MG Motors has officially revealed the name of their next new mid-sized SUV, the MG Astor. It’s essentially the ZS EV’s gasoline variant. The new Astor will be the first vehicle in its class to provide an AI-powered in-car personal assistance system.
The MG Astor comes standard with ADAS, which is a segment first (Advanced Driver Assistance System). For the new Astor mid-sized SUV, MG Motors has teamed up with Bosch to create ADAS. The SUV is said to include an autonomous level II technology, according to the firm. Autonomous emergency braking, ESP, front collision warning, speed limit assist, adaptive cruise control, rear drive assist, blind spot recognition, lane keeping assist, and automated high-beam lighting system are among the features available.
The Astor also comes with CAAP (Concept of Car as a Platform), dubbed iSmart Hub by the business. The new SUV would be the first to use IT technologies enabled by Jio’s IoT solutions, according to MG Motors. Jio would back automobile solutions that provide a variety of consumer and business services. The iSmart Hub allows the user to reserve a parking spot in advance. In reality, the iSmart Hub may be used to pay for parking in advance.
The manufacturer is creating an ecosystem of diverse in-car services and subscriptions in the areas of utility, entertainment, security, consumer payment, and more, with software at the heart of vehicle development.
According to the business, the CAAP will open up a variety of options that will grow over time, resulting in safer and smarter driving experiences.
The front design and interior of MG Motors’ Astor mid-sized SUV, which will be released in September 2021, have been shown. The SUV has the same appearance as the ZS EV, but it has a few tweaks to keep things interesting in the market. The SUV receives a new bumper with wider air-dams and a new fog lamp assembly, as well as a noticeable and larger front grille with chrome decoration, sweptback headlights with integrated LRD DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps), and sweptback headlamps with integrated LRD DRLs (Daytime Running Lamps). The sculpted bonnet, ORVMs with integrated blinkers, and roof rails are also evident.
The MG Astor’s interior is filled with features, including an AI personal assistant system, a big touchscreen infotainment system in the centre, and a multi-function steering wheel. The air conditioning vents are above the touchscreen, while the controls are below it. The new MG Astor has a digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery on the dashboard and central tunnel, and silver accents on the AC vents and dashboard.
A 1.5-litre 4-cylinder normally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine are said to be available for the MG Astor. The normally aspirated petrol engine will generate about 120bhp and 150Nm of torque, while the turbocharged engine will generate 163bhp and 230Nm of torque. There will be manual and automatic transmission options available.