The MG Gloster in India needs to be
localised in order to be priced competitively. According to a new report, there
is indeed a plan to localise this upcoming SUV. Manufacturing the MG Gloster in
India is not possible because of really low demand among other possible
reasons. Importing it as a CBU will make it way too costly. So, a middle route
is being taken of importing it in knocked-down kits, the assembling of which
will take place at the Halol plant in the State of Gujarat, India.
The MG Gloster is nothing but a rebadged
Maxus D90. The same SUV is marketed as the LDV D90 also. Maxus and LDV, like
MG, are brands of SAIC. Introduced in 2017, the D90, or the Gloster as we know
it in India, it is a ladder-frame large SUV. At 5,005 mm long, 1,932 mm wide
and 1,875 mm tall, it’s bigger than even the Toyota Land Cruiser. It’s not
Cadillac Escalade-big, though. It has a 2,950 mm wheelbase.
In China, the Maxus D90 is offered with a
2.0-litre single-turbo petrol engine in 224 PS/360 Nm and 218
PS/350 Nm versions, a 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel engine and a 2.0-litre
twin-turbo diesel engine. The single-turbo diesel engine produces 163
PS of maximum power and 375 Nm of maximum torque. The twin-turbo diesel engine
develops 218 PS of maximum power and 480 Nm of maximum torque.
The MG Gloster in India will come with the
aforementioned 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, along with an 8-speed
automatic transmission and a part-time 4WD system. The Chinese version is
offered in in 2+3 (5-seat), 2+3+2 (7-seat), 2+2+2 (6-seat) and 2+2+3 (7-seat)
seating layouts. The Indian version could be offered in 2+3+2 (7-seat) and
2+2+2 (6-seat) seating layouts.
On the outside, the Maxus D90 features
Adaptive LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels and power-folding ORVMs with
heating & memory functions. Alcantara upholstery, driver seat with 8-way
electric adjustment, 4-way electric lumbar support, and ventilation, massage
and memory functions, co-driver seat with 4-way electric adjustment, 4-way
lumbar support, and heating and massage functions, second-row seats with
heating & massage functions, 8.0-inch HD driver information display,
12.3-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system, 64-colour ambient lighting and
12-speaker JBL sound system are some of the main interior features of the Maxus
D90.
The MG Gloster won’t come with all of the
Maxus D90’s features. For instance, it settles for 19-inch alloy wheels instead
of 21-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery instead of Alcantara upholstery.
As for the price of the MG Gloster in India, Chaba had said in February that
the company is trying to price it around INR 50 lakh (ex-showroom). However, MG
loves surprising customers. Chaba had announced at Auto Expo 2020 that the
Hector Plus will go on sale in “early second half of this year”, whereas the
secret plan was to surprise customers by launching it in April. The same way,
the MG Gloster may actually cost much lower, in the INR 35-40 lakh (ex-showroom)
range.
