MG Motor India has announced the name of its first product ahead of the launch in May 2019 in the country. The company's first SUV is christened as 'Hector', which is sold under various nameplates in global markets like Wuling Almaz in Indonesia and the Baojun 530 in China. However, the India-spec model has undergone extensive homologation to suit the customer's needs. MG Hector will rival the likes of Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and Tata Harrier, while it is expected to be priced below Rs 20 Lakh (Ex. Showroom). The name HECTOR draws inspiration from the noble qualities of the Trojan warrior hero – Prince HECTOR of Troy.
Recently, MG Motor India showcased its entire vehicle line-up in Noida, Uttar Pradesh!
Speaking of the MG Hector, it is a bit bigger than the Compass in terms of dimensions. It will be a 5-seater SUV with ample legroom and shoulder room for the occupants. It has been spotted several times as test mule on Indian roads, wearing heavy camouflage. The spy-shots have indicated that the Hector will get a vertically-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, which will also act as the 360-degree camera. This system will offer Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink compatibility. In addition, the SUV will also feature a digital Multi-information Display (MID) between the tachometer and speedometer, a push-button start, multi-function steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats with powered adjustability, cruise control and an electronic parking brake.
Mechanically, MG Hector will be offered in both petrol and diesel fuel trims. The petrol variants will be powered by a BS-VI compliant 1.5L direct-injection turbocharged engine while the diesel variants will draw their from the Fiat-sourced 2.0L turbocharged engine. Both the engines would be mated to a manual transmission as standard. The leaked images have also revealed that an automatic gearbox is also in the offing, perhaps at a later stage. The Hector SUV will enter production in Q2 2019 at parent company SAIC's production facility in Halol, Gujarat with 75 percent of local content in order to keep the pricing aggressive and stay competitive in the segment.
“Based on the company’s global platform, the HECTOR has been heavily re-engineered to enrich product attributes and suit the evolving preferences of the customers and Indian road conditions. With 100 sales and service touch points in place by May 2019, we are confident that we will be able to exceed the market expectations with HECTOR,” said Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India.
