In February, it was reported that a 7-seat MG Hector
is planned for India. In the latest, Rajeev Chaba, MD and CEO, MG Motor India,
has confirmed that a three-row MG Hector is the pipeline, and it's coming early
next year.
For those unaware, the MG Hector is essentially a
reskinned Baojun 530, which is available with 7 seats optionally. So, it is not
wrong to say that technically a three-row version is ready and awaits just a
badge-swap. Interestingly, it is said that MG Motor could follow Tata Motors'
footsteps and launch the three-row version as a separate model with a different
name. The arch-rival Tata Harrier will get a three-row version (previewed as
the Tata Buzzard in March) the same way, by the end of this calendar year.
The three-row version of the MG Hector will be of
the same length and have the same wheelbase as the two-row version. For
reference, the latter measures 4,655 mm in length, 1,835 mm in width and 1,760
mm in height and has a 2,750 mm wheelbase. It is packed with advanced features
like 7-inch coloured MID, 8-colour ambient lighting, 10.4-inch HD touchscreen
infotainment system with TomTom IQ maps for navigation, Infinity sound system
with 4 speakers, 4 tweeters, subwoofer and amplifier, dual-pane panoramic sunroof,
power adjustable driver (6-way) and front passenger (4-way) seats and more.
The MG Hector will be sold with a 1.5L turbocharged
petrol engine (143 PS/250 Nm) and a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine (170
PS/350 Nm). The petrol unit will be paired with a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed DCT,
while the diesel unit will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The
fuel economy rating of the petrol engine model will be 14.16 km/l (MT) or 13.96
km/l (DCT). And the diesel engine model will deliver 17.41 km/l. A 48-volt
mild-hybrid system option will be available in the petrol engine model (fitted
with MT), for a 12% lower fuel consumption. The 5-seat MG Hector will be
launched in June, with prices likely falling in the INR 15-20 lakh
(ex-showroom) range.
