VR Tech Times

Twenty-five years ago, the first-generation Octavia introduced the Czech brand Skoda to India, and since then, every generation of the car has been on sale here. However, Skoda India pulled the plug on what was the fourth-generation model in early 2023; the good news is it’s coming back this year. What better way to celebrate Skoda India’s 25th anniversary than with the relaunch of the car that started it all? The facelifted fourth-gen model will arrive in the sporty RS guise but will do so as completely built units (read pricey), costing around Rs 50 lakh. So, will it be worth it? To get an idea, we drove the Octavia in Croatia at a racetrack and on the road. Skoda Octavia RS engine and performance Upgraded 2.0-litre TSI engine makes 265hp and 370Nm E888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine now makes 20hp more at 265hp. While the regular Octavia has a bevy of engine options –petrols, diesels, CNG and hybrids – the RS makes do with the familiar E888 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine, whic...

Also see: 2025 Mercedes E 450 review: the smart man’s AMG   from Autocar India https://ift.tt/qZtahAB

Five years after the launch of the original 390 Adventure, there’s a brand new one in town, and this time around, KTM have got it right. The new 390 ADV makes up for its predecessor's adventure-related shortcomings, and it manages to do so thanks to the all-new platform that debuted in the Gen 3 Duke. Everything that benefited the Duke does so here as well, including the side-slung monoshock and repositioned airbox, which have helped bring the seat height down from 855mm on the previous ADV to a more palatable 830mm. KTM 390 Adventure changes for 2025 But it's not just a lower seat height that takes the new 390 ADV a big step forward, because this bike now has more suspension travel (up from 170/177mm to 200/205mm), and it also has much more ground clearance (200-237mm). In fact, the design of the new 399cc engine also contributes to the ground clearance, thanks to a higher positioning for the crankshaft compared with the old 373cc motor. So, in many ways, the new-gen 399cc ...

The Toyota Hyryder Hybrid offers a similar proposition as a Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta with a diesel-automatic powertrain: affordable long-term running including mile-munching, though with an initial premium to be paid compared to a petrol model. Even the prices of the Hyryder Hybrid and Seltos diesel-automatic overlap as the Toyota costs Rs 16.66 lakh-19.99 lakh, while the Kia is priced between Rs 18.65 lakh-20.51 lakh. Kia Seltos diesel-AT & Toyota Hyryder hybrid factfile Seltos diesel-AT Hyryder hybrid Engine type 4-cyl, turbo-diesel 4-cyl, petrol-electric Displacement 1493cc 1490cc Power 116hp at 4000rpm 92hp at 5500rpm Torque 250Nm at 1500-2750rpm 122Nm at 4400-4800rpm E-motor power - 80hp E-motor torque - 141Nm Combined output - 115.56hp Auto gearbox 6-speed torque convertor e-CVT Weight 1361kg 1295kg Price (ex-Delhi) Rs 18.65 lakh-20.51 lakh Rs 16.66 lakh-19.99 lakh   Kia Seltos vs Toyota Hyryder ...

KTM’s financial troubles are perhaps the most talked-about event in today’s motorcycle industry now parent company Pierer Mobility AG, has shared an update. On Feb 25, the company was given approval for its proposed restructuring plans whereby the company will pay off 30 percent of its total debt back to its creditors of which there are around 2,500. This amounts to 548 million Euros and the company has been given a rather short deadline of May 23, 2025.  KTM will pay off 30 percent of its debt as a one-time payment Production to resume by mid-March Investors will pump 50 million EUR to resume production KTM AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pierer Mobility AG, had to apply for court restructuring proceedings with self-administration in November 2024. The aim of these proceedings was to agree on a restructuring plan with the creditors within 90 days, for which the deadline was February 25.  At the meeting regarding the restructuring plan, the creditors accepted the pla...

SUVs are at an all-time high in terms of popularity in the Indian car market, with most of the top-selling models falling under Rs 15 lakh. Given that personalisation is also of importance to consumers, manufacturers offer a variety of colour options for their SUVs. Black is a popular choice for many, but some SUVs go above and beyond with bespoke “Dark Editions” that implement a blacked-out colour scheme throughout the exterior and interior, including the wheels. We put together a list of every Dark Edition SUV you can buy for under Rs 15 lakh. Hyundai Exter Knight Edition Price: Rs 8.46 lakh Kicking off the list is Hyundai’s entry-level SUV, the Exter . Buyers can opt for the all-black treatment starting from the Exter’s SX Knight Edition variant, which costs Rs 8.46 lakh. That’s a Rs 15,000 premium over the equivalent vanilla SX trim, for which the Exter Knight Edition offers a blacked-out finish on the exterior with ‘Knight Edition’ badging and red accenting in the front bum...

A new Toyota EV will be unveiled on March 11, and it is expected to be the production version of the coupe-SUV-like the 2022 bZ Compact SUV concept . The EV will be Toyota’s third all-electric model, and when it arrives in international markets, it’ll join the larger bZ4X , and recently revealed Urban Cruiser EV. As we had reported earlier, Toyota plans to have a total of six new EVs by 2026, at least in markets abroad. Toyota teaser image shows many elements from concept continue New Toyota EV to get AWD option Interior expected to be similar to Toyota C-HR New Toyota EV design details New Toyota EV to sport ‘hammerhead’ design The bZ Compact SUV concept from 2022. Toyota has released a single silhouette image and a teaser video of the e-SUV, which show the production car has retained many elements from the concept, from the raked roofline to the extended bonnet. The rear features a lightbar and the front-end has Toyota’s new ‘hammerhead’ design. It shares similarities –...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/kAHImu4

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/ZmebTdy

With most luxury carmakers concentrating their activity at the top-end of the segment (Rs 1.5 crore and above), the entry-level luxury space in India is somewhat underserved. For instance, having discontinued the A3 sedan  in 2020 and Q2 SUV in 2022, Audi’s entry-level portfolio starts with the A4 sedan (Rs 47 lakh-55.84 lakh) and the Q3 SUV (Rs 45 lakh-55.64 lakh) in India. The company, however, is trying to address the entry-level segment with its pre-owned car business. Audi Approved Plus recorded 32 percent growth in 2024 Used retail network expanded from 7 to 22 showrooms in three years What’s the challenge with entry luxury cars? There are certain challenges that limit carmakers from serving the entry-level luxury space in India. Speaking to Autocar India, Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon, said, “If you go from A4 to A3, it doesn’t mean that car becomes cheaper to make. There is a certain cost that is involved – material cost, manufacturing cost – and we always ...

The Honda CG160’s design has been patented in India. Now in its ninth generation, this motorcycle has been on sale in Brazil since 2015 and is positioned as a premium 160cc commuter. Honda CG160 is the brand’s premium commuter Has been part of Honda’s Brazil line-up for the last 50 years The CG160 has been a part of Honda’s Brazilian line-up for 50 years, and the brand has now patented the ninth-generation model in India. However, given Honda’s history of filing patents without launching the products, it remains uncertain whether this 160cc premium commuter will make its way to India – especially considering that Honda already has the massively popular  Unicorn 160  that is already on sale here. Production-spec Honda CG160 is sold in Brazil. The CG160 features a SOHC, air-cooled, single-cylinder, 162.7cc engine producing 14.4hp and 13.8Nm on petrol, with a further 0.3hp and 0.2Nm boost when run on a blend of ethanol. This engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The CG...

The  Mercedes-AMG C 63 will switch back to a V8 engine from its current 2-litre, four-cylinder hybrid setup next year, confirmed our sister publication Autocar UK .  Mercedes  launched the track-focused sedan in India in December 2024 but it has not been well-appreciated with the downsized setup. Notably, the AMG CLE 63 will first receive the new eight-cylinder engine later this year, followed by the C 63 facelift in 2026. We have extensively reported on the upcoming  CLE 63 getting a new 595hp-V8 engine  and other  key details revealed from spy shots .  Previous-gen C63 featured a 4.0-litre V8 AMG CLE 53 to launch later this year Mercedes AMG C 63 facelift engine and performance New engine will have a higher redline Improved throttle response While the 8-cylinder engine is confirmed, it is rumoured to be similar to the Mercedes performance division’s existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8. It should be noted that AMG has aban...

Also see: 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X launched at Rs 2.91 lakh 2025 KTM 390 Adventure launched at Rs 3.68 lakh KTM 390 Adventure S, 390 Enduro R walkaround video from Autocar India https://ift.tt/QzoJ7O0

Volvo has confirmed that it will unveil the ES90 electric sedan on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. The ES90 is touted to be the most technologically advanced car Volvo has ever made, and will serve as the new flagship model of the Swedish carmaker’s EV portfolio. Volvo ES90 will feature AI-powered autonomous driving tech ES90 will be dimensionally larger than the ICE-powered S90 It may have the same 111kWh battery as the EX90 electric SUV Volvo ES90 technical highlights Since the ES90 will sit on the same electric SPA2 platform as the EX90 electric SUV , both EVs will share a lot of similarities under the skin. The electric sedan will sport two Nvidia computers claimed to be capable of performing 508 trillion operations per second (TOPS) when combined. ES90 to get advanced autonomous driving tech This computational strength will allow Volvo to feed more data to its artificial intelligence systems, which should improve the ES90’s collision avoidance and autonomous driving capabil...

The CNG versions of the Renault Kiger , Triber and Kwid were introduced in India today. Renault is offering the CNG option with all its three cars as a retrofitment and a three-year warranty. Notably, only the manual variants can be had with CNG except the turbo and automatic ones. The brand has also homologated these kits to meet all safety and performance standards. Kwid CNG variants carry a Rs 75,000 premium Triber and Kiger CNG models cost Rs 79,500 extra Phased deliveries to begin from  Delhi, Maharashtra and UP An official source told Autocar India that under Renault's testing, the mileage went up by 1.5 times with the addition of a CNG kit. Note that the official mileage figures of these CNG cars are yet to be revealed. It further added that there was no impact on driving performance. So, we have stated the standard engine specifications and fuel-efficiency as a reference. Renault Kwid CNG variant-wise price The Kwid CNG's price starts from Rs 5.44 lakh, en...

Enthusiasts know that it’s the power-to-weight ratio that tells a more detailed story when it comes to performance. That’s why we’ve decided to list out the top 10 bikes with the highest power-to-weight ratios and priced below the Rs 2 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) mark. All figures have been calculated using kerb weights. 10) Bajaj Pulsar RS200 (24.5hp/167kg) – 146.7hp/tonne The RS 200 manages to balance its identity very well – the riding position is sporty, but far from extreme, and the handling is stable and enjoyable, but without being punishing over poor roads. With its full fairing and perimeter frame, the Pulsar NS weighs in at 167kg. While that makes the RS200 9kg heavier than its naked counterpart, the NS200, it’s still among the top 10 with a power-to-weight ratio of 146.7hp/tonne. It achieves this thanks to its four-valve, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 24.5hp at 9,750rpm and 18.7Nm at 8,000rpm. 9) Bajaj Pulsar N250 (24.5hp/164kg) – 149.30hp/tonne Launc...

What are you driving/riding and why? I drive a 1982 Mercedes-Benz W123, which I showcased at MBCCR 2024 . I also own a Harley-Davidson Iron Sportster. What’s next on your wish list? I’ve always dreamt of owning a Porsche 911 . The most fun you’ve had in a car/bike? While drag racing against my friend in my Mercedes and his Audi.  Favourite/dream money-no-object car/bike? The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Gururaj also rides a Harley Iron Sportster.   Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero? Lewis Hamilton.  Favourite road? The scenic coastal road in Karnataka and the ghats in Maharashtra. What’s on your automotive bucket list? Driving to Ladakh in a Toyota Land Cruiser LC200. What would you do with your last litre of fuel? Preserve it and use it to show the next generation our automotive gems. Your ideal 5-car/bike garage? Mercedes SLS AMG Mercedes SL (R107) Mercedes 230 SL (W113) Porsche 911 GT3 Ford Mustang 5th-gen What was your first ...