MG Motors unveils the Gloster in India
First seen at Auto Expo 2020, the third product from MG Motor India is finally here. The Gloster is set to become the flagship SUV for MG in India and comes packed with a number of features and technology while remaining an authentic SUV. Interestingly, the Gloster comes equipped with Level 1 Autonomous features, a first for an SUV in this class.
Under the hood, the Gloster comes with a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine that makes 215bhp and 480Nm of torque. Paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission the Gloster will be on offer with a full-time 4WD system. It also gets a BorgWarner transfer case with a low ratio gearbox, to deal with really tricky off-road terrain.
Overall the Gloster sits on a ladder-frame chassis and measures around 4985mm in length, 1926mm in width and 1872mm in height with a wheelbase of 2950mm. This makes it larger than the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour. All the four wheels get a disc brake system and double-helix independent suspension system for the front and five-link integral system on the rear wheels.
On the outside, the Gloster gets a large chromed octagonal grille with LED headlamps placed behind. The LED DRLs integrated into the headlamps double up as turn-indicators also. From the side, you really get a sense of its size. There are a number of badges on the car – a ‘Brit Dynamic’ badge on the flanks, a massive Gloster badge on the tailgate. The tailgate also gets a badge for 4WD, ADAS and like every other MG sold in India, the ‘Internet Inside’ badge.
On the inside, the Gloster seems to be a rather well-equipped SUV. It gets a 12.3-inch infotainment system, along with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. . Equipped with a massive panoramic sunroof the premium SUV’s cabin now feels airier. What we would like to discuss on priority is what the Gloster has to offer inside the cabin? Starting from an in-built driver seat massager to make long hours behind the wheel easier, captain seats in the middle row that makes the middle row passengers much more comfortable and a third row for the kids. Also now you can adjust the seats electronically so that getting out of the third row is now not a task for anyone.
Apart from these features, the level 1 autonomous driving technology that incorporates features like adaptive cruise control (ACC), front collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW) and auto-park assist make the Gloster a safe SUV to be driven around. We are sure you must be wondering how these technologies make the Gloster safe. Let’s start with the Adaptive Cruise control. It works exactly like cruise control, however, it is intelligent and can detect the speed of the vehicle in front of you. The system will not exceed the speed set by you, but it will slow down if the car in front does so – even coming to a complete halt if necessary. And should the car get moving again, the Gloster will do so without any inputs from the driver. . Similarly, in front collision warning (FCW) system the car alerts you that a collision can occur due to an object or car in front but if you, and if despite the alerts the car continues moving, the Automatic Emergency Brake will apply the brakes. .. Now, lane departure warning(LDW) system is a feature which alerts the driver if he starts to stray out of his lane while driving. Lastly, we talk about the auto-park assist feature that helps this massive SUV park on its own in congested parking spots in conjunction with the driver taking the control of forward/reverse movement of the car, and allowing the car to steer.
Speaking on the unveiling of the Gloster, Rajeev Chaba, President and MD, MG Motor India, said, “At MG, technology disruption has always been the key priority. We pioneered the first internet car in India – Hector, followed by the ZS EV, the first pure electric internet SUV. We are beginning a new chapter in India’s auto sector today with the launch of its First Autonomous (Level 1) premium SUV. There are multiple scenarios wherein Gloster can sense and make decisions to improve your overall driving experience with ADAS technology. In other words, Gloster is not just another car – it is a high-tech assistant that only thinks about you, your safety, and your comfort all the time. With best-in-class features, a towering road presence, powerful capability, and luxurious interiors, the all-new MG Gloster is designed to set new benchmarks.”
Since MG’s debut in the Indian market in 2019, the Gloster is the third offering for the Indian buyers. Bookings for the Gloster open today at your nearest dealership or on MG’s digital platform by payment of booking amount of Rs 1 lakh. We do not know the prices yet, as the launch will only take place next month. The Gloster will allow MG to enter the premium SUV segment and will be a tough competition to its rivals like Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Mahindra Alturas G4.
