JSW MG will introduce its new Hector Hawk SUV in India on August 26
The seven-seater model is expected with electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain choices
JSW MG Motor India has confirmed that its next big launch is just weeks away. The company's upcoming SUV, widely expected to be called the Hector Hawk, will go on sale on August 26. It marks the debut of MG's new ADAPT platform in India and will be offered with two very different powertrain options, a fully electric version and a plug-in hybrid.
Design And Cabin Features
The Hector Hawk borrows heavily from the Wuling Starlight 560, a model already sold overseas. That car measures 4.7 metres in length, 1.85 metres in width and 1.7 metres in height, and the India bound version is expected to be similarly sized.
Test mules spotted on local roads give a fair idea of what to expect. Up front sit rectangular LED headlamps with slim daytime running lamps above and below them. One test unit also had a blanked off grille section, a strong hint that it was the electric variant.
Around the back, buyers can look forward to wraparound LED tail lamps and a roof-mounted spoiler, while a charging port sits neatly on the left rear fender.
Step inside and the cabin looks equally modern. An 8.8 inch digital instrument cluster pairs with a larger 12.8 inch touchscreen for infotainment. The equipment list is expected to be generous too, with a panoramic sunroof, powered and ventilated front seats, a 50W wireless phone charger, a six speaker sound system and automatic climate control with rear vents all likely to feature.
Safety has not been overlooked either. Six airbags are expected as standard, alongside a tyre pressure monitoring system, hill hold assist, an electronic parking brake, a rear camera with parking sensors and a set of driver assistance features.
Powertrain Options Explained
The electric version is tipped to use a 69.2kWh battery pack paired with a front-mounted motor producing 201hp and 310Nm. MG claims this setup should be good for 530km of range on the CLTC test cycle.
The plug in hybrid takes a different approach. It is expected to combine a 1.5 litre petrol engine with a smaller 20.5kWh battery and an electric motor, together making 195hp and 230Nm.
On electric power alone, this version should manage around 125km before the petrol engine needs to step in.
Platform And Where It Fits In The Line Up
The ADAPT platform underneath the Hector Hawk has been built to support several types of powertrains, including electric, plug-in hybrid, range extender and strong hybrid setups. For now though, MG has said it will stick to just the EV and PHEV versions.
Once it arrives, the Hector Hawk will sit a notch above the current Hector in MG's range. The electric variant is expected to go up against the Mahindra XEV 9S, while the hybrid model looks set to take on the Mahindra XUV 7XO and the Tata Safari.
Pricing and full specifications should follow in the run up to the August 26 reveal, so there is more to learn before the Hector Hawk officially lands in showrooms.
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