In February, it was reported that a 7-seat MG Hector is planned for India. In the latest, Rajeev Chaba, MD and CEO, MG Motor India, has confirmed that a three-row MG Hector is the pipeline, and it's coming early next year.
“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," Chaba has said. This means that while the 5-seat MG Hector is coming with BS-IV engines that will be upgraded to BS-VI standards by March 2020, the 7-seat MG Hector will come directly with BS-VI engines.
For those unaware, the MG Hector is essentially a reskinned Baojun 530, which is available with 7 seats optionally. So, it is not wrong to say that technically a three-row version is ready and awaits just a badge-swap. Interestingly, it is said that MG Motor could follow Tata Motors' footsteps and launch the three-row version as a separate model with a different name. The arch-rival Tata Harrier will get a three-row version (previewed as the Tata Buzzard in March) the same way, by the end of this calendar year.
The three-row version of the MG Hector will be of the same length and have the same wheelbase as the two-row version. For reference, the latter measures 4,655 mm in length, 1,835 mm in width and 1,760 mm in height and has a 2,750 mm wheelbase. It is packed with advanced features like 7-inch coloured MID, 8-colour ambient lighting, 10.4-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system with TomTom IQ maps for navigation, Infinity sound system with 4 speakers, 4 tweeters, subwoofer and amplifier, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, power adjustable driver (6-way) and front passenger (4-way) seats and more.
Also Read: Watch the MG Hector roll off the production line [Video]
The MG Hector will be sold with a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine (143 PS/250 Nm) and a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine (170 PS/350 Nm). The petrol unit will be paired with a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed DCT, while the diesel unit will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The fuel economy rating of the petrol engine model will be 14.16 km/l (MT) or 13.96 km/l (DCT). And the diesel engine model will deliver 17.41 km/l. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system option will be available in the petrol engine model (fitted with MT), for a 12% lower fuel consumption.
The 5-seat MG Hector will be launched in June, with prices likely falling in the INR 15-20 lakh (ex-showroom) range.
[Source:Autocar India]
