VR Tech Times

My 60-year-old aunt is looking to purchase an EV, which will be chauffeur-driven at all times, only within the city. With a budget of Rs 20 lakh, which car do you suggest – the MG Windsor Pro, MG ZS EV or any other electric car? Vineet, Mumbai Autocar India says: Since your aunt will be mainly chauffeur-driven, the standard MG Windsor EV is a good option. In her case, it is worth considering the Excite variant , which not only covers the basics, but it also gets reclining rear seats which enhance comfort for rear occupants. Furthermore, keeping ease of entry/exit and overall space and comfort in mind, the Windsor is worthy of serious consideration. The only reason to stretch for the Pro version is the bright-coloured interior, however do keep in mind that the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in this version works erratically, and isn't calibrated well for our conditions. Hence, it is best to opt for an MG Windsor variant without ADAS.  Also see: MG Windsor EV ...

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

The Tata Punch is among the most popular cars on sale in India as it regularly appears near the top of yearly sales charts. While Tata’s smallest SUV directly takes on the Hyundai Exter , the Nissan Magnite in its naturally aspirated form is similarly sized and priced, and also serves as an alternative to the Punch. We put these two compact SUV through our rigorous performance tests. Tata Punch vs Nissan Magnite price and specifications Punch has more power and torque, and weighs more than the Magnite Tata Punch vs Nissan Magnite specifications Punch Magnite Engine 1199cc, 3 cyls, petrol 999cc, 3 cyls, petrol Power (hp) 88 72 Torque (Nm) 115 96 Gearbox 5-speed manual 5-speed manual kerb weight (kg) 1035 1019 Power-to-weight (hp/tonne) 85.02 70.66 Torque-to-weight (Nm/tonne) 111.11 94.21 Price range* (Rs, lakh) 6.20-9.72 6.14-9.27 *Pre-GST 2.0 prices On paper, the Punch has a decent advantage over the Magnite in terms of ...

Since its launch in 2007, the Suzuki Access has been a best-seller and crowd favourite in the Indian market. The scooter has received a generation change and many incremental updates since then. Recently, Suzuki comprehensively updated the Access and it brought along changes to its engine, chassis and design.  Here are the answers to some questions about the 2025 Access. What variants are available with the Suzuki Access? The Access is available in 4 different variants - Standard, Special, Ride Connect, and Ride Connect TFT.  The Standard and Special are differentiated by the inclusion of a front disc brake, and alloy wheels in the Special as opposed to drums all around, and pressed steel wheels on the Standard.  The Ride Connect variant is identical to the Special, except it adds Bluetooth connectivity to the LCD instrument console. The Ride Connect TFT, as the name implies, upgrades that LCD cluster for a hi-res colour TFT display and is the top end model of the ...

The production version of the Skoda Vision O estate concept , which will be offered primarily in the electric guise, could add a range extender powertrain, CEO Klaus Zellmer told Autocar UK . The Vision O concept debuted at the ongoing Munich motor show, and previews the next-gen Octavia Combi estate (sold in overseas markets). Skoda "will explore all [powertrain] options" if regulations allow, Zellmer stated. Production car will be underpinned by VW's modular SSP base It will be the first Skoda model to use the platform Adding autonomous functions is easier with SSP: Zellmer He also noted that the speed of EV adoption has not materialised as was anticipated, adding, "We've learned we need to keep avenues open, and we need to do what our customers want. The first rule of any business is that if you do what your customers want, you will be successful." Production-spec Skoda Vision O launch details Arriving in the next decade The final version to s...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/LYiwN89

Suzuki Motorcycle India has silently pulled the plug on the Katana supernaked in our market. The Katana was a litre-class supernaked wrapped in some edgy ‘80s throwback retro styling and was sold here for a little over three years. Suzuki Katana used a K5-derived 999cc, four-cyl motor With 152hp and 106Nm on tap, it was properly fast Suzuki has no 1000cc four cylinder bike in India anymore Currently Suzuki’s big bike portfolio has three models  The Katana was powered by a 999cc, four-cylinder engine making 152hp and 106Nm of torque and its chassis components were similar to Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 supernaked. Where the Katana went down its distinct path was in its sharp styling inspired by the original model of the same name from the ‘80s. Its last recorded price was Rs 13.61 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and its sole competitor was Honda’s recently launched CB1000 Hornet SP (Rs 12.36 lakh).  In its own right, the Katana was a fast, fun and striking-looking thing but it som...

Mercedes-Benz tech boss Markus Schafer has confirmed to our sister publication Autocar UK that the brand will continue to offer V12 engines into the next decade. As Euro 7 emission norms are coming into effect next year, it had put the future of the V12 engine – Merc’s largest internal combustion unit – into doubt. Merc’s V12 engine expected to be made Euro 7 compliant Currently only used in the Maybach S 680 New V8 to replace 4-cyl plug-in hybrid on C 63 and GLC 63 Mercedes V12 engine future China and Middle East among markets where V12 expected to continue to be offered At the ongoing Munich motor show, Shafer said that Mercedes “will continue to offer V12s”. While he didn’t outright confirm that it will be Euro 7 compliant, he hinted that it will be available in Europe, saying, “I will not say more, but it is coming”. However, based on the current plan to have only EVs on sale in Europe by 2035, Mercedes will have to discontinue the engine in those markets by then. On the ...

The new BMW iX3 is the first model to wear the brand’s new Neue Klasse design language , and speaking to our sister publication Autocar UK, design chief Adrian Van Hooydonk has said that this will now be rolled out across the entire lineup. This means BMW will majorly facelift its current electric and combustion model portfolios to reflect the new design, all of which is expected in the next couple of years. Neue Klasse design brings a simpler and cleaner look All existing EV and ICE cars to be updated with Neue Klasse design Future M performance cars will also get this new design Neue Klasse design characterised by simplicity BMW’s new design language is characterised by clean lines, the absence of chrome, reduction in the number of trim elements seen in the cars’s exterior and most notably, the shrinking of its grille . There are, in fact, two interpretations of the new illuminated kidney grille – an upright version for SUVs and a flat, wider versions for sedans. Speaking t...

Porsche is working on the replacement of the combustion-powered Macan , whose production is set to end globally in 2026. Known internally as the Porsche M1, the new SUV will be sold alongside the Macan EV. Rivals upon launch will include the likes of the Mercedes GLC and BMW X3 . The M1 SUV will use Audi Q5's 4WD drive system It is also built on the same PPC base as the Audi Q5 Performance-focused S, GTS and Turbo variants are expected Porsche M1 platform and 4WD setup Underpinned by the Premium Platform Combustion base The new M1 will have a lot in common with the Audi Q5 and sit on the Volkswagen Group's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture. Additionally, the new Porsche will adopt the Q5's efficiency-focused Quattro Ultra drive system. But instead of heavily modifying the platform for a rear-biased 4WD setup, like Porsche did with the first-gen Macan's MLB base, it'll be largely unchanged in the upcoming SUV for cost reasons. As a result, dr...

The Suzuki Burgman has been around for quite some time. It kickstarted the pseudo maxi-scooter format in India. It has been received very well in our markets, which is largely down to its spacious seat and road presence compared to conventional scooters.  What are the variants available with the Suzuki Burgman? The Suzuki Burgman is largely divided into two variants: Burgman Street and Burgman Street EX– the main difference between the two is down to the latter getting a larger 12-inch wheel at the rear and weighs 1kg more (111kg), compared to the 10-inchers on the Street model.  The Street model is further divided into two sub-variants–  Standard Edition and Ride Connect, where the latter gets a bluetooth enabled LCD dash.  What is the price of the Suzuki Burgman? The Suzuki Burgman Street is priced from Rs 96,399-1.01 lakh. The higher-spec Burgman EX is priced at Rs 1.18 lakh  How fuel-efficient is the Burgman Street EX? The last time we tested the ...

Few design debates have polarised car fans like BMW’s oversized kidney grilles. For the past decade, BMW doubled down on ever-larger front ends, despite criticism from traditionalists. The reason? China – BMW’s single largest market. Chinese buyers like bold, imposing faces as way to get noticed. “People in certain parts of the world were asking for big grilles,” admits BMW design chief Adrian van Hooydonk. BMW didn’t want to disappoint customers that buy 700,000 of their cars every year and that demand directly shaped the brand’s design direction. Van Hooydonk even concedes that while the internet howled, “we never saw it in the sales figures.” Smaller kidney grille is being revived for a wider, more global appeal Latest sensor and radar hardware also allow for a more compact design Neue Klasse marks a pivot The new iX3 SUV , the first model on BMW’s revolutionary electric architecture which made its world debut at this month’s Munich Mobility Show, doesn’t wear the XXL grill...

Following the recently-announced GST reforms, those looking to buy a new luxury car from manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz , BMW , Audi , and Mini can save up to Rs 11 lakh on ex-showroom pricing. As per the new norms, cars above 4 metres in length and/or with petrol engines above 1,200cc and diesel engines above 1,500cc will be taxed at a flat GST rate of 40 percent with no additional cess, as opposed to the prior 28 percent GST rate with up to 22 percent of additional cess, which worked out to effective taxation of 45 to 50 percent. The reformed GST rates will go into effect starting September 22, 2025. It's also worth noting that GST rates for EVs will see no change post-reform, so their prices will remain unaffected. Audi Q3 price to drop by up to Rs 3.07 lakh. Audi has nine ICE-powered models on sale in India, and the German carmaker has announced GST reform price reductions for six of them, namely the A4 , A6 , Q3 , Q5 , Q7 , and Q8 ; the S5 , Q3 Sportback , and RSQ8 ...

Aprilia unveiled the RSV4 X-GP last weekend at the Catalunya Grand Prix, a special-edition model celebrating the 10th anniversary of the RS-GP’s MotoGP debut. Limited to just 30 units worldwide, this track-only machine is the most extreme RSV4 ever built and carries a staggering €90,000 (~Rs 92.9 lakh) price tag, before taxes. Track-only RSV4 X-GP celebrates 10 years of RS-GP in MotoGP Limited to just 30 units worldwide MotoGP-derived aero with full carbon fibre bodywork Aprilia RSV4 X-GP engine and performance Produces 18hp and 4Nm more than the standard Aprilia RSV4  The RSV4 X-GP uses the same 1,099cc V4 engine as the standard RSV4, but tuned by Aprilia Racing for higher performance. It now makes 238hp at 13,750rpm and 131Nm at 11,750rpm – up from the standard bike’s 220hp at 13,000rpm and 127Nm at 10,800rpm. To achieve these figures, Aprilia has fitted the bike with a higher compression ratio, a racing-spec air filter, a velocity stack for the air intake system, a dr...

It's been nearly two years since Hero first showed off a rather production-ready looking concept of the Hero Xoom 160 at EICMA and almost 9 months since it was launched at the Auto Expo earlier this year. The scooter is now finally on sale and we’ve had a chance to see what it's like. Hero Xoom 160 Design and Style - 9/10 It carries a large, proportionate and handsome design The biggest thing the Xoom 160 has going for it is its style and presence. This is a thoroughly stylish scooter with a tall frontal area that packs sporty twin LED headlamps and a big windshield. The side profile is unmistakable for anything but a maxi scooter and the large exhaust as well as the sleek tail design neatly sum up the ADV-maxi scooter theme. Smaller details like the neatly integrated cast aluminium rear grab handle, smart looking pillion footpegs and the chunky aluminium swingarm all add to the appeal.   The biggest Xoom is a large scooter and turns heads on the road. The overall effe...