VR Tech Times

The Ather Rizta is a family-focused electric scooter and accounts for a majority of the manufacturer’s sales. Here are answers to some of the questions you might have about the popular EV scooter. What battery options does the Ather Rizta have? The Ather Rizta is available with two battery options – a 2.9kWh battery pack and a 3.7kWh option. Both trim levels, S and Z, can be had with either battery option, allowing you to choose based on what features you prioritize.  What is the range of the Ather Rizta? The 2.9kWh battery variants offer a claimed IDC range of 123km, while the 3.7kWh battery variants deliver 159km on a full charge. In real-world riding conditions, we found that the 105km true range figure was accurate from the smaller battery, and you can expect close to 125km from the larger battery pack. How long does it take to charge the Ather Rizta? Charging times vary depending on the battery capacity and the charger supplied with each variant. The 2.9kWh variants...

The automobile industry is deeply capital-intensive, and developing a car from the ground up can also take a considerable amount of time. By sharing platforms, powertrains and more, brands can relatively cut costs and even benefit from economies of scale. And when the partnership clicks, badge engineering works just fine. For instance, Maruti Suzuki -rebadged models accounted for 53 percent of Toyota India sales in FY2025. Continue reading to discover the popular badge swaps under Rs 30 lakh in India, listed below. Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos Rs 10.73-20.20 lakh, Rs 10.79-19.81 lakh The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos , which are among the most popular mid-size SUVs in the country, are offered with three 1.5-litre engine options: 115hp naturally-aspirated petrol, 160hp turbo-petrol (direct injection) and 116hp diesel. The Seltos, however, edges out the Hyundai SUV with an additional choice of 6iMT (or clutchless manual transmission) with the most powerful turbo-petrol engine. ...

The TVS M1-S is a new electric maxi-scooter designed for international markets. TVS Motor Company has posted a teaser of the upcoming unveiling on its official Instagram page. The product will be launched in collaboration with ION Mobility, which has already posted some of the scooter's specifications on its official website. Expected to get a 4.3 kWh battery pack and a 12.5kW motor Official unveil to take place at EICMA 2025 TVS M1-S Specifications The M1-S has an aggressive design language. The front end gets sharp LED headlights with DRLs (daylight running lamps) and integrated indicators. At the rear, it appears to have a large, well-padded seat, and it rides on 14-inch alloy wheels. The M1-S will get a 4.3 kWh battery pack that powers a 12.5 kW motor. The scooter is said to have a claimed riding range of 150km, a 0-50kph acceleration time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 105kph. It is said to fully charge in three hours with the built-in onboard charger. In terms of...

When Autocar India tested E20-compliant cars earlier this year, many readers wanted to know how older, non-compliant cars would perform on the same fuel. Most cars produced before April 2023 were designed for E10 or lower ethanol content. While they will still run on E20 petrol without immediate issues, there are legitimate concerns about long-term wear on seals, hoses and injectors – and more immediately, a drop in fuel economy. To quantify this loss, Autocar India conducted another round of real-world testing with three popular BS4-era petrol cars: a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Dzire (K12, 4AT), a 2016 Hyundai Grand i10 (Kappa 1.2, 5MT) and a 2017 Volkswagen Polo GT TSI (1.2 TSI, 7DSG). These cars represent both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines common in India’s pre-E20 fleet. Test methodology The procedure mirrored that of our earlier E20-compliant test. All cars were filled with E20 petrol, tyre pressures set to manufacturer recommendations, climate c...

When the Mahindra Thar Roxx joined our long-term fleet, we already knew it would be brilliant off-road. However, I was keen to see if it could handle mundane chores too. So, when shifting my son to his new college in Pune (from Mumbai), I picked the Thar, even though we have more conventional SUVs in our fleet, including two Cretas . Besides, I thought the super-smooth and powerful diesel would be fun on the highway, but in some ways, it wasn’t. Excellent backlighting on centre console, including USB ports lower down. Sure, it was quick, responsive and very refined, so that bit I really enjoyed. But the Mumbai-Pune Expressway has a 100kph limit, and keeping the Thar below that requires very light throttle pressure, and having to do this consciously is a pain. A less peppy setting would also help efficiency, which indicated 11.8kpl on the trip meter – good for a hardcore off-roader carrying around heavy 4X4 hardware, but not impressive for a midsize diesel SUV . Wheel arch gap ...

Bengaluru-based EV maker, Simple Energy, has filed a new design patent for what appears to be a family-oriented electric scooter, moving beyond the sporty positioning of its current offerings. Appears to have conventional family scooter styling Could be based on a new platform Expected to launch in the second half of 2026 The design patent image shows a scooter with a flat, generously sized seat and an integrated back-support for the pillion. The front appears to have dual LED headlights with an integrated LED DRL and turn-indicators integrated into the handlebar-cowl.   The side panels look substantial, hinting at larger underseat storage space and they have a unique oval-shaped element which could be a feature, or maybe for branding purposes.    This upcoming Simple Energy family e-scooter could be based on a new platform so for now, technical details are unknown. The main rivals of this scooter include the Ather Rizta, Hero Vida VX2 and the TVS iQube. More d...

Images of the CB1000 GT have surfaced online, leaked through an Australian homologation type application. It is expected to be a tall, high-performance sports tourer with high ground clearance.  Based on the CB1000 Hornet, the GT adds touring-focused features Powered by a 1000cc inline-4 engine, likely tuned close to the standard Hornet Runs on 17-inch wheels with relatively long-travel suspension Honda CB1000 GT: What to expect? Will rival the Kawasaki Versys 1100 and BMW S 1000 XR For starters, the CB1000 GT is the name that is expected for Honda’s new sports-tourer. It will be largely based on the CB1000 Hornet but will stand tall with better weather protection, thanks to a half-fairing. In essence, it is to the CB1000 Hornet what the Kawasaki Versys 1100 is to the Z1100. Designed for touring comfort, it features relatively long-travel suspension, a tall windscreen, handguards, and a center stand. Both rider and pillion benefit from thicker seats. The rider’s footpegs a...

When an automaker plans a large multi-energy and multi-segment portfolio, what works better: creating different channels or creating different brands and badges? And how do you sell them? We see different examples around us. Maruti Suzuki has two channels, Arena and Nexa, selling different models with the same badge. The same goes for MG and its premium MG Select channel. On the other hand, Hero has created an all-new brand and retail network – Vida – for its electric range, but you can buy them at some legacy outlets too. Mahindra , too, has a new BE brand with a slightly altered corporate logo, but the products sell through the same channel. Meanwhile, Tata Motors has exclusive electric outlets called Tata.ev, but you can buy their EVs at regular showrooms too. There’s clearly a lot happening in the automotive retail space, in terms of new badges, new channels and differing retail strategies, all focused towards creating a “differentiated” experience for the target customer. ...

Bentley is celebrating three important anniversaries in 2025 with special Flying Spur models, each inspired by a key Bentley four-door car from the past. The 1965 T Series, the 1985 Turbo R, and the 2005 Continental Flying Spur, all of which have their anniversaries in 2025, have been commemorated by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke division. Three special Flying Spurs celebrate historic models from 1965, 1985, and 2005. Mulliner division reinterprets the classics with modern design and hybrid power. 1965 Bentley T Series (60 years) The T Series was a landmark for Bentley, introducing the carmaker’s first monocoque construction and a modern design that maximised interior space. It was powered by a 202hp,  6.2-litre V8, and became known for its smooth and effortless performance with a top speed of 180kph.  2025 tribute: Bentley Flying Spur Azure The Flying Spur Azure pays tribute to the T Series with a 680hp, V8 hybrid powertrain that offers both power and refinement. Th...