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Featured

Here’s A Detailed Look At The Honda Elevate SV Base Variant


In these 10 images, you can get a clear idea about the entry-level variant of the new Honda SUV

The Honda Elevate was recently launched with prices ranging from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 16 lakh (ex-showroom). It can be opted in four variants – SV, V, VX, and ZX. While we’ve already seen the top-end ZX variant in our review and the mid-spec V variant, here’s a detailed look at the base-spec SV variant.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

From the front, the base variant of the Honda Elevate looks almost identical to the top-end variant, thanks to the LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, and the large grille with chrome heading. The only thing missing compared to the top-end are LED front fog lamps and a gloss black finish for the grille.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

Move to the side, and the entry-level nature of the Elevate SV reveals itself. This gets 16-inch steel wheels without any covers. It still gets upmarket details like turn indicators on the ORVMs. Compared to the higher variants, it also skips out on chrome door handles and garnish for the roof rails.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

The rear profile also looks similar to the top-end variant, thanks to the connected LED tail lamps. Rear wiper and washer are additionally offered from the VX variant.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

Step inside the cabin and the first thing to notice is the missing touchscreen infotainment system. From the next V variant, you get the convenience of an 8-inch infotainment while the premium 10.25-inch unit is limited to the top-spec variant. However, this design does allow buyers to find an aftermarket unit without affecting the dashboard design from Honda.

Also Read: Honda Elevate Vs Honda City – Prices And Specifications Compared

Honda Elevate SV Variant

The interior is covered in a black and beige theme, as opposed to the black and brown shade on the top-spec ZX. It also comes with rear AC vents as standard.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

Other features onboard the SV variant include steering-mounted controls (likely compatible with an aftermarket infotainment unit), electrically adjustable ORVMs, automatic AC, tilt and telescopic steering adjust, and a height-adjustable driver seat. The base-spec Elevate gets an analog instrument cluster with an MID, whereas the higher-end variants use a semi-digital driver’s display.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

The Honda Elevate SV also gets keyless entry and push-button start-stop as standard.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

Safety is covered by dual front airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, ISOFIX child seat mounts, rear parking sensors, electronic stability control (ESC), and hill start assist.

Honda Elevate SV Variant

Honda offers the Elevate with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which delivers 121PS and 145Nm. The base variant only gets a 5-speed manual transmission, while the CVT is available from the next V variant.

If you’re still confused about another variant, here’s our detailed variant-wise feature analysis of the Elevate. Meanwhile, we’ve also compared its prices against its compact SUV rivals.

Read More on : Elevate on road price

News

Radical EV sports coupe showcases Vauxhall’s future vision

The Vauxhall Experimental offers a glimpse into the future of Vauxhall, with its distinctive design and innovative features. Inside the vehicle, there is a noticeable departure from the current Vauxhall models. The cabin design is bold and exaggerated, giving us a clear idea of what Vauxhall’s future priorities will be. One striking feature is the replacement of all screens with holographic interfaces. Additionally, the head-up display projections stretch across the entire width of the windscreen, creating an immersive experience and transforming the interior.

Vauxhall Experimental concept dashboard

The control of critical functions is done through a panel of buttons on the centre console, while infotainment can be operated through gestures and voice commands.

Interestingly, the sat-nav system does not display arrows on the head-up display. Instead, it enters a mixed-reality mode where the driver is virtually guided by the Opel Manta GSe Elektromod, a reference to Vauxhall’s plan to revive the Manta name for a coupe-SUV in 2025.

The interior is adorned with white electrochromic fabric, which is a combination of textile fibers and thin LED strands. Any surface that uses this material, including the dashboard, seats, and door cards, can be illuminated in various colors, allowing for greater personalization. Vauxhall could potentially manufacture cars with a single interior color at the factory, leaving the choice of color up to the driver.

The Experimental concept also hints at Vauxhall’s future goal of offering self-driving capabilities. When the computer takes control, the steering wheel folds into the dashboard. The concept’s smart-glass windows could also become opaque during self-driving mode, creating a more relaxed and lounge-like environment. However, the technology required for such features is still years away.

Technology

Removing Spyware From Your Android Phone: A How-To Guide

When it comes to spyware, whether on your Android phone or PC, it’s best to maintain a healthy skepticism. Avoid tapping on random ads, downloading apps from outside the Google Play Store, and responding to unusual unsolicited messages. Verify any supposed issues with your mobile provider by visiting their official website or calling them.

In addition to being vigilant, you can utilize security features to make it harder for spyware to infiltrate your phone. Google Play Protect, for example, regularly scans your installed apps for abnormalities, providing an extra layer of protection.

Android Play Protect scan resultsDaniel Trock/SlashGear

  1. Open the Google Play Store app.

  2. Tap your profile icon.

  3. Tap “Play Protect.”

  4. If Play Protect is disabled, tap the gear icon in the top-right.

  5. Enable the “Scan apps with Play Protect” toggle.

It is also recommended to install an antivirus utility on your smartphone to establish firewalls and perform deeper scans than Play Protect. Additionally, enable two-step verification for all email accounts synced to your phone to make it more difficult for unauthorized access.

Cars

Why Your Cars Headlights Get Foggy (And How To Fix It)

Most commercial headlights are made of a clear and durable plastic material. They are designed to be transparent and sturdy. Additionally, these headlights are treated with a UV film coating to enhance their resistance to intense heat from the sun and their own powerful bulbs. However, there are two issues with this construction.

Firstly, like many types of plastic, the material used for headlights is slightly porous. This means that small particles of dirt, dust, and other debris can become trapped inside the headlights. Secondly, the UV film gradually wears down over time due to exposure to heat and general wear and tear. As a result, the headlights become foggy and the lighting output is significantly reduced. Although it may be possible to remove some of the debris by wiping the headlights, in most cases, the buildup will be stubbornly stuck.

Featured

The Pininfarina Pura Vision Concept Previews A New Electric Era

If there’s anything Automobili Pininfarina CEO Paolo Dellachà made clear during my first drive of the Battista last year, the $2.2 million electric hypercar was only the beginning. Although Dellachà didn’t share specifics, he spoke of not just one upcoming model but several. Today the Italian carmaker unveiled the Pura Vision Concept, a design study that previous what the brand’s future products might look like.

Automobili Pininfarina Pura Vision

“PURA Vision is the bridge from our present to an exciting new chapter in the history of Automobili Pininfarina. In our fifth year, we have already celebrated our unique heritage with the introduction of the Battista Edizione Nino Farina. PURA Vision previews an exciting future and shows what can be achieved if we apply our PURA design principles to an entirely new kind of vehicle.” – Paolo Dellachà, Automobili Pininfarina CEO

The Pura Vision introduces what the carmaker calls the Pura design philosophy, which aims to draw inspiration from the brand’s extensive history while breaking new ground in the electric vehicle space. As such, the concept envisions a cabin-focused design that combines coach doors with gullwing-style windows creating massive openings for ingress and egress.

Automobili Pininfarina Pura Vision

Dimensionally, it’s 205 inches long, 85 in wide, and 65 in tall, comparable with a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Its wheels measure 23 in and wear off-roading rubber. Despite its high-riding nature, however, the Pura Vision still features sizable carbon-fiber elements, such as its rear diffuser and a contrasting black roof topped with a spoiler in the rear to retain a sporty aesthetic.

Given that it doesn’t count on an internal combustion engine, this new lineup of cars should give the carmaker more freedom to explore unused portions and design elements without traditional constraints. Pininfarina has yet to comment on the performance of its upcoming lineup, but if they’re anything like the Battista, they’re sure to be exciting.

One thing is clear. Like the $2.2 million Battista, these upcoming vehicles will target the ultra-luxury segment. The Pura Vision Concept will make its world debut during this year’s Monterey Car Week alongside the Battista Edizione Nino Farina and “another new production vehicle of an equally exquisite, yet different proposition, itself defining a new genre of driving pleasure” says Pininfarina.

News

Harley CEO Says X440 Bookings In India Are Surpassing Expectations

There is an increasing interest in small to mid-displacement motorcycles, especially outside the US market. In Europe and Asia, the majority of motorcycles on the road are smaller than the typical 1,000cc-plus machines seen in the US. Riders in these regions use their bikes for more than just leisure activities.

In the Asian market, particularly in India, motorcycles with displacements larger than 250cc are considered enthusiast machines. This is why bikes like the newly launched Triumph Speed and Scrambler 400, as well as the Harley-Davidson X440, have become incredibly popular, even though only pre-bookings for these models have opened. The Harley-Davidson X440, in particular, is significant for Indian Harley fans because the brand hasn’t had a stable presence in India in recent years, with Harley-Davidson pulling out of the country in 2020.

However, the Harley-Davidson X440 signifies a renewed commitment by the company in the Indian market. It’s a model developed in collaboration with Hero MotoCorp, one of the established motorcycle manufacturers in India. The Harley X440’s design is ideal for the Indian market as it eliminates the heavyweight nature of the brand’s bigger cruisers, offering a lighter, more agile, and easier-to-ride platform for enthusiasts and commuters to use on a daily basis.

According to Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz, the reception of the new X440 in the Indian market has been extremely positive. He stated, “We’ve been extremely pleased with the reception that the X440 has received since the launch, with pre-orders exceeding our initial expectations.” Zeitz also expressed his belief in the long-term potential of the Indian market, not just for the X440 but for Harley-Davidson overall. He said, “Now I look at India as a long-term opportunity… it’s a huge market overall.”

While Zeitz didn’t provide further details about the brand’s plans for the Indian market, a patent filing by Hero MotoCorp for the Nightster 440 name suggests that the X440 is just the beginning of a new series of small-displacement Harley models. These models are expected to be popular not only in India but also in other Asian markets.

News

Used car buying guide: Ford Fiesta

Heroes come in many forms.

The Ford Fiesta 1.0T Ecoboost from 2012-17 may not save you from a speeding train or cover a puddle with its coat, but it can definitely put a smile on your face. When it’s not dealing with issues like a timing belt failure or overheating, it offers a fun driving experience. Plus, when you’re ready to move on from it, you can expect a good portion of your initial investment back.

While many cars can offer similar benefits, the Ford Fiesta stands out for its ease of purchase. There are currently around 2000 1.0T Ecoboosts available for sale on a major website, with prices ranging from £2000 to £15,000. You’ll find these cars being sold by individuals as well as main dealers, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

With such a wide selection, it should be nearly impossible to end up with a poor choice. If you don’t like the service history of one car, you can easily find a better alternative nearby.

What is Ecoboost?

Ecoboost is Ford’s term for its range of turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engines. These engines are designed to deliver power and torque similar to larger engines while offering lower emissions and improved fuel economy on the factory test bench. In this case, we’ll focus on the 1.0-litre three-cylinder version, which comes in 98bhp, 123bhp, and 138bhp outputs.

When it first launched, the Ecoboost engine made quite an impression. Both the media and the public were impressed by its smoothness and responsiveness. However, Ford’s claims about its economy didn’t quite match up. Autocar’s testers preferred the 98bhp version for its balance of performance and value for money.

The introduction of this engine coincided with a major overhaul of the Mk7 Fiesta. The most noticeable changes were the large trapezoidal grille, LED daytime-running lights, and a ‘power dome’ bonnet. Inside, there were updates such as voice-activated in-car connectivity, Active City Stop, and the introduction of MyKey, which allows parents to limit the vehicle’s performance when their child is driving.

The trim levels available included Zetec (the most popular choice with its competitive pricing and standard features like 15in alloys, DAB radio, 4.2in-screen infotainment system, heated front windscreen, air conditioning, and hill start assist). There were also higher trims like Zetec Colour Edition, which focused on more aesthetically pleasing features, the ‘sporty’ ST Line, and the ‘luxurious’ Titanium X.

Motorsport

Alpine to Develop its Own EV Sports Car Platform after Ending Partnership with Lotus

In May, Alpine and Lotus decided to amicably cancel their partnership on an electric sports car platform. This raised concerns about the future of Alpine’s plans for a performance EV. However, it has now been revealed that the Renault-owned brand will develop its own electric architecture.

During the public debut of the Renault Rafale in Paris, Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group, confirmed in a conversation with Autocar that Alpine will indeed develop an in-house electric platform. He stated, “We had a long discussion and finally decided to build our own platform.” More information about Alpine’s EV plans will be disclosed on June 26 during an investor day meeting.


News, Technology

Europe Takes a Step Forward in Implementing AI Regulations

The AI Act has been introduced in Europe to address the risks associated with AI systems and establish clear boundaries for their use. It sets obligations for both users and developers, proposes a governance structure at national and bloc levels, and outlines an assessment guideline. However, exemptions are made for open-source projects and scenarios where AI innovation supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to avoid excessive regulatory oversight.

One significant objective of the AI Act is to prevent AI systems from generating illegal content. While well-known generative AI products like OpenAI’s Dall-E and ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Google’s Bard have safety measures in place, there are publicly accessible AI tools that lack such filters.

These tools can be misused to create manipulated media, including explicit deepfakes. In fact, the FBI recently issued a warning regarding the increase in deepfake crimes. Additionally, AI systems may generate false “facts” due to inherent problems like “hallucinations.” It’s worth mentioning that Europe is not the only region actively working on AI regulation, and it will still take months for the AI Act to be legally enforced.

In April, the Commerce Department sought public input to shape AI policy recommendations, particularly with regards to necessary safety measures at the federal level. Likewise, China’s internet regulator released a comprehensive proposal on AI product regulation, aligning with the country’s strict censorship laws.