Its been about a year since MG Motors launched the ZS EV in India and the company has more plans with the ZS nameplate for India. MG showcased the ICE-powered ZS SUV at the 2020 Auto Expo earlier this year and it has been spotted testing on our roads a couple of times since then. One of the biggest launches coming from MG Motors in 2021 will thus be the ICE-powered ZS SUV. It has now been spotted testing on our roads once again. This time it was seen with a new set of dual-tone petal-shaped 5-spoke alloy wheels, the same that's offered on the UK-spec MG ZS facelift that was launched earlier this year.
It is thus safe to assume that it will be
the facelifted model of the ZS SUV that MG will bring to India. In fact, the
model showcased at the Auto Expo was the facelifted model itself. On the other
hand, the MG ZS EV that's sold in India is based on the pre-facelift version.
The ZS facelift looks a little more sportier than the ZS EV with some design
revisions here and there. The MG ZS facelift gets a new grille, revised
projector headlamps with LED DRLs, a sporty bumper with a wide air dam and
stylish foglamps with black accents. It also gets new LED tail lights at the
rear with a sportier looking bumper, and of course, the new design for the
alloy wheels.
We however do not expect many changes on
the inside as compared to the ZS EV. The MG ZS SUV that was showcased at the
Auto Expo had blacked-out windows and we didn't really get a look of the
interiors. However, the UK-spec ZS SUV gets a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen
infotainment system along with a re-designed center console and a few
additional features like a 360-degree camera and a panoramic sunroof. We expect
these updates to make it to the India-spec model as well. We saw pretty good
fit and finish levels with the ZS EV and we expect the same for its ICE-powered
sibling as well.
Under the hood, the MG ZS will be a
petrol-only SUV, at least initially. MG Motors offers a wide range of engine
options with the ZS SUV overseas. There's a 111 hp/160 Nm 1.0-litre turbo-petrol
unit along with 120 hp/150 Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. The
third engine option is a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol unit and that's the one we will
be getting here in India. This engine produces 160 hp and 23 0Nm and comes mated
to a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard. We expect MG to offer a manual
gearbox for India as well.