VR Tech Times

Luxury carmakers are set to launch nine new cars and SUVs in India this year, and if you’re in the market for one, you might want to take a look at this list. These cars not only include updates for existing models but also new cars and SUVs too. New Mercedes Benz E-Class  The Mercedes-Benz E-Class will soon receive a generational update in India, and arrive here in the long-wheelbase format only . Mercedes is expected to retain the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel and 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder diesel engine options seen on the outgoing model, with some updates. It will be 15mm longer, 20mm wider and 17mm longer than its predecessor. New BMW 5 Series  The new BMW i5's ICE counterpart, the next-gen 5 Series, will follow soon launch in India in eighth-gen guide this festive season. The BMW 5 Series will come in  long wheelbase  guise opposed to the i5, which gets the regular wheelbase option in India. Audi Q6 e-tron...

Scooters are inherently very practical and a large part of that comes down to the underseat storage space. Electric scooters are even more so, due to the tighter packaging allowed due to their tree-hugging powertrain. To give you an idea of just how big the storage area on some of today’s electric scooters are, we have compiled a list of the 5 largest boots on an electric scooter in the Indian market today. Just for reference, India’s bestselling scooter - the ubiquitous Honda Activa - has an 18 litre underseat storage area.    Simple One 30 litres   The Simple One’s 30 litre boot is the smallest on this list and that should give you an idea of just how large the storage space is on some of these electric scooters. While the Simple One is not as popular or well-known as the other entrants on this list, it does have a 30 litre boot which earns it a place on this list.  Also See: Simple Energy One launched at Rs 1.45 lakh; gets 212km IDC range TVS iQube 32 litre...

The Citroen C3 Aircross is the French manufacturer’s contender in the midsize SUV segment and it goes up against some established competition in the form of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara and others. We’ve now put the SUV through our instrumented tests to see just how fuel efficient it is out in the real world. Citroen C3 Aircross turbo-petrol mileage Powering the C3 Aircross is a solitary 110hp, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine. Max torque is rated at 190Nm for the 6-speed manual and 205Nm for the 6-speed torque converter automatic. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Citroen C3 Aircross MT returned 9.76kpl in the city and 14.04kpl out on the highway. As for the automatic, it was slightly less efficient than the manual as expected, managing 9.46kpl in the city and 13.62kpl on the highway. Both versions get fuel-saving auto start/stop tech but owing to high ambient temperatures during our test (around 40 deg C) the system never switched the car off, ...

It may be perceived a slur today, but as a kid, the term “Chinaman” was used quite often in cricket. A leading sports journalist explained to me that it was what left-armed wrist spinners were called in the yesteryears. The likes of a Kuldeep Yadav or Tabraiz Shamsi today. But why “Chinaman”? “Maybe because of the guile,” he said. A few days ago, we witnessed the first Indo-Chinese car JV being announced with much fanfare, but there’s a lot of guile too. Overlook the fuss about whether JSW-MG will create another  ‘Maruti moment’ but focus instead on another mega moment being created, that of a seamless India-China blend, akin to our local Chinese food; Chinjabi anybody? A think tank called Global Trade Research Initiative went on to say a few days after the JSW-MG partnership that JVs will actually allow China to slowly but surely enter the Indian market. And JVs are the route that Chinese automotive companies will use to create a deep base in India. You see, China does not se...

Last month we shared what the Aprilia Rs 457 was like on track vs the venerable KTM RC 390 . This month, the story is about how it does on the road vs another tried and tested rival, the Yamaha R3. EASY ON THE EYE The updated R3 has that typical sharp Japanese sportbike look with a handsome face and a sharp looking tail section. It’s a good looking thing, but it does appear a bit small compared to the RS 457, which is remarkably similar to the bigger machines in Aprilia’s line-up. The RS 457 looks smashing, not just from a distance, but also when you sit on it. I’ve said this before, but this really feels like a scaled down big bike rather than a grown up small bike. You’ll feel that in the sheer size of the fuel tank (although it holds just 13 litres) as well as the wide handlebar placement. This also extends to the riding position where the wider Aprilia feels like a size up compared to the slim R3 with its narrow clip-on handlebars. While it comes across as more substantial,...

The newly introduced Mahindra XUV 3XO seems to be gathering good customer interest. The company announced last week that it has already received around 50,000 bookings for the SUV, and deliveries will commence next week , on May 26. Dealers said the waiting period for some variants is as high as six months.  Most XUV 3XO bookings are for mid-spec AX5, AX5 L trims Everest White and Nebula Blue are the top colour choices Waiting period is up to six months for entry-level variants Mahindra XUV 3XO: variants, features, colours in-demand A quick check with Mahindra dealers suggests that the XUV 3XO’s AX5 and AX5 L trims comprise the majority of bookings at most outlets. Features on the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 include 16-inch diamond cut alloys, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, connected car tech, dual-zone climate control, a reverse camera, TPMS, and electrically adjustable wing mirrors, among other features. Prices for AX5 variants start at Rs 10.69 lakh. The X...

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) celebrated the first anniversary of Shine 100 , with over 3 lakh units sold in the first year. To commemorate the occasion, HMSI organised mega delivery events of Shine 100 in several cities across the country.  Shine 100 based on all-new engine-chassis platform Honda has grown in the 100-110cc segment due to Shine 100 With over 3 lakh units of Shine 100 sold till date, HMSI has witnessed an incredible growth in the 100-110cc segment in FY24. This entry-level commuter motorcycle has gained immense popularity due to its fuel efficiency and reliability. Moreover, HMSI’s extensive sales & service network of over 6,000 touchpoints caters to customers across both urban and rural India. Also See: Honda Shine 100 review: Big ambitions Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “We are happy to announce that Honda Shine 100 has completed its first...

Earlier this year, Game Informer  revealed the exclusive first details and screenshots of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed, the video game set after the events of 2023 film,  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem . Following that March reveal, developer A Heartful of Games and publisher Outright Games has largely gone quiet. Today, the publisher revealed what players can expect from the Deluxe and Collector's Editions of Mutants Unleashed if they want to splurge on the game when it arrives later this year. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed allows you to take control of the four turtles in a 3D brawler/platformer for up to two players. The premium editions of the game will provide additional physical goodies for fans of the franchise. The Deluxe Edition includes the game, an exclusive steelbook, four pin badges, four keychains, and an artbook. Meanwhile, the Collector's Edition includes the game, Season Pass, pizza van statue, LED sign, fiv...

Jeep has finally added a rugged offroad-focused variant of its smallest SUV, the Avenger . The Jeep Avenger 4xe sits at the top of the small SUV’s range and gets an all-wheel drive hybrid powertrain. The Avenger is also sold with a petrol and EV variant. Avenger 4xe pairs 136hp petrol engine with two 29hp electric motors 22.7:1 reducer is said to deliver up to 1,900Nm of wheel torque Features minor design changes over the standard model Jeep Avenger 4xe powertrain highlights The Avenger 4xe combines a 136hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with a pair of 29hp electric motors (one on each axle) and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 48V hybrid system is designed to offer significant traction and torque to boost the SUV’s off-road performance. The all-wheel-drive system helps the 4xe post a 0-100kph time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 194kph. The powertrain uses a smart all-wheel-drive system, which sends power to all wheels at speeds below 30kph; to the rear axle as and whe...

Honda will introduce an all-new EV sedan for the global markets to take on the Tesla Model 3 and the BYD Seal sedan. This new sedan is part of Honda’s seven new born-EV models from its 0 series line-up that will be out by 2030. The seven 0 Series cars will prioritise weight reduction and aerodynamic performance and stand out for “the joy of driving”, the company said. Honda's future EVs will have all-wheel drive with two 'e-axles' Honda 0 Series models to have over 480km range (EPA cycle) The Honda 0 Series line-up will be built by minimising the number of parts used in each model and adopting lightweight aluminium chassis structures. Those chassis will eventually be die-casted – a technique pioneered by the Tesla Model Y – to reduce part complexity, and therefore weight and costs. Honda also hailed the development work enabled by its line-up of hybrids, such as the latest- gen Civic sedan, in reducing the weight of its next-generation electric powertrains. These...

Taking the middle path is something we are all familiar with. It’s a practice that basically involves avoiding the extremes and going for the best balanced solution. This also works when it comes to engineering scenarios. Case in point, getting the ride/handling equation right, or balancing top- and bottom-end performance of an engine. Selecting the middle path is also something we should do when it comes to electrification. The canvas is wide, stretching from mildly (or barely) electrified cars at one end, to full EVs at the other, with all manner of strong and plug-inhybrids stacked in the centre. To see why the middle path makes so much sense, let’s first look at pure EVs. Now sure, EVs clearly represent where the automobile eventually needs to go. But this is only if and when all its various components, elements, processes and technologies line up perfectly. Today, the problems range (pun intended) from big expensive batteries, large amounts of CO2 made during Lithium-ion batter...

Reviewed on: Switch Platform: Switch, PC Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Developer: Simogo Release: May 16, 2024 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes’ setup is bland compared to the others in the puzzle genre. You are a bespectacled woman carrying a clutch who walks with incredible poise into a mansion with little understanding of why you are there or what you are doing. The lack of context doesn’t matter, though, because the game immediately showers you with an incredible sense of mood. You may not know why you are petting the dog in the courtyard, checking every door, or reading every scrap of paper you come across initially, but you want to be there and see everything the game has to offer. And if you’re like me, it morphs from a want to a need that keeps you up entirely too late, pointing your phone’s flashlight at a piece of scrap paper already overflowing with notes incomprehensible to any outside observer . To speak too much about the game’s story would betray its intent, bu...

Suzuki has patented the Suzuki eWX ’s design in India. The upcoming electric hatch was first showcased in concept form at the Tokyo Motor Show 2023. Suzuki eWX concept could spawn an entry-level city EV Production-version to have 230km range Suzuki eWX: styling, dimensions The eWX concept measures only 3.4 metres in length, which means that it adheres to the existing Kei car restrictions in Japan. The overall boxy, tallboy design seems to be inspired by the Wagon R, but as far as dimensions go, the eWX concept is even smaller than the S-Presso sold in India. The patented car still appears to be in concept form, with no headlamps in place, a curved windshield that extends beyond the A-pillars, along with missing B-pillars. The car gets body cladding all around and fully-covered wheel caps. While Suzuki hasn’t revealed the specifications of the eWX yet, it will likely feature a single-motor setup as standard. The brand had previously claimed that this concept can deliver a 230k...

A major chunk of Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s sales in the last one year came from badge-engineered products. Thanks to Toyota’s global product-sharing agreement with Suzuki that began in India in 2019 with the launch of the Glanza, the former now retails four different rebadged products in the country– making up almost a half of its sales. Toyota's line-up includes four badge-engineered products Future offerings will include seven-seater Grand Vitara, Hyryder Maruti eVX electric SUV to also have Toyota-badged version Between May 1, 2023 and April 30, 2024, Toyota sold 2,49,737 cars and SUVs in the Indian market, out of which 1,09,706 units were rebadged Maruti Suzuki products. The badge-engineered models include the Glanza (based on Baleno), Urban Cruiser Taisor (based on Fronx), Rumion (based on Ertiga) and Urban Cruiser Hyryder, which shares its underpinnings with the Grand Vitara. The partnership has also resulted in Maruti borrowing Toyota’s Innova Hycross (Invicto). Th...

In 1993, the original NBA Jam hit arcades and revolutionized the arcade sports genre. High-flying dunks, flaming basketballs, and the biggest names from the hardwood served as trademarks for the classic quarter-munching cabinet. Though the series has been absent for years now, with the last entry arriving in 2011 under the EA Sports umbrella, Play Mechanix and Raw Thrills have partnered with the NBA and the NBA Players Association to bring that same arcade-style basketball action to arcades with NBA Superstars. NBA Superstars brings 3v3 arcade-style basketball action, featuring all 30 teams consisting of 120 of the biggest stars in the NBA. Players can take the court as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and more in the first NBA-branded arcade game since the mid-'90s. The cabinet supports up to four players and looks to include the same backboard-rattling dunks, physical defense, and longshot three-pointers that made play...