VR Tech Times

What are you driving/riding and why? I drive a Triumph Spitfire, which I’ve showcased at the Modern Classic Car Rally and have also driven on a track. I also race Formula 4 cars to build my skills and experience as I work towards my goal of becoming a professional racing driver. What’s next on your wish list? My ultimate goal would be to take part in all the races of the Triple Crown: the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What’s the most fun you’ve had in a car/bike? Veer currently races in the F4 series. I’d say driving the F4 race car around the Silverstone Circuit in the UK. There’s just something about pushing a machine to the limit on that track’s fast-flowing corners.  Your favourite/dream money-no-object car/bike? The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé. Who is your all-time greatest motorsport hero? Jim Clark, for his incredible talent, attention to detail and work ethic. Favourite road? Since I got my licence only recently, ...

I have a budget of about Rs 12 lakh, and I want to buy a compact punchy diesel car that’s also spacious. I am upgrading from my 2014 Maruti Swift Dzire diesel, and I want a car that’s more powerful and offers a more premium experience. What are my options?   Adiya, Udaipur Autocar India says: You could consider the new Tata Altroz diesel which would be a logical upgrade from your Dzire diesel and will fit within your budget. The Altroz diesel has a torquey 1.5-litre engine which offers superior performance to the crop of 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrols in that range. In fact, it is the only diesel hatchback currently available in the country. One benefit of the Altroz diesel is that it does not need to be topped up with diesel emission fluid (DEF) or urea like all other diesels. The Altroz has got a recent facelift, so it’s very fresh too. Also See: 2025 Tata Altroz facelift review: Sharp suiter Tata Altroz facelift video review     from A...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/udQNy86

Last year Hero revamped its 125cc family scooter, the Destini and we have now been able to put it through our extensive testing routine. Here are the real-world mileage figures we achieved on the 2025 Hero Destini 125.  Hero Destini 125 real-world fuel efficiency Destini's real-world mileage comes close to Hero's claimed numbers As per our routine, the highway mileage run was conducted first, where we ran the Destini 125 for a little over 55km, after which it took almost a litre to brim the tank once more. Thereby, we achieved a 57.44kpl highway mileage figure for the Destini. After that, we ran the Destini 125 inside the traffic-riddled streets of Mumbai for a smidge over 50km, after which it took less than a litre of petrol to brim the tank again. Thus, we arrived at a mileage figure of 58.26kpl inside the city. Hero Destini 125 fuel-economy analysis Start/stop tech helps the Destini inside the city Hero claims a mileage number of 60kpl for the Destini and in our tes...

Also see:  Suzuki e Access review: is it spot on?   from Autocar India https://ift.tt/4PMnXV6

The Honda Activa is the single largest selling scooter in India and has unmatched brand recognition in our market. Yet, when the Activa e: debuted, because of some crucial misses, it didn't strike the right chord. The reason I bring this up is that we are about to discuss the Suzuki e-Access, which is another Japanese electric scooter bearing a badge that's well established in India. So, has Suzuki succeeded where its Japanese compatriot hasn't?  Suzuki e Access design and colours e Access has an unusual design and comes in three colours One glance at the e-Access will tell you that Suzuki has thrown the family scooter design rulebook out the window. Depending on who you are, that will be a good or bad thing. I think the e-Access looks a lot better in the flesh than in pictures, although that double ‘duck bill’ front end will be an acquired taste. Love it or hate it, this unconventional design will help it stand out on the road from the sea of family scooters. The e-Acc...

The hatchback segment in India is dominated by Maruti with four out of six offerings namely, Ignis , Celerio , Wagon R , and Swift . The only two non-Maruti cars in this segment include the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Tata Tiago . Used hatchbacks resale value study results One- and two-year-old examples hold their value better than most competitors. *ASP stands for average selling price; DEP stands for Depreciation. All the four Marutis in this segment generally exhibit flat and predictable depreciation curves, offering strong value retention. However, among them, the Maruti Ignis shows a tendency to depreciate more rapidly after its third year, likely due to its niche appeal and limited market penetration. What truly stands out is the Maruti Swift , which boasts an exceptional resale value of up to 73 percent even after five years, making it one of the most value-retentive hatchbacks in the market. Despite Maruti’s stronghold, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Petrol AMT emerges a...

TVS has launched the updated Jupiter 125 DT SXC at Rs 88,942. Currently, the Jupiter 125 is available at a starting price of Rs 80,740 for the Drum-Alloy variant. This scooter is now available in four variants, with the top-end SmartXconnect variant costing Rs 92,001. Gets dual-tone colours Features new colour LCD dash TVS Jupiter 125 DT SXC variant: what’s new? Design and performance identical to other variants   This new variant costs Rs 3,500 more than the mid-spec Disc variant, and introduces new features like a colour LCD that is Bluetooth compatible and supports turn-by-turn navigation. Additionally, this variant also gets two new dual-tone colours (Ivory Brown and Ivory Grey). It remains unchanged mechanically, so it continues to be powered by the same 124cc engine that produces a peak output of 8.5hp (with assist) at 6,500rpm and 11.1Nm (with assist) at 4,500rpm. It also continues to get a telescopic fork at the front and twin shock absorbers at the rear. It ti...

The Mahindra XUV 3XO and XUV700 SUVs continue to see demand in the market, with the smaller compact SUV’s sales in FY2025 crossing the 1 lakh milestone , while the larger model hit its 2.5 lakh sales milestone at the start of the year. Usually, as demand surges, so does waiting periods; and that’s despite Mahindra’s efforts to increase production of its SUVs. In May, delivery times of the XUV 3XO and XUV700 have doubled for most variants, compared to the waiting periods in March. XUV 3XO MX2/MX2 Pro variants have among the longest waiting periods XUV700 6-seat and dual tone variants’ delivery times are variable Mahindra XUV 3XO waiting period in May 2025 Entry-level XUV 3XO MX1 variant’s waiting period is over 1 year Mahindra XUV 3XO variant-wise expected delivery, price list Trim Petrol Diesel Price range (Rs, lakh) MX1 Over 1 year - 7.99 MX2/ MX2 Pro Up to 3 months Immediate to 1 month 9.54- 10.64 MX3/ MX3 Pro Up to 2 months Immediate to 1 mon...

The Land Rover Defender has received a series of subtle updates, bringing new tech features as well as minor design tweaks. There are also a bunch of new accessories on offer enhancing its offroad cred. Let’s take a closer look. Exterior gets revised lighting signatures, new colours New features include driver drowsiness detection system Powertrain and body style lineup remains unchanged 2025 Land Rover Defender exterior updates New colour options, optional accessories and wheel designs You’d be really hard pressed to tell updates on the new Defender, but they come in the form of revised headlamps and tail lamps – the headlamps have a smaller centre LED DRL section, while the tail lamps get a smoked tint; fog lamps are now included as standard. There’s also a new gloss black bar across the grille and the front and rear bumpers are now painted in either silver or satin grey.  There’s also a new textured finish for the bonnet and fender inserts, the wheel centre caps now ...

We rode this bike in Portugal alongside the new CFMoto 675s, and while it isn’t as dynamically impressive as those three-cylinder bikes, it excels at offering a huge amount of motorcycle at a frankly phenomenal price point. Priced at €6,900 in Italy, it costs less than a KTM 390 Adventure R in that market, yet it gives you a full-size adventure tourer experience that’s knocking on the doors of bikes twice its price. CFMoto 700MT engine and performance The engine is up to the task but not exciting Powering the 700MT is a 693cc parallel-twin that CFMoto says is a heavily reworked version of its older 650 engine – which itself was closely benchmarked to Kawasaki’s 650 twin. The company says that this new engine not only offers a better riding experience but also improved reliability. 693cc engine quick and tractable but not exciting. On the move, it’s not got that modern-day 270-degree crank charisma and is more of an old-school, gruff-sounding engine, much like the Kawasaki 650. ...

Tata Motors has had a busy few years with a slew of EV launches and revitalised SUVs, but if there’s one model that seemed left behind it’s the Altroz . Sure, its received a new dual-clutch gearbox, a (now-discontinued) turbo-petrol engine and a CNG variant in the time since launch in 2020 but the basic package itself has largely been untouched. Things change with the Altroz facelift you see here. Fresher styling, a redone interior and a massive feature upgrade bring the likeable Tata premium hatchback to the present. 2025 Tata Altroz facelift exterior design and engineering - 9/10 The facelift adds new-age glam to a very appealing design. The updated Altroz conforms to Tata’s sharper new style sheet, and the effect is great. Making the biggest impact up front is the new bumper that sports more pronounced cuts and creases at the side vents and fog lamp enclosures. The fog lamps are smaller, sit lower down and have been upgraded to LEDs on top-spec versions. A slimmer grille with a...

The midsize sedan segment has faced considerable depreciation, particularly when compared to other segments. This trend is largely driven by shifting consumer preferences, which have increasingly favoured SUVs for their perceived advantages in road presence, ground clearance, and versatility. Used midsize sedans resale value study results A used five-year old Honda City automatic sells for half of its original price *ASP stands for average selling price; DEP stands for Depreciation. Within this category, the Maruti Ciaz proves to be the most resilient, losing just 17 percent of its value after one year. However, older examples lose value rather quickly. The Hyundai Verna , on the other hand, showcases the most stable depreciation curve, ensuring it retains its value better than competitors over time. On the other hand, a five-year-old Honda City automatic typically sells for half of its original price. Volkswagen and Skoda sedans, namely the Virtus and Slavia , depreciate ...

The Honda CB1000 Hornet SP marks the brand's fourth launch this month under the BigWing umbrella. In this comparison, we pit this litre-class streetfighter against a direct rival as well as motorcycles that, while not belonging to the same segment, offer similar power and fall within the same price range.  Honda CB1000 Hornet vs rivals: engine and output Engine and output Honda CB1000 Hornet Suzuki Katana Triumph Street Triple RS Kawasaki Z900 Engine 999cc, inline-4, liquid-cooled 999cc, inline-4, liquid-cooled 765cc, inline-3, liquid-cooled 948cc, inline-4, liquid-cooled Power 157hp at 11,000rpm 152hp 130hp at 12,000 rpm 125hp at 9,500rpm Torque 107Nm at 9,000rpm 106Nm 80Nm at 9,500 rpm 98.6Nm at 7,700rpm Gearbox 6-speed 6-speed 6-speed 6-speed Power-to-weight ratio 744hp/tonne 700hp/tonne 691hp/tonne 589hp/tonne The Triumph Street Triple RS has the smallest engine Both the Suzuki Katana and Honda CB1000 Hornet SP featu...

The Mahindra Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic continue to be among the carmaker’s most popular offerings in the Indian market, and the average waiting periods for these SUVs can extend up to three and a half months, depending on the variant.  Scorpio N Z8 Select variants’ waiting period is up to two and a half months Other Scorpio N trims have waiting periods of up to one and a half months Scorpio Classic’s waiting period is up to one month for both trims Disclaimer: Waiting period varies from city to city and depends on the availability of stock; please check with your local dealer for exact waiting period details.    Mahindra Scorpio N variant-wise waiting period The entry-level Z2 (Rs 13.99 lakh-14.49 lakh) trim has a waiting period of up to one and a half months for both petrol-manual and diesel-manual configurations; it’s the same for the Z4 (Rs 15.77 lakh-18.35 lakh) and Z6 (Rs 17.25 lakh-18.91 lakh). Meanwhile, the Z8 Select (Rs 17.58 lakh-19.56 lakh), Z8 (...

Tata Motors has taken a significant step in its powertrain strategy by acquiring the license to produce and further develop Fiat’s 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel engine, which powers the Harrier and Safari SUVs. This engine is produced under license from Stellantis by Fiat India Automobile Private Ltd (FIAPL) – a joint venture between Tata Motors and  Stellantis  in Ranjangaon. The rights to develop this engine further have been granted to Tata Motors, giving the company independent control over the engine’s use, design changes, and upgrades, even though the intellectual property rights (IPR) still resides with Stellantis. A Tata Motors spokesperson confirmed the development. “Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) and Stellantis have entered into a License Technology Agreement in Q4 FY25 under which TMPV has acquired licence from Stellantis which grants rights to carry out certain developments and technical changes in the FAM B 2.0-litre diesel engine for its...

The Nissan Magnite , launched in 2020 with aggressive pricing, was strategically positioned below all other sub-4-metre offerings, effectively carving out a niche in the market. Its mechanically identical sibling, the Renault Kiger , followed in 2021, adopting a similar value-driven approach. However, it was the launch of the Tata Punch later that year that truly defined and popularised the "sub-compact SUV" category. Used sub-compact SUVs resale value study results While the rate of depreciation is similar, Nissan Magnite’s average resale prices are higher than Renault Kiger’s. *ASP stands for average selling price; DEP stands for Depreciation. In 2023, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai entered the segment with the Fronx and Exter , respectively. Though it is early to draw definitive conclusions, current trends suggest that the Fronx is depreciating at a slower rate than the Exter, likely due to strong demand in the new car market. The Tata Punch, a best-seller in this ca...

BMW Motorrad unveiled its Concept RR as part of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, offering an early glimpse into the future of its high-performance RR superbike range. The Concept RR features a race-derived engine producing over 230hp. It uses lightweight materials and advanced aerodynamics  BMW Concept RR engine and aero details The Concept RR previews the next generation of BMW’s high-performance RR series Positioned as a technical and design showcase, the Concept RR draws heavily from the brand’s factory racing program and previews BMW’s design and engineering direction. The Concept RR is built upon the foundation of the BMW M 1000 RR , the very machine that powered the brand’s recent FIM World Superbike Championship victory. It is powered by an inline-four, water-cooled, engine derived from the WSBK race bike, producing over 230hp. This motor is paired with electronic systems, including race-spec traction control, engine braking control, and eng...

Few cars are in greater need of a dose of context for Indian buyers than this one. Hear me out. It’s a large, premium hatchback, at a time when everyone has moved on to SUVs. And it’s powered by a potent 265hp 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine at a time when everyone is turning to EVs. So just what is it doing here? At long last Volkswagen has brought the Golf to India, and to understand its significance to the German brand, know that it is the spiritual successor to none other than the Beetle. Sure, it’s grown into a premium hatchback now, but in 1974, it was the ‘new’ people’s car – the volks wagen. VW India says the market was never quite ready for something like this before, but it is now, and to sweeten the deal, it’s here in GTI hot hatch guise. But then it’s also a full CBU import, which means the price is north of Rs 50 lakh. However, all 150 units of the first batch are booked at the time of this review, so clearly there’s a niche big enough to fit a large, sporty hatchback. ...