MG Maxus D90 will go on sale next Diwali and be introduced in India via CKD route; likely to be powered by a turbo diesel engine
In the next 18 to 24 months, MG Motor India will be launching as many as five products in the domestic markets. Kicking things off with the Hector premium SUV, MG has huge plans for India and its first priority is establishing the brand name before considering big volume sales.
Therefore, initially, the British manufacturer is following a top-down approach as it concentrates on bringing in upmarket vehicles – mostly the SUVs. The Hector’s booking will commence on June 4 ahead of its official market launch and it will be followed by the all-electric eZS SUV before the end of this year.
In the early parts of 2020, MG will introduce the seven-seater version of the Hector as well. While the Hector will compete against Tata Harrier, Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks, the seven-seater will go up against upcoming Tata H7X, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V.
According to a recent report emerged on the internet, MG will target a segment higher up the order and will position its Maxus D90 against Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4 and Isuzu MU-X by Diwali 2020. For the uninitiated, D90 is the first passenger SUV from Maxus – the commercial arm of SAIC that owns the MG.
Based on a ladder frame construction, the Maxus D90 uses the underpinnings from T60 pickup truck. It derives power from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine producing 225 PS and 360 Nm. However, India could stick with the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel motor developing 177 PS and 400 Nm.
The engine has already debuted in the Maxus V90 and will likely be present under the MG badge in India. Expect minor exterior changes to be made to keep it in line with the MG family of models, as the transformation between Baojun 530 and Hector should give a clear idea in this respect.
It will be brought into the country via CKD channel and locally assembled. Some of the key features expected to be on offer are an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 360-degree camera, eight-way power adjustable driver seat with heating and ventilation support, a large panoramic sunroof, six airbags, etc.
MG Maxus D90 Images
