MG Motor India has confirmed that its new Astor (petrol iteration of ZS EV) will make official debut on coming 15th September. In the mid-size SUV space, it will compete against the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the newly-launched Skoda Kushaq. The much-awaited new Force Grukha will also be unveiled on the same date. The compact off-road SUV comes with improved styling, more features and BS6-complaint powertrain. It will lock horns against the Mahindra Thar. Here’s a brief on the upcoming MG Astor and 2021 Force Gurkha SUVs.
MG Astor
Measuring 4.3m in length, the Astor will be first vehicle in its segment to offer Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and personal AI assistant powered by i-Smart Hub. It will come with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Jio e-SIM for in-car connectivity features. All variants of the SUV will get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity as standard. There will be three steering modes – Dynamic, Normal and Urban. The all-new MG Astor will be powered by a 1.5L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol (120bhp/150Nm) and a 1.3L turbocharged petrol engine (163bhp/230Nm). It can be had with either a manual or an automatic gearbox.
New Force Gurkha 2021
First previewed at the last year’s Auto Expo, the new Force Gurkha comes with the BS6-ready 2.6L diesel engine that’s good for 90bhp and 260Nm. It gets 4WD (four-wheel-drive) system along with locking front and rear differentials. Transmission duties will be done by the same 5-speed manual unit. One of major update made inside the cabin is the front facing captain seats at the rear. The SUV also comes with the dual-tone interior, matte black finish on centre console and dashboard, a touchscreen infotainment system, AC unit, individual armrests for the rear passengers and more. On the exterior, the new Gurkha features new LED headlamps with DRLs, revised front grille and bumpers, a wider rear windshield and larger windows for rear passengers.
