It was being long rumoured that Chinese-owned British heritage brand (Morris Garages) MG Motors has been evaluating the MG ZS for the Indian market. The MG ZS is an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) model of the MG ZS EV which is a 100% Electric vehicle that has been launched in India and garnered over 2,800 bookings in nearly a month of its launch.
Now according to sources, the MG ZS petrol has been spotted testing on Indian which leads us to believe that the brand might be gearing up to launch the MG ZS in the ICE (Petrol) engine variant. At present, the brand only has the MG Hector (5-Seater) SUV and the MG Hector Plus (6-seater) SUV that come with ICE powertrains and the ZS petrol is likely to another edition positioned below the MG Hector.
According to the spy shots, the MG ZS petrol the camouflaged test mule features its design and styling similar to its electric sibling but the major distinguishing factor will be the set of exhaust pipes that are missing on the eco-friendly, zero-emission MG ZS EV. The MG ZS petrol was seen testing with 5-spoke alloy wheels which are likely to be in a different design on the final model and the brand is likely to tweak the headlamps, tail lamps, front & rear bumpers and its interiors as well.
For the Indian market, MG is likely to offer the MG ZS petrol in two powertrain options 1.0-litre, T-GDI, 3-cylinder, gasoline direct-injection engine that generates 111 HP of power and 160 Nm of torque coupled to a 6-speed automatic gearbox and another 1.5-litre, VTI-tech DOHC, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated, port fuel injection motor that makes 106 PS of power and 141 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
If the brand decides to launch the MG ZS petrol in the Indian market it is expected to arrive in the first half of 2021 and will compete with other mid-size SUVs such as the Maruti Suzuki S-Cross Petrol, Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta.