MG Hector, India's first internet car launched at Rs. 12lakh
What's the story
British automaker MG Motor has launched its first car in the Indian market - the MG Hector. The mid-SUV comes as a power-packed 'smart' automobile, one bundled with a plethora of connected features. It will start at Rs. 12.18 lakh and go straight against popular SUVs like Mahindra XUV500, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Creta. Here's all about the new Hector.
Design
MG Hector: Tall, spacious, and fancy
MG Hector takes design cues from popular SUVs and retains a tall profile with a huge 587-liter boot. The SUV sports a bold front grille with surrounding chrome accents, split LED headlamps with LED DRLs, and LED fog lamps. It looks pretty premium and will be available in five color choices - Starry Black, Colored Glaze Red, Burgundy Red, Aurora Silver, and Candy White.
Interior
Five seat configuration with 'smart' capabilities
Hector comes in a five-seat configuration with 4-way power adjustable co-driver seat, fatigue reminder, powered tailgate opening, panoramic sunroof, and eight-color ambient lighting. But, the most interesting aspect of the vehicle is its iSmart technology, which offers features like geo-fencing, real-time navigation, remote location, emergency response, and even a voice assistant. You'll also get pre-loaded apps and an embedded Airtel SIM on the vehicle.
Information
Apps on the iSmart system
MG Motor says the firmware of the iSmart system will be updated at regular intervals through over-the-air updates. As for apps, the platform will include a range of services to play with, including TomTom IQ Maps, Gaana Premium, and AccuWeather.
Power
Powertrain of MG Hector
MG Hector has been released in four variants (Style, Super, Smart, and Sharp) with various engine and transmission configurations. Specifically speaking, the car comes in three engine options: 1.5-liter petrol, 1.5-liter petrol-hybrid, and 2.0-liter diesel engine. The petrol-hybrid and diesel trims of the car come with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard while the pure petrol version has the option of automatic dual-clutch transmission.
Information
How much power these engines promise
Hector's 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine and 48V Mild-hybrid unit promise 143PS of power with 250Nm of peak torque. Meanwhile, the 2.0-liter diesel engine of the car is rated to churn out 170ps and 350Nm of torque.
Safety features
Plus, you will get MG's emergency support for on-road safety
On the safety front, Hector has been bundled with two airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, rear parking sensors, and disc brakes. Also, to take safety to a whole new level, MG set up a dedicated service center called Pulse Hub to take emergency eCalls from all MG cars. In an emergency, a message will automatically go to Pulse Hub and registered contacts.
Pricing
Pricing and availability in India
MG Hector starts at Rs. 12.18 lakh for the base Style variant with petrol engine and manual transmission and goes up to Rs. 16.88 lakh for the top-end Sharp variant with a diesel engine and manual transmission. The car is up for bookings and would come with a service plan offering 5 years/unlimited Km warranty, 5 years/unlimited Km roadside assistance, and 5 labor-free services.