The Chinese SAIC Motor Corp-owned British automotive marque MG has finally taken the covers off of the facelift of the Hector SUV. The all-new MG Hector has been introduced in the country with a significantly changed front and an all-new premium interior. MG has given the new Hector a ton of feature upgrades along with the highly anticipated ADAS safety tech as well. The new Hector will be offered in 5, 6, and 7-seater configurations.
Commenting on the launch of the all-new MG Hector, Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “We are grateful to our customers for the overwhelming response to the MG Hector since its launch in 2019. Hector brought with it the first-ever experience of an internet car. This Next-Gen Hector enhances the stance of the MG Hector through looks, interiors, and technology. It comes with the assurance of our MG Shield program which offers a hassle-free and smooth ownership experience for our customers who can experience the Next-Gen Hector for themselves at our 300 centres across India”.
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In terms of the changes on the exterior, starting from the front the SUV has received an all-new front fascia. The Hector now gets a much larger, bolder-looking front grille that comes along with much more angular surrounds with a dark chrome finish and diamond-themed inserts. From the sides the SUV remains unaltered however in the rear it receives revised LED inserts in between the taillamps. The rear bumper has also been updated with new faux exhaust tips.
Moving away from the exterior the major upgrades in the new Hector are on the inside. The company has completely revamped the cabin of the 2023 Hector with a new layout. It now gets India’s largest 35.56 cm (14-inch) HD portrait infotainment system along with a brand-new user interface. It also gets an innovative first-in-segment Digital Bluetooth Key and Key Sharing capability which in case of a loss of the physical key will help the owners to operate the vehicle. The Next-Gen Hector Plus, will come available in 5, 6, and 7-seater configurations. The interiors are offered in argil brown and black with a wooden finish. The 6-seater SUV seats are captain’s chairs, whilst the 7-seater vehicle has bench seats.
Furthermore the car also receives the brand’s latest generation of i-SMART tech, which now provides the Hector with 75 connected features including 100 voice commands. Additionally the car also comes with segment-first features such as touch-screen control for the sunroof, voice commands for ambient lights, navigation voice guidance in five Indian languages,50+ Hinglish commands, and other helpful apps such as Park+ for parking discovery and booking and the Jio-Saavn App for music. MG has also given the SUV a premium audio system by Infinity that comes enabled with wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay.
In terms of the safety tech one of the major highlights of the new MG Hector is Autonomous Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features including Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Auto Turn Indicators, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and high beam assist. Furthermore the company has provided the 2023 Hector with other key safety features such as 6 airbags, a 360-degree HD camera, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Assist Control (HAC), all four-wheel disc brakes, a 3-point seat belt for all seats, electric parking brake (EPB), and front parking sensors.
As for the drivetrain side of things, the car will still be available with the engine options as the previous model. A 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine with a choice of a 6-speed manual or CVT transmission and a 2.0-liter diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox will both be available for the new, significantly revised MG Hector.
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