MG Hector unveiled in India ahead of launch; bookings to open in June

- MG Hector will be launched in India in June.

- Bookings for the Hector will open next month.

- The petrol engine also gets an optional 48V hybrid system.

MG Motor India revealed the iSmart connected car technologies of the Hector last month, which allowed us to experience its connectivity features in a unique way. The company has now officially unveiled its first offering for India, the MG Hector, at yet another cracker of an event. The SUV will be launched next month and bookings are set to commence in June as well. However, MG Motor will announce the exact launch date and booking details in the weeks to come.

Potential customers can experience the mid-size SUV at one of the 120 physical touch-points across 50 Indian cities. The company plans to expand its dealership network to 250 showrooms before the end of September 2019. The Hector will face competition from the likes of Jeep Compass, Tata Harrier, Hyundai Tucson and Mahindra XUV500. Being a premium mid-size SUV, we expect it to be priced between Rs 15 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs (ex-showroom).

Customers can choose between four trim levels -  Style, Super, Smart and Sharp. The top-spec 'Sharp' variant comes loaded with segment-first features like a panoramic sunroof, 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 360-degree camera, AL-based online navigation and voice recognition, internet, and front parking sensors. The SUV also features LED headlights and fog lamps, TPMS, heated ORVMs, remote car operation and a height adjustment tailgate.

On the safety front, all the variants boast of features like ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TCS, vehicle stability management and hill-hold control as standard fitments. MG Hector will be available in five paint schemes - glaze red, aurora silver, starry black, burgundy red, and candy white. The Hector is the longest car in its segment and also has the largest wheelbase. It is 4,655mm long, 1,835mm wide and 1,760mm tall. The SUV has a wheelbase of 2,750mm and the ground clearance stands at 192mm.

Under the hood, MG Hector is powered by turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. Additionally, the gasoline motor also gets an optional 48V hybrid system. The 1.5L turbo-petrol motor makes 141bhp and 250Nm and is available with a six-speed manual as well as DCT automatic transmissions. The petrol hybrid will only be offered with a manual gearbox. On the other hand, the 2.0L turbocharged diesel motor generates 170bhp and 350Nm and is sourced from FCA. It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

The petrol manual is available in all four trims, while the automatic is offered in the Smart and Sharp variants, which are the two higher-spec trims. The petrol hybrid model is available in all the trims except the base Style variant. On the other hand, the diesel version can be had in all four trim levels.