So far we have known that SAIC will offer the first
MG SUV in India with a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Now, according to a report from
Autocar India, a petrol engine option is also planned. SAIC’s first SUV for India is a
reskinned Baojun 530. This SUV is available with two petrol engines in China,
one is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit producing 150 PS and 230 Nm of
torque and the other is a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated unit developing 137 PS and 186 Nm of torque.
For the MG-badged Baojun 530 that SAIC will sell in
India, a different 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is planned. This unit
delivers 168 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 7-speed
automatic transmission. As for the 2.0-litre diesel engine, it’s the familiar
MultiJet II unit made by FCA. It will send the drive to the wheels via an
automatic transmission.
Another new development is that SAIC is looking at a
three-row version for a later launch, with seven- and eight-seat options.
Measuring around 4.7 metres in length, 1.8 metres in width and 1.8 metres in
height, the MG-badged Baojun 530 SUV is much bigger than most C-SUVs, and so,
it can accommodate an extra row of passengers. Do note that the donor model is
a strict five-seater.
As is the case with Chinese brands, MG will fight
direct rivals like the Jeep Compass with very aggressive pricing. Expect it to
fall in the INR 10-15 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) bracket. The launch will take
place in the second quarter of 2019 (April-June 2019).
