Production for the July-bound MG Hector Plus has begun

In spite of COVID-19 derailing most automobile launch events, Morris Garages has managed to stay on course, and has started production of the upcoming Hector Plus. The production has been commenced in MG’s Halol plant situated in Gujarat, and as per their plan, the vehicle should go on sale this July.

The Hector Plus

For the ones who aren’t familiar with what the Hector Plus is, here is some information for you. The Hector Plus is essentially like a 7 seat version of the Hector, and it looks a tad bit different than it, thanks to a few new cosmetic updates. The Hector Plus had been displayed by MG during the Auto Expo held in India, 4 months back. However, with COVID-19 pandemic shutting down most manufacturing, many believed that MG, like other automakers in the country, may not release the Hector Plus as per schedule. But MG maintained that their plan to launch the Hector Plus and Gloster will remain on schedule, and it seems like they have managed to do so.

Now that you have a basic idea of what the Hector Plus is, let us dive in and find out how this vehicle is different from the Hector and what does it have to offer to the customer. The most significant change is on the inside, and it is in the form of 2 captain seats which have been made available on the middle row, and a third row of seating. Both of these features are not available on the Hector, and if rumours are to be believed, the Hector Plus could seat more than 5 people, without compromising on comfort. Manesh Manek, Chief Plant Officer of MG India said, “Hector Plus is aimed at addressing specific family needs with captain seats in the middle row and a third row for teenagers. Further augmenting the Hector brand family, the Hector Plus stands out as the smarter choice with advanced technology, best in-class safety, and unmatched comfort.” In terms of the exteriors, the front fascia of the Hector Plus sports a new set of headlights, a revised grille, and a tweaked bumper as well. Similarly on the rear, the taillight has been updated, and these changes should make it easy for us to differentiate between the Hector Plus and Hector.

Expected features on the Hector Plus

From the 2 vehicles that have been launched in India, it seems that the list of features offered on their vehicle are almost exhaustive, and we could expect the same with the Hector Plus. The cabin of this 3 row MG vehicle will sport a cabin much like the Hector’s, but with a few updates and tweaks. The popular 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system will be included on this vehicle, and it will receive OTA (Over The Air) updates. Furthermore, MG’s in car connectivity, a panoramic sunroof and many more features will also be a part of the features found on the new Hector Plus. In terms of comfort, the Hector Plus will use ‘Captain Seats’ in the middle row, and these will surely draw attention of those customers, who prefer to be chauffeur driven.

Which engines will power the Hector Plus

I think it would be safe to assume that the engines present on the Hector could be carried forward to the Hector Plus. If this really turns out to be true, then the Hector Plus would utilise a 2.0 litre diesel engine, which produces 170 ps and 350 nm of torque, while being mated to a 6 speed manual shifter. A 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine making 143 ps and 250 nm of torque and another 1.5 litre turbo petrol with a 48V mild-hybrid system could also make it to the Hector Plus. The two petrol engines are coupled with a 6 speed manual/6 speed automatic and 6 speed manual respectively.

Hector Plus competition

The Hector Plus is supposed to hit the markets by this July, and when it does, it would be going up against vehicles like the upcoming Tata Gravitas, Mahindra XUV 500, and the Toyota Innova Crysta. Pricing will be key to decide if the vehicle will win against such rivals, but apart from the pricing, the Hector Plus seems like a very promising product from MG.