The Chinese-owned British carmaker MG (Morris Garages) Motor made its advent in the Indian market on Wednesday by unveiling the Hector, which the company claims is India’s first internet car with more than 50 connected features and 48 Volt hybrid SUV. The company will disclose pricing closer to the launch in June.

“The MG Hector, as India’s first internet car, has been built with a high level of localisation and comes power-packed with features, inside-out. As MG’s first offering in India, the Hector demonstrates our commitment to provide the best cars to Indian customers, that they love and appreciate,” said Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India.

With internet inside, the i-SMART technology in the Hector is aimed at delivering safe, connected and fun experiences with the biggest HD touchscreen in its segment at 10.4 inches, the company said. The iSMART technology includes features such as an embedded connectivity solution, maps and navigation services, emergency and information services, voice assistant, and built-in apps.

The 48V mild hybrid technology is the latest global environmentally friendly engine technology that enables reduction in petrol engine emissions, the company said. A 48-volt lithium ion battery helps store energy and provide extra torque assistance of up to 20 Nm when required, ensuring a smoother drive.

“The Hector will also be the first car with a sophisticated 48-volt mild-hybrid architecture in its segment. With this, MG Motor becomes the first mainstream carmaker in India to bring 48V technology to the mass market segment,” it added.

With a focus on localisation, the company has made more than 300 India-specific changes in the MG Hector, said Chaba. Hector has also been tested over more than 10 lakh km so far, he added.

MG Motor India will begin shipments of the Hector SUV in the next few weeks to a network of 120 outlets across 50 cities. It plans to expand this to 250 outlets by September-end. Pre-orders of Hector will begin next month.

MG Motor India has invested ₹2,200 crore so far in its manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat — which has a production capacity of 80,000 units per annum.

Petrol & diesel engines

The Hector will be available in both petrol and diesel engines, from its launch next month. The 1.5 litre turbo-charged petrol engine delivers 143 PS power at a peak torque of 250 Nm and will be available in both manual and automatic transmissions. Its 2.0 litre diesel engine will deliver 170 PS at a peak torque of 350 Nm, with best-in-class fuel efficiency.

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