MG Glints Hector 2021 With New Features

MG Glints Hector 2021 With New Features

The new looks are complemented with the bold thermo-pressed front chrome grille, champagne and black dual-tone themed interior and 18-inch dual-tone alloys. According to the company, an updated i-SMART with industry-first Hinglish (combination of Hindi and English) voice commands is offered.

As part of the 2021 range, the Hector is now available in its newly launched 7-seater avatar along with five and 6-seater options.

Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “At MG, our constant endeavour is to capture the imagination of our customers. With the Hector 2021 line up, we have made changes taking into consideration customer and automotive experts’ feedback. Hector’s evolution has made the internet SUV an even more compelling choice in its segment.”

The new models come with ventilated seats, wireless charging, auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror. The newly introduced 7-seater variant of Hector Plus is retailed from INR 13.34 lakhs and comes with second-row bench seats for three adults and the third row for two children. The 7-seater is offered in Style, Super, Smart, and a new ‘Select’ trim level. The price of 6-seater starts from INR 15.99 lakh. It has captain seats in all three rows.

i-SMART Updates

The Hector 2021 has an upgraded i-SMART with Hinglish voice commands, also equipped with engine start alarm and an in-car voice alert for critical tyre pressure. It can now understand and respond to 35 plus Hinglish commands that control various in-car functions such as Sunroof, FM, AC, reading temperature and many more. The new year model comes with 60+ Connected car features with newly added ones like the i-SMART app on Apple watch, voice search for songs in Gaana app, Wi-Fi connectivity, weather forecast by Accuweather, & many more.

MG Hector is India’s first internet car that introduced several industry-firsts and established new benchmarks in its segment. They include OTA update capability & sophisticated 48V mild-hybrid architecture alongside others. The vehicle continues to come with 25+ safety and security features as standard including electronic stability programme, traction control, hill hold control, rear wiper & washer and rear defogger. So far the company has retailed over 40,000 units of this SUV. Currently, it has over 250 customer touchpoints across 65 cities to date in India.

MG Hector 2021 range continues to be powered with the industry-first MG Shield. Under this, the company offers convenient total cost of ownership (TCO) options. It provides 5-year/Unlimited KMs warranty, 5-year Roadside Assistance, and Free Labour Charges for the first five periodic services. It gives the lowest TCO at 45 paise per KM for Petrol and 60 paise per KM for Diesel variants (calculated up to 100,000 KMs of usage).

MG Motor India has further assured its customers about the resale value of the Hector range. The carmaker has tied up with CarDekho, which will buyback MG Hector Plus at a residual value of 60% after three years of ownership under the “3-60” plan available at a compelling price. The MG Hector 2021 will also be available under MG Subscribe with Myles and Zoom for a monthly subscription. (MT)

Lexus India Launches New RX350h Exquisite Grade At INR 8.99 Million

Lexus RX350h

Japanese luxury brand Lexus India has introduced a new ‘Exquisite’ grade to its RX 350h line-up, strengthening the model’s presence in the luxury SUV segment.

The new RX 350h Exquisite grade starts at INR 8.99 million (ex-showroom), which goes up to INR 10.09 million (ex-showroom).

The RX 350h Exquisite grade features Lexus’ hybrid system, which combines a highly efficient 2.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine and high-output motor. It includes a bipolar nickel-metal hydride battery with enhanced performance. On the inside, it gets 10-way power adjusted front seats, heated and ventilated seating for front & rear seats and ambient lighting.

The RX 500h F-SPORT grade is the only Performance Hybrid Electric Turbocharged Luxury SUV in India. The 2.4 L-T HEV on the RX 500h features a front unit integrating a 2.4-L turbocharged engine, motor, a 6-speed automatic transmission and an eAxle with a built-in high output motor driving the rear wheels. The RX 500h features Dynamic Rear-Wheel Steering and DIRECT4 technology for acceleration.

The RX features a Mark Levinson 21-speaker audio system and offers Lexus Safety System+ with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Cross Traffic Alert and Safe Exit Assist with Blind Spot Monitor.

Between January and November this year, the RX model recorded 12 percent growth, reflecting rising demand for luxury SUVs in the country. During the same period, SUVs contributed about 40 percent to Lexus India’s overall performance, underscoring the RX’s pivotal role in driving the brand’s momentum.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, ‘The Lexus RX represents our dedication to luxury, design, performance, and sustainable mobility. As the luxury SUV segment continues to grow, the introduction of the new Exquisite grade allows us to offer guests a wider range of options and features to choose from. This enhancement reflects our continued commitment to expanding our portfolio and elevating the Lexus experience in India, supported by advanced technology and a guest-first philosophy.”

MG SELECT Crosses 1,000 Sales And 15 Experience Centres

MG Select

JSW MG Motor India has announced that its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, has crossed a triple milestone: reaching 1,000-unit sales, inaugurating its 15th Experience Centre and maintaining the second position in India’s luxury EV market.

The network now encompasses 15 Experience Centres across 14 cities in India, reinforcing the brand's commitment to delivering an exclusive automotive retail journey. The recent inauguration of the 15th store in Jaipur further underscores the brand's ambition to redefine luxury mobility.

The milestone also highlighted sustained market demand for the select portfolio and is a key driver behind the brand’s 32 percent YTD growth in 2025.

The company claimed that the MG Cyberster, India's highest-selling sports car, has a 4–5 month waiting period, and the MG M9 - Presidential Limousine shows strong momentum in the luxury MPV segment. The MG Cyberster is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 7.49 million, while the MG M9 is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 6.99 million.

Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said, "Our rise to become the second largest luxury EV brand in the country speaks to a singular belief. True luxury is felt in every touchpoint when precision, ambition and care move together. Through MG SELECT we have crafted an ownership world where innovation meets desire and where every interaction feels intentional. We are shaping the next era of electric mobility for India’s most discerning customers, with a commitment that is both bold and deeply personal.”

The MG SELECT Experience Centres are spaces for the brand's flagship vehicles. These venues provide an immersive, gallery-like setting, ensuring the display of these models is the focal point of the customer interaction. The Jaipur showroom, located at Tonk Road near Sanganer Flyover, exemplifies the MG SELECT philosophy of ‘Reimagining Luxury’, featuring spacious, serene, and technologically advanced environments that elevate the car buying journey.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating

Maruti e Vitara

Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur

Mahindra Charger

Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.