On the sidelines of the MG Majestor’s reveal, JSW MG Motor India confirmed it is set to foray into the plug-in hybrid segment, a space that no mass-market carmaker has entered yet. This bold move will be spearheaded by a new large SUV that is being prepared to go on sale by October this year, as an EV and PHEV, expected to rival the likes of the Mahindra’s XEV 9S and XUV 7XO, respectively.
- New MG SUV codenamed 520
- Plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 20.5kWh battery
New MG SUV exterior, design and platform
Upcoming EV and PHEV expected to be based on the Wuling Starlight 560 SUV.
The project, codenamed 520, is likely to be based on the Wuling Starlight 560 SUV, which is on sale in the Chinese market as the Xingguang 560 and in the Indonesian market as the Wuling Eksion. The upright SUV is available in 5-seat and 7-seat forms, and it has a large contrasting grille that flows into thick bumpers and body cladding, while the rear is almost MPV-like. Measuring 4,745mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,755mm tall, with a 2,810mm-long wheelbase, the Starlight 560 is about 50mm longer than the Mahindra XUV 7XO and has a 60mm longer wheelbase; both 7-seat SUVs have a similar width and height.
New MG SUV powertrain
EV and the PHEV have electric-only CLTC ranges of 500km and 100km, respectively.
The Starlight 560 and Eksion are both available in all-electric and plug-in hybrid forms. The PHEV has a 106hp/130Nm 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 20.5kWh battery driving a front motor; the total system output is 197hp and 230Nm of torque. As per the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), the model has an all-electric range of 100km, a total range of 1,100km (including the 52-litre fuel tank), and it is claimed to sprint from 0-100kph in 9.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 170kph.
The EV on sale in markets abroad has a 56.7kWh battery pack that has a CLTC range of 500km on a single charge. The battery powers a front axle-mounted motor that produces 136hp and 200Nm of torque. The 1,655kg SUV has a claimed top speed of 160kph and is said to support DC fast charging with 30-80 percent SOC in 20 minutes, though an AC charger would take 9.2 hours to go from 20 percent SOC to full.
New MG SUV price and rivals
PHEV will have no direct rival, while EV could rival Mahindra XEV 9S
There’s no word on how MG Motor India will price this new model. The trend has been towards undercutting expectations, as it has with the other offerings that have been brought to India, from the Comet, ZS EV and Windsor EVs to the Astor, Hector and Gloster SUVs. Which is why prices for the PHEV version are expected to be aggressive, in a similar ballpark as the Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV 7XO; it may command a slight premium due to the plug-in hybrid powertrain. Meanwhile, the EV is likely to have a price tag that will overlap with the Mahindra XEV 9S (Rs 19.95 lakh-29.45 lakh).
It is not yet known whether this large model will be retailed via the premium MG Select outlets along with the Cyberster roadster and M9 MPV, or with the Comet, ZS EV and Windsor electric cars and the Astor, Hector and Gloster SUVs. If it’s the former, the new SUV will be the new entry point to the MG Select portfolio.
With inputs from Rivan RS
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Dipan Sur
Lenny D'sa
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Ameya Dandekar
