MG Motor Unveils Hector, India’s First 48V Hybrid SUV Internet car

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai, 15th May: MG (Morris Garages) Motor unveiled the Hector, India’s first internet car with 50+ connected features. As India’s first 48V hybrid SUV, the MG Hector comes with 19 exclusive features that make it the new benchmark in its segment.

With internet inside, the next-gen iSMART technology in the Hector promises to deliver safe, connected and fun experiences with the biggest HD touchscreen in its segment at 10.4 inches. 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.

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

“The MG Hector, as India’s first internet car, has been built with a high level of localization 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 & Managing Director, MG Motor India. Equipped with MG’s signature design cues including the famous star-rider grille, the MG Hector heralds a new era for the much-revered octagonal badge in India. Its character lines are defined by geometric shapes, horizontal flow and symmetry. Various sections of the Hector’s interiors are inspired by modern dance forms. Designed and developed for Indian customers, the Hector has been built to withstand extreme road conditions and has been tested for over one million kilometers in India before entering production at the company’s plant in Halol, Gujarat, earlier this month.

MG Motor India will begin shipments of the Hector SUV within the next few weeks to its widespread network of 120 outlets across 50 cities. The carmaker aims to expand its network to 250 outlets by the end of September this year. Pre-orders of Hector will begin next month; the dates will be announced within the next couple of weeks.

MG Motor India has invested INR 2,200 crores so far to rebuild the Halol manufacturing facility and to roll out the Hector. The company has established an all new assembly line, press shop, body shop, parts distribution centre, testing track and a new state-of-the-art training facility in the plant, within a short span of 18 months. MG’s Halol plant currently has a production capacity of 80,000 units per annum. The carmaker has also set up a captive vendor park at its plant to pursue aggressive localization for its vehicles.

The Hector will be available in both petrol and diesel engines, right 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.

48V MILD HYBRID: Select petrol manual trims will come with the globally acclaimed 48V mild hybrid technology, with best-in-class fuel efficiency in the segment. The Hybrid variants will be powered by a 48 Volt lithium-ion battery that is four times more capable than the current offerings in the Indian mass market segment. With three key functions – Engine Auto Start Stop, Regenerative Braking and E-Boost - the combination provides a great driving experience while reducing emissions by up to 12%.

6-SPEED DCT: The DCT is a highly sophisticated and refined automatic transmission that strikes the perfect balance between power and fuel economy. Like the other variants, the DCT has also been tested extensively under extreme climatic conditions globally for more than 2.6 million kms. MG Motor India is a future-ready organization that is setting industry benchmarks in terms of its young & smart work culture and diversity. Female employees already account for 32 percent of the company’s total workforce of 1,200 employees. With a focus on four key organizational pillars of innovation, safety, experiences and diversity, the carmaker has built a strong foundation for its future operations. The company has also recently invested INR 150 crores to purchase a brand-new corporate office in Gurgaon as part of its commitment to be in India for the long term. 

About MG Motor India: Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has more than a million loyal fans, making it by far one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic and innovative brand over the last 95 years. With plans to soon introduce its brand of vehicles in the Indian market, MG Motor India has commenced its manufacturing operations at its car manufacturing plant at Halol in Gujarat. The first of these modern MG cars - “HECTOR” will be made available to the Indian customers soon.