The design of the Wuling Starlight 560 SUV has been patented in India. The patent filing lists SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd as the applicant, with the design registered in March 2026.
Notably, the patent images do not feature Wuling badging, indicating the model will be rebadged for India by MG Motor India, a joint venture between SAIC Motor and JSW Group, confirming our earlier scoop. The overall design closely matches the international-spec Starlight 560 already on sale overseas.
- India launch expected by October 2026
- International model offered with 1.5-litre PHEV and 56.7kWh EV powertrain options
- Likely to rival the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari
MG Starlight 560: design details
Upright design with a large grille and 18-inch dual-tone alloys
The patented model, which has also been spied testing in India, features a boxy, upright stance with a large blacked-out grille, squared-off wheel arches and a high bonnet line. The front end gets LED headlamps with LED DRL strips above and under them, while the bumper has a prominent skid plate element. In profile, the SUV rides on 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and gets roof rails and cladding along the lower sections.
The rear has an almost MPV-like upright design, with LED tail-lamps and a roof-mounted spoiler. Overall proportions and styling are identical to the global model, which is sold as the Xingguang 560 in China and the Wuling Eksion in Indonesia. It is available in both 5-seat and 7-seat layouts, and measures 4,745mm in length, 1,850mm in width and 1,755mm in height, with a 2,810mm wheelbase.
Overseas, the Starlight 560 is offered as a three-row SUV with a minimal dashboard layout. It features a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8.8-inch digital driver’s display and a two-spoke steering wheel. Most functions, including climate control, are integrated into the touchscreen, with physical buttons limited to the steering wheel, a slim strip on the centre console and the door armrests. Other features include automatic climate control and a six-speaker audio system.
MG Starlight 560: expected positioning and powertrains
EV and the PHEV have electric-only CLTC ranges of 500km and 100km, respectively.
The SUV, codenamed ‘520’, is sold internationally with both plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (EV) powertrains, although it remains to be seen which powertrain is brought to India. The patented design appears closer to the PHEV version, featuring a conventional grille and a blacked-out section beneath the headlamps, suggesting this is the version that could be on cards for India.
The Starlight 560 PHEV uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 20.5kWh battery, producing a combined 197hp and 230Nm. Meanwhile, the EV version uses a 56.7kWh battery with a front-mounted motor producing 136hp and 200Nm. Claimed range figures include up to 100km of electric-only range for the PHEV and up to 500km range for the EV, as per the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
MG Starlight 560: India launch timeline and rivals
Expected to arrive by late 2026
MG has confirmed plans to enter the plug-in hybrid space in India, and this SUV is expected to lead that push. The model is likely to arrive by October 2026.
As other MG offerings in India have been offered with highly competitive price tags, one can expect the same for the upcoming 560 SUV.
As other MG offerings in India have been offered with highly competitive price tags, one can expect the same for the upcoming 560 PHEV and EV. Once launched, the model is expected to rival the likes of the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari, while the EV version, if introduced, could compete with the Mahindra XEV 9S.
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
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