January 6, 2006 – A new credit card scam has appeared in New York and appears to be moving west. Victims of the scam receive a call that they think is from their credit card company. Unfortunately, a lot of people are falling for this new telephone pitch, and having their credit ruined in the process.

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Category: Outdoors, Lifestyle

Tags: Trailer, teardrop trailers, 3D Printing, Camping

Fascinating new findings into how clusters of 'brain stars' retain memories has changed what we know about how they're held in our minds.

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Category: Biology, Science

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Six years on from the first iMicro smartphone microscope, the team has unveiled its latest: the iMicro Q3p, a fingertip-sized, lightweight device that makes microscopy inexpensive, portable and accessible to anyone with a camera on their phone. What's more, this new model features polarization, allowing you to see (and photograph) incredible detail in the structures of materials such as crystals and minerals – all for less than 1% of the cost of the equipment normally required to view these structures.

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Category: Technology

Tags: Kickstarter, smartphones, Microscopes, Gadgets

Microsoft has warned Outlook users about a potential crash when opening a high number of emails simultaneously in the application.

A time of joy and celebration

In Nirmal district, Telangana, a man was captured on video crossing a collapsed bridge by sliding down a pipe from one end to the other. The footage shows the individual making his way across the gap, using the pipe as a makeshift bridge to reach the other side, with water flowing beneath the structure.

The collapse has left local residents and commuters stranded.

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I am looking for a luxurious family car between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore. We’re a family of five – three adults and two kids – so my priority is comfort. It needs to be a recognisable brand, have a decent road presence and have updated technology. I will be driving the car, but my usage will be very low. I can extend my budget slightly if you strongly recommend a car. I am not in favour of EVs and would prefer petrol.

Mohit Sarin, New Delhi

Autocar India says: There’s a fair bit of choice for your budget, but we would suggest you look at the Mercedes-Benz GLE. It has a good road presence, is a very strong brand, the back seat is spacious, the MBUX infotainment system has the best on-board tech, and it is fairly reliable.

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The C3 Aircross is Citroen’s attempt to take on the crowded midsize SUV segment that has players like the Hyundai Creta. After our first drive experience, we were impressed by the Citroen’s strong fundamentals, clever packaging and attractive price tag; however, we also found it lacking in some crucial areas. We’ve now subjected it to our exhaustive, instrumented real-world tests to shed more light on it.

Citroën has done a good job of making the C3 Aircross stand out from the crowd by giving it some flair in its design. It is quite similar to the C3 hatchback, with which it shares some sheet metal panels as well as the C-Cubed platform it’s based on. The front, in particular, is very similar—right up to the B-pillar—but the Aircross gets a new lower bumper with a prominent skid plate and a pair of distinctive squarish design elements above it.

There’s a wide air intake placed above the bumper and number plate housing, and the grille and Citroën’s chevron logo are finished in black with chrome detailing. The headlamp and Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) cluster are carried over from the C3 hatchback, and so are the halogen lights. The only LEDs on this SUV are the DRLs. 

The C3 Aircross’ best angle is perhaps its profile. Citroën’s designers have done well to bring together the long, 2,671mm wheelbase and the short overhangs to make it look well-proportioned. It has the typical upright stance expected of an SUV and Citroën has also added some pizzazz to its design. There’s plastic cladding on the doors, which helps reduce the visual mass. There’s cladding around the wheel arches, a distinctive crease in the rear fender, an optional dual-tone roof and smart, stylish 17-inch alloys. 

The wraparound effect given to the small quarter glass and the rear windshield is well executed and the C-shaped tail-lights look attractive, too. However, even these aren’t LEDs, and it only gets one reversing light on the left-hand side. Rounding off the rear design is a chunky, faux skid plate and a roof-mounted spoiler.

The Aircross shares quite a bit with the smaller C3. You’re greeted with a dual-tone, layered dashboard that looks nice and has some attractive details. The textured, bronze-coloured trim on the dash adds a dose of style and the large AC vents look unique. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is nice to hold, and features buttons on either side for the infotainment and instrument cluster. The fully digital cluster is easy to read on the go and has different layouts to choose from. 

Sitting high up in the centre console is the touchscreen, under which are the chunky knobs for the HVAC system. There’s two cupholders ahead of the gear lever and a slot for your smartphone, but your phone will slip out under hard acceleration as it doesn’t have a lip. Other than that, there’s sizeable door pockets that’ll easily fit 1-litre bottles and the glovebox is fairly spacious as well.

Overall, the fit and finish in the cabin is decent by segment standards, and the quality of materials is also good, except in certain areas like the leather steering and knitted roofliner. There are some hard and scratchy plastics on the door cards and the lower portion of the dash. Our test car, which was relatively new, already developed some rattles with some parts being ill-fitted. Also worth noting, the light cream-coloured upholstery tends to get soiled quite easily.

Citroën’s cars are known for their comfy seats and the C3 Aircross is no exception. The driver’s seat is well-cushioned and supportive, and the height-adjustable seat and reach-adjustable steering make it easy to find your ideal driving position. What also adds to the comfort is the driver’s armrest.

The middle row is also comfortable, with ample headroom and kneeroom even for taller passengers. The 5-seater version gets a centre armrest, and the backrest can be reclined for more comfort. However, underthigh support is a bit short, there’s no centre headrest or a three-point seat belt (you get a lap belt). The middle row of the 5+2 seater is also a pleasant place to be, and you also get the benefit of roof-mounted AC for the rear passengers with blower control, but it misses out on an armrest and backrest recline.

Getting into the third row is a straightforward process thanks to the tilt and tumble operation of the second row. These seats are placed on the boot floor, so you end up sitting knees up. The tight kneeroom and headroom also mean that this space is best reserved for kids, or adults for a short journey.

But what’s really ingenious is the versatility of these third-row seats. When you don’t need them, they can be removed from the car in about 20 seconds and used as picnic chairs when you’re outdoors. With both third-row seats removed, you get 511 litres of boot space (67 litres more than the 5-seater), which can be further expanded to 839 litres with the second-row seats folded. There’s also the   option of removing just one seat and using the SUV as a 6-seater with some luggage space. It’s this unique versatility that’ll be a big draw for potential C3 Aircross buyers. 

This is an area where the C3 Aircross leaves you wanting. Sure, it packs in a large touchscreen, a great-sounding audio system, a digital instrument cluster, USB ports for all rows, a rear-view camera, six airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill-hold assist and traction control. But it also misses out on a load of essential features that rivals offer like auto climate control, push button start/stop, ventilated seats, a powered driver’s seat, a sunroof, a wireless phone charger, LED lighting, a 360-degree camera, cruise control, a heads-up display and ADAS tech.

What’s even more annoying is the blatant cost-cutting. The C3 Aircross makes do with a simple key with lock/unlock buttons, which doesn’t belong on an SUV of this price range. The wing mirrors can’t be electrically folded, the driver’s door only houses switches for the front windows and rear window switches are not present on either rear door but placed in the middle of the front seats. Additionally, you only get an auto-down function for all windows and not auto-up because that would have meant installing an anti-pinch function.

So while it does get some of the basic features expected in this class, the absence of some crucial ones too limits the appeal of the C3 Aircross.

Top-spec C3 Aircross gets a 10.2-inch free-standing touchscreen infotainment system that features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The screen is bright and the user interface is easy to navigate. However, it misses out on physical buttons or knobs to control functions like volume up/down, next/previous track etc. During our test, the system never malfunctioned or lost Android Auto connection.

Powering the C3 Aircross is a sole, 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that also does duty in the smaller C3. Power output is 110hp and 190Nm with the 6-speed manual, and 210Nm with the 6-speed torque converter.

This engine, dubbed ‘Puretech’, remains one of the nicest small capacity turbo-petrol engines on the market, impressing with its smoothness and strong performance. There is that typical three-cylinder rocking and vibration at start-up, but the engine settles into a silent idle soon after. It’s quick to respond off the line and the strong midrange makes overtaking effortless. It’s also keen to respond to part-throttle inputs and pulls cleanly till it’s over the 6,000rpm redline. It’s only when you press your right foot down real hard that you encounter turbo lag and hear some of the thrummy engine noise. So while it doesn’t have the capacity or output as some of its more expensive rivals, you’ll never be left wanting for more in terms of performance. 

The 6-speed manual gets shorter ratios than the C3 to compensate for the approximately 240kg that’s extra on the Aircross. In terms of rolling acceleration times, from 20-80kph in third gear and 40-100kph in fourth gear, the MT takes 10.61sec (0.37sec slower than C3) and 14.54sec (0.17sec faster), respectively. As for flat-out acceleration, the Aircross manual is expectedly slower than the C3, completing the run in 12.80sec, 2.08sec slower.

The manual gearbox is precise and has short throws, which makes it enjoyable to drive. However, the clutch pedal has a springy action and you’ll need some time to get used to it. The ratios are also cleverly stacked, meaning you are always in the meat of the powerband after upshifting.

Coming to the automatic, the gearbox is an Aisin-sourced unit that also does duty in some of its rivals. This 6-speed unit stands out for its smoothness and off-the-line response, but quick shifts are not its forte. Part-throttle responses are good, but there is a moment of hesitation before it kicks down and moves you forward. You also get manual control for the gears via the lever but you’ll rarely be tempted to use this as the gearbox is good at keeping the engine in the meat of the powerband. Considering the auto also gets more torque, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s quicker than the manual in flat-out and roll-on acceleration, with a kickdown, of course. The Aircross AT takes 11.87sec for the 0-100kph sprint, while 20-80kph and 40-100kph in kickdown take 6.72sec and 8.68sec, respectively. 

While the turbo-petrol is more than capable in this SUV, its appeal is limited as rivals in this segment also offer diesel and strong-hybrid powertrain options.

The Citroën C3 Aircross manual returned 9.76kpl in the city and 14.04kpl on the highway. As for the automatic, it was slightly less efficient 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-degC), the system rarely switched the car off in order to keep the AC running. For reference, while cruising on the highway, in top gear, the manual sits at 2,000rpm at 100kph while the automatic spins at a slightly higher 2,100rpm.

Citroën is synonymous with comfort and the C3 Aircross only furthers that claim by being one of the best-riding SUVs in the segment. Low-speed ride is great as the suspension does a phenomenal job of soaking up bad roads, potholes and ruts. There’s a soft edge to the ride which makes for a cushy low-speed ride, but on the flipside, this results in some vertical movement at higher speeds. Firmer damping would have given it a flatter, composed ride but that would’ve compromised the overall ride comfort. Road and tyre noise is also well-contained in this SUV but what is very apparent is the suspension noise.

Despite being a long SUV, the Aircross’ handling is fantastic with good body control and grip levels. A special mention has to go to the steering, which is one of the best around. It’s nice and easy to twirl at low speeds, and weighs up nicely as you pick up the pace allowing you to be precise around bends. Straight line stability is also very good and as such, the C3 Aircross is a joy to drive at higher speeds. The Aircross’ brakes are also confidence-inspiring, with a good initial bite and progressive stopping power there on.

The Citroen C3 Aircross is unconventional and it stands out with its innovative seating configuration, strong mechanicals, and good ride and handling balance. The powertrains are also smooth and punchy, it’s affordable and the design makes it stand out as well. However, what’s disappointing is the cost-cutting with some materials, a severe lack of features, and the lack of powertrain options, especially when compared to nearly every rival in this segment.

Being a late entrant to the Indian market and competing in the hotly-contested midsize SUV segment, Citroën would have benefitted from throwing everything at the C3 Aircross—including missing features and a longer standard warranty—that would at least pull potential buyers to the showroom. In conclusion, then, the Citroën C3 Aircross is a well-engineered SUV that’s let down by poor product planning.

I am looking for a luxurious family car between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore. We’re a family of five – three adults and two kids – so my priority is comfort. It needs to be a recognisable brand, have a decent road presence and have updated technology. I will be driving the car, but my usage will be very low. I can extend my budget slightly if you strongly recommend a car. I am not in favour of EVs and would prefer petrol.

Mohit Sarin, New Delhi

Autocar India says: There’s a fair bit of choice for your budget, but we would suggest you look at the Mercedes-Benz GLE. It has a good road presence, is a very strong brand, the back seat is spacious, the MBUX infotainment system has the best on-board tech, and it is fairly reliable.

Also See:

Mercedes Benz GLE facelift review: Small updates for big Merc SUV

Mercedes Benz GLE facelift video review

Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe review: The everyday AMG

Mercedes-AMG has launched the new C 63 S E Performance in India at Rs 1.95 crore. The C 63 S E Performance marks AMG’s third new car launch this year and its third plug-in hybrid in India, following the S 63 E Performance and the GT 63 S E Performance. Bookings have opened today, and deliveries are expected from April 2025 onwards.

1. C 63 S E Performance pairs 476hp 4-cyl engine with 204hp motor
2. Gets sporty AMG-specific changes inside and outside
3. Buyers will get a complementary Nurburgring experience

Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance powertrain

Gone is the V8 engine that used to power the previous C 63. It’s been replaced with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that makes 476hp and 545Nm and is paired to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The engine is paired to a rear axle-mounted electric motor that can put out a peak of 204hp and 320Nm. Total maximum output stands at 680hp and a whopping 1,020Nm of torque. Merc uses F1-derived tech for the turbocharger, which incorporates an electric motor that runs off the 400V electrical system, and helps the turbine spool faster.

Power is sent to all four wheels through the 4Matic+ system, which comes with a drift mode. The claimed 0-100kph time for the C 63 S E Performance is 3.4 seconds. The AMG Driver’s Package that's usually available as an option, is standard on the C 63. So top speed is 280kph.

The plug-in hybrid performance sedan gets a 6.1kWh battery pack (weighing 89kg), giving the C 63 an electric-only range of up to 13km. Four-wheel steering is also standard, which allows the rear wheels to turn up to 2.5deg in the opposite direction (up to 100kph), and up to 0.7deg in the same direction at speeds higher than that. The new C 63 gets eight drive modes – Electric, Comfort, Battery Hold, Sport, Sport+, RACE, Slippery and Individual – along three levels for its adaptive damping system – Comfort, Sport, and Sport+.

Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance interior, exterior

Compared to the standard C-Class, the AMG-spec model gets a vertically slatted grille with active shutters that open or close depending on the engine’s cooling needs. The restyled, more aggressive front and rear bumper increase the car's length by 83mm, and the wider front wheel arches make the performance version 76mm wider than the standard sedan. Lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels are standard.

Mercedes says AMG exclusive paint options like the Matt Graphite Grey Magno are customisable, and optional ceramic high-performance composite brakes can be specced instead of the standard ventilated and perforated metal ones. Naturally, the company offers a great deal of personalisation options with the C 63 S E Performance.

On the inside, the AMG and the standard model share the same layout, but this gets an all-black theme and an AMG-specific steering wheel. The ventilated sports seats in nappa leather and carbon fibre interior trim, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment and head-up display, and the 710W, 15-speaker Burmester sound system are standard. AMG Performance seats are an optional extra. Along with the usual list of ADAS features, 7 airbags and a 360-degree camera are standard fit.

Mercedes-AMG says that every buyer of the C 63 S E Performance will get a complementary opportunity to race at the Nürburgring.

Mercedes AMG C 63 S E Performance price, rivals

While the Rs 1.95 crore Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance has no direct rivals in India, other models that vie in this rarefied performance-focused space include the recently launched 550hp BMW M4 CS (Rs 1.89 crore) and the larger 500hp Porsche Panamera GTS (Rs 2.34 crore).

All prices, ex-showroom, India

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Branding is important, and this is something we’ve already seen with digital assistants like Siri. Moving into the artificial intelligence era, companies have been falling over themselves to get their own stamp on their version of AI. Apple has opted for the reasonably predictable “Apple Intelligence”, while Microsoft’s approach has been a little more haphazard. But now there are clues that suggest the company has finally come to understand the importance of giving people an overarching term to cover all of its AI-related offerings. Say hello to Windows Intelligence. See also: As is so often the case, it is the… [Continue Reading]

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