MG Astor compact SUV was recently revealed for the Indian market, where it will take on the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq and the upcoming Volkswagen Taigun. Prices of the model will be announced in October 2021. The Astor is essentially the petrol version of the MG ZS EV with similar design and interior layout. Though, it’s high on technology and features than its electric sibling. The automaker has equipped the SUV with several segment-first features.
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The new MG mid-size SUV is the first vehicle in its segment to come with the Level 2 autonomous technology powered by multi-purpose camera and mid-range radars. It offers Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as automatic emergency braking, rear drive assist, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, speed assist system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, intelligent headlamp control, forward collision warning, blind spot detection and automatic emergency braking.
The MG Astor is the brand’s first car to get a personal AI assistant system, which has been designed by the US-based ‘Star Design’. Powered by the i-Smart Hub, the unit works as an interactive robot that can depict human-like voices and emotions and give information on any topic via Wikipedia. It understands ‘Hinglish’ language and gets activated by ‘Hello Astor’ voice command. The personal AI assistant system has a voice of Amitabh Bachchan, and Paralympic athlete and Khel Ratna Awardee Dr. Deepa Malik.
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The upcoming MG SUV marks debut of the brand’s new Concept of Car as a Platform (CAAP) connected car software that has technologies like Blockchain, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. It provides subscriptions and services including navigation with MapMyIndia, navigation and more. MG’s new SUV offers best-in-class 4G based connected car features with Jio’s e-SIM and IoT tech for accessing telematics and real-time infotainment. The Astor is India’s first car to get feature of reserving a parking slot via a head unit powered by Park+, which will initially be available in select cities.
MG is offering a segment-first new digital key with Bluetooth technology and heated ORVMs. The SUV offers three steering modes – Normal, Urban and Dynamic. The list of features also includes a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 360-degree camera view, ventilated and power adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, an in-built air-purifier and auto-climate control.
Save for the front grille with radial pattern and tungsten steel electroplated finish, the MG Astor looks exactly similar to the ZS EV. On the engine front, the SUV gets 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbo and 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engines delivering power worth 138bhp with 220Nm and 108bhp with 144Nm respectively. While the former comes with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the latter can be had with either a manual or an 8-speed CVT unit.
