MG Astor SUV launch date announced: Find out when prices for the new Creta rival will be revealed

It’s official: the MG Astor SUV will be launched in India on 11 October. Set to be the fourth – and most affordable – MG offering for the Indian market, the MG Astor will slot in below the MG Hector in the company’s India portfolio. Today, MG Motor India has confirmed it will announce prices of its new midsize SUV will be revealed at the start of next week, having revealed everything else about its latest offering in the last few weeks. [caption id=“attachment_10033881” align=“alignnone” width=“1250”]  Range-topping versions of the MG Astor will feature Level 2 ADAS. Image: Tech2/Amaan Ahmed[/caption] The Astor name is derived from Raytheon Sentinel, an airborne battlefield and ground surveillance aircraft formerly operated by the Royal Air Force. It is an adaptation of the MG ZS SUV that has been on sale in international markets for some time now, and has been available in India as the all-electric ZS EV since 2020. A key differentiator on the outside is the Astor’s ‘Celestial’ grille. MG revealed the Astor will come with three interior colour scheme options (red and black, beige and black and all-black) and will also come with six-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat. [caption id=“attachment_9980771” align=“alignnone” width=“1472”]  The Astor is MG’s fourth launch for the Indian market. Image: Tech2/Amaan Ahmed[/caption] Additionally, the MG Astor will also pack three steering feel modes - Normal, Urban and Dynamic - which will vary steering weight as per the driver’s preference. The Astor will also come with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, 7.0-inch digital instruments display, heated ORVMs, a Bluetooth-enabled Digital Key, faux leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, air purifier, electric parking brake, automatic wipers, front and rear armrests, rear AC vents and over 80 connected car features. Safety kit includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, electronic stability control and hill descent control. Also read: MG Astor first look - With ADAS and in-car assistant, MG takes aim at Hyundai and Kia The Astor is a petrol-only offering, with two options to choose from – a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder unit (available with either a five-speed manual or an eight-step CVT automatic) making 110 hp and 144 Nm of torque, and a punchier 1.4-litre turbo-petrol (available with only a six-speed torque convertor automatic) putting out 140 hp and 220 Nm of torque. [caption id=“attachment_9980851” align=“alignnone” width=“1824”]  The Astor’s Level 2 ADAS necessitated five radars and six cameras. Image: Tech2/Amaan Ahmed[/caption] The Astor will also become only the second SUV in the midsize SUV segment to feature advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) after the Mahindra XUV700, and also only the second MG SUV to feature ADAS after the flagship Gloster SUV. MG says the Astor will have ADAS ‘Level 2’, which will utilise mid-range radars and a multi-purpose camera to enable functions including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, intelligent headlamp control, rear drive assist and speed assist system. [caption id=“attachment_9980841” align=“alignnone” width=“1823”]  The in-car assistant uses directional microphones and is quick to respond to commands. Image: Tech2/Amaan Ahmed[/caption] MG has equipped the Astor with an artificial intelligence (AI) driven robot, that will act as the driver’s personal assistant. Developed in conjunction with US-based firm Star Design, the in-car assistant (with the help of natural language processing and understanding) understands Hinglish, depicts human-like emotions & voices, swivels to face the user – just like an individual would – and can provide detailed information on any general knowledge topic by tapping into Wikipedia. It can also relay news and navigation updates, critical vehicle warnings and can even crack jokes. MG Astor prices are expected to range from Rs 10-17 lakh (ex-showroom), and it will rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun. Also read: MG Astor first drive - The 800-pound gorilla