MG Motors has recently announced a partnership on the Internet of Things (IOT) space with Jio India’s leading digital services provider. The company has said that its upcoming mid-sized SUV will be the first model to feature the IT systems enabled by Jio’s IoT solutions. The new mid-sized SUV will be the petrol version of the ZS EV, which is rumoured to be called the MG Astor.
The new MG Astor has already been spotted multiple times on the Indian roads, and is most likely to be launched in the month of September 2021. MG Motors has also introduced the concept of Car as a Platform (CAAP). With software at the heart of vehicle development, the carmaker is building an ecosystem of various in-car services and subscriptions in the areas of utility, entertainment, security, consumer payment and more. The company claims that the CAAP will create various possibilities which will evolve with time, creating safer and smarter driving experiences.
MG said that the company is working with various global ecosystem partners in emerging technologies like Blockchain, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence amongst others to form the support system for CAAP. This will further enable the development and application of services and subscriptions to support the increasing trend of on-demand in-car needs for the convenience of the customers.
In a press release, MG stated that “CAAP would enable customers to engage with third-party partners across different fields such as entertainment, insurance etc., to avail economic benefits and experience personalized engagement throughout their ownership period as per their choice, need and selection.”
The MG Astor mid-sized SUV is expected to be priced around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 17 lakh, which will make it a direct rival to the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the Skoda Kushaq. It will come with two petrol engine options – a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol and a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol. While the naturally-aspirated petrol engine will produce around 120bhp and 150Nm of torque, the turbocharged engine is capable of producing 163bhp of power and 230Nm of torque. Both manual and automatic gearbox options will be on offer.
