MG Astor gets new cheaper variants with less safety features

The British Motoring brand Morris Garages in an attempt to lure in more buyers for its compact SUV Astor has recently launched an array of newer base variants. The automaker has unveiled four new EX variants based on existing trims which are the Style EX, Smart EX, Sharp EX, and Super EX variations. These new variants are being offered at a starting price of Rs. 10.22 lakh (ex-showroom).

The newly introduced EX model lineup makes up for the price cut by missing out on important safety features including ESP, traction control, hill-hold and hill-descent control, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system as compared to other models. The Sharp EX model also lacks features like rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assistance, and blind-spot recognition.

As for the drivetrain, the new MG Astor EX trims will only come available with the 1.5-litre petrol engine that comes paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Currently, this engine generates a maximum power output of 108 BHP and 144 Nm of torque.

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In other MG news, the company recently revealed its much-awaited all-electric hatchback 2023 MG 4 electric car in China. This new EV hatchback will be 4300mm in length, similar to a Nissan Leaf or the planned GWM Ora Good Cat tiny vehicle. And according to the company, it is a “pure electric super crossover vehicle” and it added that it’ll do a 0-100km/h sprint in just around four seconds.

The new MG 4’s exterior design was influenced by the Cyberster roadster idea. A sizable panoramic sunroof, LED taillights, a dramatic rear spoiler, and a few black contrast elements are among its characteristics. On the lip above the grille, there is a logo for the front grille. On the back, it is positioned in the centre of the wraparound taillight arrangement. By decreasing its volume, a high-density battery minimises the thickness of the battery. As a result, the cabin has greater room.

At the moment, official details on the all-new EV is very limited, but Chinese media sources have reported that the MG 4 is constructed on the cutting-edge “Nebula” platform designed particularly for EVs, with a tiny “LBS” lithium battery pack concealed beneath the car’s floor. In contrast to the front-wheel-drive MG ZS EV, the new platform will have a rear-wheel-drive on some or all variants, and it is claimed that it will be able to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds.

In the meantime, MG is preparing yet another upgrade for its wildly popular model Hector in India. The upgraded SUV’s test mules have just been sighted with all of the fully-unveiled elements of the impending makeover. The MG Hector has undergone minor cosmetic changes, including the addition of horizontal slats to the front grille. The front fascia now resembles the Wuling Almaz, a southeast Asian market badge-engineered variation of the MG Hector. The test mule displays that the grille and headlight surrounds, as well as all other chrome components of the front fascia, have been dechromed and painted entirely black. With only one huge projector in each housing as opposed to two mini projectors, the headlights also appear slightly different.

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