The MG line-up in India will include models picked from various sister brands. One of these will be the Maxus D90, which is planned to be launched by Diwali 2020.
For those new to Maxus, it’s one of the many brands owned by MG’s parent company SAIC. It’s the commercial vehicle marque of the Chinese conglomerate. The D90 is the first-ever Maxus SUV. It’s built on the ladder-frame chassis of T60 pickup truck, and as the Thai would say, it’s a PPV (Pick-up Passenger Vehicle).
The Maxus D90 will compete with the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas G4 and Isuzu MU-X in India. It measures 5,005 mm in length, 1,932 mm in width and 1,875 mm in height. Its wheelbase is 2,950 mm. It’s bigger than all of the rivaling frame SUVs in every dimension except the width (Mahindra Alturas G4 - 1,960 mm).
Under the hood, the Maxus D90 has a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine good for 165 kW (225 PS) and 360 Nm. However, to be competitive in India, a diesel engine will be required. A 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 130 kW (177 PS) and 400 Nm of torque is planned to be offered in it internationally, and that’s what is likely to power the MG-badged version destined to our market. This engine is currently employed in the Maxus V90 that debuted at Auto Shanghai 2019 last month.
Adaptive LED headlights, 21-inch wheels, 12.3-inch infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker sound system, three-zone climate control, six airbags, 8-inch driver information display, 360-degree view camera and 8-way power driver’s seat with 4-way lumbar support are some of the key features of the Maxus D90.
Also Read: Three-row MG Hector confirmed to be launched in early 2020
The MG-badged Maxus D90 will likely have an MG-style radiator grille, the same way the MG Hector is differentiated from its donor model (Baojun 530). Expect it to be locally assembled from CKD kits imported from China. It could be priced somewhere in the INR 30-35 lakh (ex-showroom) range.
