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh on the Taigun with the 115hp, 1.0 TSI engine. Entry-level models get a special reduced price (of up to Rs 69,000)

Royal Enfield has finally entered the EV game and to do so, it has created a new subsidiary - Flying Flea. The first product from RE’s new EV subsidiary is called the C6. Frame made from forged aluminium C6 will go on sale in spring 2026 S6 scrambler also under development Also See:   Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6 image gallery Royal Enfield’s Flying Flea C6: details  The C6 is Flying Flea’s maiden offering and while this is an all-new electric bike, the styling definitely has a whiff of old-school about it. The C6’s silhouette is like a low-slung bobber motorcycle, with its raked-out front end and solo saddle. One very unusual element of the Flying Flea C6 is that it employs a girder-style front fork to handle suspension duties, something not seen in today’s mainstream motorcycles.   The frame of the C6 is made from forged aluminium, certainly not common in the budget-friendly EV marketplace and another premium touch is the touchscreen TFT dashboard. All-new switchgear comp

The penultimate race of the 2024 MotoGP season was a rollercoaster with the championship at stake and a restart in the main race on Sunday due to a crash on the opening lap. Ultimately, Francesco Bagnaia (who crashed out in the Sprint) took the chequered flag ahead of championship leader Jorge Martin (who won the Sprint). Martin leads standings by 24 points M. Marquez crashes out bur rejoins to finish 12th Quartararo finishes sixth, highest for a Japanese bike this season MotoGP Malaysia: Opening lap incident The original start of the 2024 Malaysian GP was nulled because of a collision involving both KTM riders - Jack Miller and Brad Binder - and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo. All three riders were lucky enough to walk away without sustaining major injuries, but this incident resulted in the race being red flagged and restarted. Bagnaia vs Martin Both the championship contenders fought tooth-and-nail for the lead in the challenging and sweltering hot Malaysian GP. Ultimately, aft

The best way to extend range or cover the same distance for less cost is to waste less energy doing it. Since EVs really began to take off a decade or so ago, the engineers developing them have scrutinised every fraction of a watt the car consumes across its entire electrical architecture. The same applies to ICE cars because reducing the amount of energy affects how much fuel gets burned.  Nissan has found another tweak for improving a car’s efficiency in the form of a sophisticated heat-reflective technology it calls ‘cool paint’. In trials, the paint has reduced the temperature of the exterior surface by 12 degrees C, leading to a corresponding reduction of 5 degrees C in cabin temperature compared to traditional paint. Temperature plays a big part in a car’s efficiency beyond an engine’s or battery’s operating temperature. Heating or cooling the cabin with air-con has become a metaphorical and literal hot topic with EVs because of its noticeable effect on the range. Drivers in h

Scooters are one of the more affordable and convenient modes of motorised personal transport and a key part of their appeal lies in how light they are. Here we list the lightest scooters in India.  TVS Jupiter 110, Honda Activa, Suzuki Avenis, Hero Pleasure+ ZX+  106kg Weighing in at just 106kg, the Jupiter, Avenis, Activa (standard and DLX variants) and the Pleasure+ ZX+ are the heaviest scooters on this list. The Activa and Pleasure+ have stayed largely unchanged for quite some time now but the Jupiter 110 was recently updated and to read our full review, you can tap HERE . Honda Activa H-Smart, TVS Jupiter 110 drum  105kg The base Jupiter 110 drum variant and the Activa H-Smart variants are even lighter at 105kg. The H-Smart variant of the Activa gets a key fob which brings in keyless ignition and is also the only variant to get alloy wheels. At Rs 82,684 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it is the most expensive variant of India’s best selling scooter.  Honda Dio 125, Suzuki Access 12

Max Verstappen scored an emphatic win at the Brazil GP, battling his way up from P17 on the grid and acing the difficult conditions to cement his 2024 F1 championship lead. His closest title rival and Brazil GP polesitter ended up P6. Alpine scored an unexpected double podium finish, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly benefitting from a red flag stoppage. Verstappen scores first win since Spanish GP in June Alpine jump from ninth to sixth in standings Both RB drivers score points Verstappen’s Brazil GP masterclass Sao Paulo was a rollercoaster of a round for Verstappen. In Qualifying (which was postponed to Sunday morning due to poor weather conditions), the Red Bull driver failed to make it out of Q2. Combined with his five-place grid penalty for a power unit change, this meant he had to start the race from P17 on the grid. With the threat of rain looming, the Brazil GP was off to a rather chaotic start as Lance Stroll crashed on the formation lap. This led to further confusi

Hyundai has takn the wraps off the Initium concept, a hydrogen fuel cell SUV that may preview the styling and technology of the next-generation Nexo. The concept is meant to demonstrate Hyundai’s commitment to hydrogen as a fuel source, and comes with a new powertrain that’s said to offer much greater performance than the one in the Nexo FCEV. Hyundai Initium concept gets 204hp motor Hyundai is targeting a 650km range Plus-shaped graphic to help differentiate Hyundai’s hydrogen cars Hyundai Initium concept: powertrain The Initium concept gets a single electric motor that puts out up to 204hp, 40hp more than the Nexo, and it is said to provide a smoother drive at highway speeds. The Korean company says it is targeting a range of more than 650km between fill-ups, which is equivalent to the official 666km figure for the Nexo. It also has vehicle-to-load capability, which allows the battery to power external devices. Hyundai Initium concept: design In addition to the technical d

I currently drive a BMW X5, and I’m looking to upgrade to the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV or the Range Rover Sport. What would you recommend? Suraj M, Gurugram Autocar India says: If you mainly drive within the city with the odd weekend outing, the EQS SUV is a good choice. It’s smoother and faster, has a futuristic interior and is far more refined than the Range Rover Sport. If you are planning to do a lot of highway driving, then the RR Sport is better. It also has a better back seat and more legroom than the EQS SUV.  Also See: New Range Rover Sport video review New Range Rover Sport review: More than just good looks Mercedes EQS SUV review: High on EQ Mercedes EQS SUV video review   from Autocar India https://ift.tt/jFXLuJA

Take a look at the latest motorcycles grabbing headlines worldwide, and you’ll see the same trend – more power, more tech and more price. Range-topping versions of machines like the Panigale V4s and 1300 GSAs are now approaching 30,000 pounds in the UK, and it appears that we’re reaching the inevitable point where this is difficult to sustain.  The economy in Europe has been tough in the past few years for multiple reasons, war certainly being one of them. There are now reports of multiple motorcycle dealers in the UK having recently shut shop, and it doesn’t look like the challenging times are behind us. I should be clear that I’m not saying something absurd like this marks the end for expensive bikes. Long may we continue to push the envelope of performance, and long may we continue to have awesome motorcycles to dream about. But what I am saying is that something’s got to give, and the motorcycle market worldwide cannot sustain itself on uber-premium bikes that now cost as much as

It was one of those perfect drives, a rare window of relative emptiness on India’s busiest highway. A mid-morning dash to the BU Bhandari showroom for the launch of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 was the easiest Mumbai-Pune trip I’ve done in a long time. Making the drive particularly relaxing was the new addition to Autocar India’s fleet, the all-electric Mercedes EQE SUV, which got its first highway outing. It took just two hours and six minutes in the ultra-smooth (and quick) EQE SUV to go from the Autocar HQ to the BU Bhandari Showroom on the Pune bypass. That’s less than what many office folks take to get home on a typical working day in Mumbai. It does help that the AtalSetu has brought our office closer to the edge of Mumbai, and a 10:15am departure was a sweet spot (or time). The early-morning highway rush was over, the toll plazas had no long queues, and even the Lonavala Ghat, which is choked most of the day (and night) on Google Maps, was surprisingly ‘blue’. Traffic flowed withou

The right-hand parabola at the tight and technical Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore is my favourite corner, but in this particular instance, I dread going around it. Earlier in the day, I had very cockily arranged to sit pillion on an RS 457, piloted by Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia’s MotoGP test rider). I told him to gun it for three laps and the sheer thrilling madness that encompassed those laps is not a memory I’ll soon forget. But how did I end up sitting behind Savadori? Well, Aprilia India has finally decided to leverage its sporting history and move beyond its mainstream image of just being a scooter maker by hosting its first-ever Racers Days in India. This is an Aprilia owner’s event, which has been around for many years overseas, and has been hosted at hallowed circuits such as Mugello (Italy) and COTA (Circuit Of The Americas), among others. While Racers Days is open to everyone who owns any Aprilia two-wheeler (from the humble SR 125 to the mothership RSV4), the RS 457 is

It’s been just about a month since Mercedes-Benz launched the new-gen E-Class in India, and as standard, the luxury sedan came equipped with the ‘Superscreen’ setup that comprises a 12.3-inch free-standing digital instrument cluster, a 14.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen. However, Mercedes has now slightly rejigged the variant and equipment configuration, and the Superscreen setup is now limited to the top-spec AMG Line trim. Avantgarde trim gets a regular 14.4-inch infotainment unit AMG Line with Superscreen available on top-spec E 450 4Matic Prices yet to be officially updated Mercedes-Benz E-Class equipment reshuffle It’s the E 200 and E 220d variants that come in the entry-level Avantgarde spec, while the range-topping E 450 4Matic is available in the AMG Line trim. Prior to this update, the two trims were largely differentiated on the cosmetic front with different looking bumpers and wheels. Now, with Mercedes opting to drop t

It took 10 minutes after driving out of the Hosea Kutako airport in Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, to understand that this was going to be a trip like nothing else. Following a short duration of being torn between surprise and irritation that Namibia has smoother roads than Mumbai, our Toyota Hiace turned off the highway, and that was the last I saw of tarmac for nearly a week. After an hour or so of bouncing and rattling down a wide gravel road at about 80kph, we pulled into the Midgard Country Estate, which would be home for the next five days before the Trophy set off.    THE INTRODUCTION   Midgard was a great introduction to how different things are in Namibia. This gigantic property covers 162 square kilometres, and you’ll see groups of wild warthogs grazing the lawns along the drive-in. While Midgard is a proper luxury resort, that’s not the experience that the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy is about, which is why we were asked to set up our tents instead of checking into