MG Motor will launch the Baojun 530 as its first product in India. The SUV sold the Chinese market was recently spotted undergoing testing by Autocar India. Baojun is a SIAC-owned brand operating in the Chinese market.
The report from Autocar India claims the instead of launching a product from its own stable, MG has selected the Baojun 530 for its foray into the Indian market. The SUV will be re-badged as MG and re-engineered to suit the requirements of our market.
A source in MG Motor India told Autocar India -
We extensively studied all the brands in the SAIC stable and found that our sister brand Baojun offered exactly what was needed for the Indian market with the 530 SUV.
The Baojun 530 was launched earlier this year in China. It measures 4,655 mm long, 1,835 mm wide, and 1,760 mm tall making it bigger than the Jeep Compass and slightly smaller than the Skoda Kodiaq. However, the report states that MG is targeting to undercut the Hyundai Creta in terms of pricing. The source adds that the MG SUV based on the Baojun 530 "will be very different from the Chinese one" and will be reworked "extensively with a strong dose of MG’s DNA."
Design-wise, the Baojun 530 follows an unconventional approach for the front end. The primary headlamps are placed in the bumper with LED DRLs positioned on either side of the upper grille. The Hyundai Konda and new Santa Fe follow a similar design approach. At the back, the tail lamps are placed on bootlid like in the Audi Q3/Q5/Q7. The test mule appears to wear the same alloy wheels as the one seen in press images shared below.
The features list of the Baojun 530 includes LED daytime running lamps, front fog lamps, leather seats panoramic sunroof, electric seats, a Harman Infinity sound system, side curtain airbags, and an electric parking brake.
In China, the SUV's engine options include 1.8 L NA and 1.5 L turbocharged petrol engines, and six-speed manual, automatic, and DCT transmission choices. A report from March claims that, for the Indian market, MG's first SUV will make use of the FCA's 2.0 L Multijet II diesel engine that powers the Jeep Compass.
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In China the SUV retails for RMB 75,800 (INR 7,90,196.44) to RMB 115,800 (INR 12,07,186.65). In India, the SUV is expected to cost much higher.
[source - Autocar India]
