MG has unveiled a new model for the Indian market, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s anything fresh. The MG Windsor EV sports the Morris Garages badge but in reality, it’s nothing more than a rehashed version of China’s Baojun Cloud and Indonesia’s Wuling Cloud EV. A standout feature of this rebadged model is its starting price of Rs 9.99 lakh (US$ 11,895). But curb your enthusiasm; the battery pack isn’t part of the deal. Instead, it’s available on a rental basis, so prepare to add a little more to your budget if you want it fully charged.
Owners will need to fork out an extra Rs
3.5 (US$ 0.04) per kilometer driven. In return, they get a lifetime warranty on the
battery pack with unlimited mileage and free charging for the first year. So,
if you’re the type who racks up 10,000 kilometers annually,
expect to cough up US$ 420 through the company’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)
program. The battery packs a 38 kWh capacity, promising a range of up to 331
kilometers. With a maximum charging rate of 45 kW, it can juice up
from 0 to 80 percent in just 55 minutes. Powering the front axle is a single
electric motor delivering 134 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque.
In terms of styling, the MG Windsor EV
looks like a spitting image of the Baojun Cloud, with a few bespoke accessories
and new emblems. To give the Indian-spec CUV a bit of a unique flair, MG has
slapped on black trim pieces around the front bumper, above the full-width LED
headlights, and along the short hood. The same treatment has been applied
around the wheel arches, matching a new protective strip on the doors. Finally,
the Windsor EV has roof rails, in an effort to look more like a crossover,
despite its minivan proportions. The color palette includes four shades –
Starburst Black, Pearl White, Clay Beige, and Turquoise Green – combined with
17- or 18-inch wheels.
The interior mirrors that of its Chinese
counterpart, featuring a 15.6-inch infotainment screen (10.1 inches in the base
model) and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. The key distinction in the
Indian-spec model—apart from the right-hand-drive setup—is the inclusion of
physical controls for the A/C unit, making it a touch more user-friendly. The
standard “aero lounge seats” resemble plush armchairs, with rear seatbacks
reclining up to 135 degrees. The flagship trim boasts ventilated front seats, a
panoramic glass roof, a 9-speaker audio system, ambient lighting, wireless
charging, and a 360-degree camera. While all trims feature six airbags and disc
brakes, the driving aids are somewhat basic, limited to Emergency Stop Signal,
Hill-start Assist, and Hill Descent Control.
The MG Windsor EV will be available to
order in India starting October 3, with first deliveries expected in October
12.
