SAIC-owned MG Motors on Monday announced the launch of its AI-enabled mid-size SUV, Astor at a starting price of INR 9.78 lakh for the Style MT variant, rising to INR 16.78 lakh for the top-of-the-line Sharp AT variant, ex-showroom, India.
These are introductory prices that will be applied to the first 5,000 customers, the company has announced. MG Astor will compete with likes of Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun.
Bookings will open on October 21, 2021, and deliveries will start in November. The company expects to deliver roughly 5,000 units of the mid-size SUV this calendar year.
The car comes with a standard 3-3-3 package, which includes a warranty of three years/unlimited kilometres, three years of roadside assistance and three labour-free periodic services. Customers can also customise and tailor their own package with warranty extension and protect plans within one year of purchase with the MY MG Shield programme.
Further, the car boasts of a segment-first 3-60 programme, which is an assured buyback option that allowed customers to receive 60% of Astor's ex-showroom price after three years of ownership. The company claims that the Astor has an ownership cost of 47 paise/km up to 100,000 km.
Available on the Smart and Sharp models, Astor's i-SMART technology includes more than 80 linked car functions. The 220Turbo AT, as well as the VTI-tech CVT transmission for the Sharp version, will have ADAS with Autonomous level 2 features as an optional pack.
Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, said the Astor brings personality, practicality and technology in one compelling expression of future mobility based on established brand heritage. “Enriched with features and packed with technologies never seen before in this segment, we believe that Astor will set a new benchmark in the segment,” he said.
Customers can test-drive and pre-reserve the car starting today by visiting MG showrooms or through its website.