MG Astor facelift spotted in India without any disguise
MG Motor is preparing to debut the facelifted version of the Astor small SUV in India. And, before any formal release, the mid-size SUV has been leaked in full, displaying the whole external design as well as interior upgrades. This is essentially an Astor that is sold as the 'MG VS' in Indonesia and Thailand and features a hybrid powertrain.
The mid-size SUV uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is as powerful as the Astor in India. It is complemented by a tiny lithium-ion battery and together, they produce over 150PS. The transmission is controlled by an e-CVT gearbox.
At the moment, the Astor in India comes powered by the 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 110PS and 140Nm of torque and a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol unit that makes 140PS and 220Nm of torque. MG offers a five-speed manual, a six-speed torque converter automatic, and a CVT automatic transmission options.
MG Astor facelift: Exterior
The redesigned MG Astor looks rather appealing in its new form. The SUV's front bumper has been changed, and it now has a diamond mesh grille. It is flanked by reprofiled headlights and has a blue strip across its front fascia.
The alloy wheels differ from those found on the current Astor. The rear alterations are confined to new LED taillights, silver garnish on the bumper, rear wiper with washer, enlarged roof spoiler with high-mounted stop lamp, and a shark fin antenna.
MG Astor facelift: Interior
On the interior, the VS HEV receives a new dashboardâ€"compared to the India-spec Astorâ€"and a fully reworked central console that holds a new gear lever. The Astor has an all-black interior with two displays and a three-spoke steering wheel.
Currently, the MG Astor starts from Rs 9.98 lakh (ex-showroom) but upon its launch, we don't expect the prices of the car to rise drastically as MG has to keep up with competition from the likes of the Creta, Kushaq, Seltos, Grand Vitara, Taigun, Hyryder and so on.
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