MG India Confirms 7-Seater Version of Hector SUV in Works, 2020 Launch Likely

Chinese-owned British brand MG revealed their first vehicle in India -- Hector – only a day ago and the SUV is slated to be launched in June 2019. Upon launch, the MG Hector SUV will lock horns with Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500, and top variants of Hyundai Creta in the Indian market. Although Hector will be the largest vehicle in the segment when it will be launched the company has only presented a 5-seater version of the SUV in the market. The dimensions of the MG Hector stand at 4,655 mm long and 2,750 mm tall, this makes it ideal for a 7-seater car. Given if MG works on it, and the same has been confirmed by the MD of MG India. An online report states that the managing director of the Indian division of the company has stated that the Chinese-owned British brand is working on a 7 seater version of the SUV and the same will make its way to India in early 2020.

Speaking to a leading magazine, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MG India, Rajeev Chaba stated,

“Technically, we cannot call it a 7- or 8-seater due to its dimensions, but the Hector will get a third row of seats and that should come around the same time as the BS6 emission norms come into effect,”

There will be no other changes in the SUV apart from the addition of a third row of seats, and all the mechanical parts are also expected to remain the same. What is noteworthy is that the Baojun 530 SUV (MG Hector is based on the same) already has a 7 seater version in China and since Hector is based on the same SUV, the company should not have a problem adding the extra row of seats in the SUV. Talking of the engine options, the 7-seat version will come with the same engines as the Hector.

The upcoming Chinese owned British brand SUV will come equipped with two engine options. The first will be a 1.5L liter turbocharged petrol and the other a 2L Fiat Multijet turbocharged diesel, the latter being the same one found on Compass and Harrier. The outputs for petrol engine will be 143 Bhp-250 Nm whereas the diesel engine is supposed to produce 170 Bhp of power and 350 Nm. MG will also offer a 48V hybrid system as an optional feature with the petrol variants. Also, the petrol variants also get 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission as an option.

Tata is also planning on launching a 7 seater version of Harrier in the market and the new SUV may be called as Cassini in India. However, Cassini comes with a change in dimensions as well as engine options. Nevertheless, the upcoming Cassini will rival the upcoming 7-seater version of the MG Hector in the market.