MG offers SUV with big smarts

MG has introduced a new SUV model for the Thai market featuring the world’s first Thai-language voice control technology.
Priced from Bt679,000 to Bt789,000, the MG ZS compact SUV is powered by a 114-hp 1.5-litre engine.

Distributor MG Sales (Thailand) Co Ltd plans to sell 12,000 units of the ZS per year, executives said at the launch event on Tuesday.
Featuring the i-Smart infotainment system, users are able to connect to the system via a smartphone. It acts as a personal assistant to inform and gently remind user of schedules, suggest most suitable route, and offer traffic reports and even weather forecasts.
The i-Smart can remotely start the car and turn on the air-conditioning via a mobile device before the driver enters the car to allow for a more comfortable atmosphere upon arrival. The application can even preset the destination on the onboard navigation computer so it can assist the driver to start the journey immediately.
During the trip, the MG i-Smart offers the user real-time vehicle information on their mobile app, such as the fuel level, battery condition, engine status, brake condition and even outside temperature. One reassuring feature is that in case of unusual vehicle movement, the app can instantly notify the user of suspected car theft.
Another feature of i-Smart is its ability to learn the user’s driving habit using artificial intelligence to try to optimise driving efficiency over time. For example, a driver travels from point A to point B on a daily basis. Once the system recognises this repeat driving pattern, it may suggest a more efficient route the next time the driver starts to head to the same destination.