The rebadged D90 could carry a different name for India and it will rival Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Mahindra Alturas G4
MG Motor India Limited made a strong impression with the Hector since its market debut earlier this year and the ZS EV is the brand’s second launch for India. Following the all-electric SUV will more likely be the six-seater version of the Hector and the rebadged Maxus D90. Both are expected to be showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo in February before reaching showrooms.
The three-row MG Hector will compete against Tata Gravitas, new-gen Mahindra XUV500 and others and it has already been spied testing at the company’s factory in Gujarat. The spy pictures revealed the front and rear portion of the SUV as it adorns newly designed front and rear bumpers, restyled headlamps and tail lamps along with blackened front grille.
New colour choices could also be on offer with the six-seater Hector and the cosmetic changes are applied to differentiate itself from the regular model. The middle row has a captain seating arrangement with a rear bench and dimensionally, it will likely be 40 mm longer. It could be offered in both 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre Fiat-sourced diesel engine options.
The Maxus D90 is the flagship product of the Chinese brand that also comes under the SAIC ownership. The rugged SUV will more likely be rebadged with cosmetic updates as an MG full-sized seven-seater. It measures 5,005 mm in length, 1,932 mm in width and stands 1,875 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm and 210 mm of ground clearance.
Some of the expected features in the D90 are 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, eight-inch MID, adaptive LED headlamps, LED Daytime Running Lights, panoramic sunroof, leather seat upholstery, powered front seats, TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) six airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), HHC (Hill Hold Control), HDC (Hill Descent Control), around view camera and so on.
Just as in the international markets, the D90 could be sold with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine making 224 horsepower, mated to a standard six-speed manual or a six-speed AT. Following its likely Auto Expo debut, it could be introduced in the market towards the later part of 2020. It will rival Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4 and Isuzu D-Max V-Cross.