MG India Planning To Launch ZS Petrol, Will Be Cheaper Than Hector

MG Motor India is just selling three models in the country, namely the Hector and Hector Plus along with the ZS EV. While the Chinese-owned British brand is gearing up for the launch of MG Gloster now, the carmaker has revealed a fresh set of details on the next upcoming MG car in the Indian line-up.

Speaking to a media publication, Rajeev Chaba, MG Motor’s President and Managing Director confirmed that the next MG product will be arriving in India sometime next year. The name of the MG new car is yet to be announced, though, it is likely to be the petrol variant of the ZS EV. It will be placed below the Hector in the product range. All that means, the MG's next new car, the ZS Petrol will be cheaper than the Hector.

The new MG ZS Petrol marked its first market debut at the 2020 Auto Expo and it has been spotted on test in India at times. Under the hood of the petrol-sipping MG ZS will lie a 1.5-litre engine that can punch out 112 BHP of max power and 150 Nm of peak torque. In the international market, the SUV is available with 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol and a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engines making 160 BHP/230 Nm and 118 BHP/150 Nm, respectively. Transmission choices include a 5-speed MT and a CVT (for the turbo-petrol mill) along with a 6-speed AT for the naturally-aspirated model. As for the India-spec car, the MG ZS Petrol is likely to be offered with manual and CVT options.

In another development, MG recently revealed that the company will pour an additional amount of Rs 1,000 crores in India by next year. Thanks to that, the localisation level of high-end components and production capacity at its Halol-based factory will be increased. Currently, the plant achieves a production capacity of 75,000 – 80,000 unit annually that will be raised to 1 lakh units in the coming years.