JSW Group, led by Sajjan Jindal, is gearing up to enter the Indian passenger vehicle market with its new subsidiary, JSW Motors. The company is currently planning to introduce multiple new electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in India. In addition to JSW Motors, MG Motor India, in which JSW Group holds a 51 percent share, is also planning to launch its own plug-in hybrid SUV in the country. So without any delay, here are the details of both of these SUVs.
What are plug-in hybrids?
For those who may not be aware, plug-in hybrids are those cars which use two power sources. They combine the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric motors with a battery pack. These vehicles can run with the combination of power from these two power sources and can also be run on pure electric power as well.
Additionally, unlike strong hybrids that are currently available in India, plug-in hybrids can be charged using home and public chargers. Generally plug-in hybrids come with a 20-30 kWh battery pack which offers them range of 50-150 km depending upon the size of the battery pack.
Jetour T2 based plug-in hybrid SUV
Currently, there are no affordable plug-in hybrid cars in India. However, to change this, JSW Motors is planning to launch the Chinese automaker Chery Automobile’s sub-brand Jetour’s T2 plug-in hybrid based SUV in India. This new SUV is expected to make its debut around Diwali of this year. It will be brought in via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit route and will be assembled in Maharashtra at the new greenfield manufacturing facility of JSW Group in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
The Jetour T2 will boast a futuristic yet rugged design, and its overall emphasis will be on toughness and off-roading. It will be a boxy SUV with an upright stance, and the overall design seems to have taken its inspiration from the Land Rover Defender luxury SUV. At the front, it will get squared LED headlights with four LED strips, a black horizontal strip, a honeycomb pattern grille, and a very aggressive looking front bumper.
Other notable highlights will include pronounced contours on the bonnet, which will add to the rugged appearance of this SUV. Additionally, there will be grab handles mounted on either side of the bonnet, which is a design that is only seen on hard-core off-road SUVs. Moving to the side, the Jetour T2 based SUV will come equipped with large flared wheel arches, protective body cladding, and 19-inch multispoke alloy wheels.
As for the rear, this plug-in hybrid SUV will get vertically stacked LED taillights, T2 badging, and a flat tailgate design. Apart from these, it will also feature a chunky rear bumper and a tailgate mounted spare wheel. This SUV will come with a five seater configuration and will measure approximately 4.7 metres in length. Internationally, it is also offered as a seven seater, and it is also longer as well.
On the inside, the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid based SUV’s cabin will be very simple yet futuristic and will give a rugged feel. Notable highlights of the dashboard will include a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital instrument gauge cluster. Apart from these, the SUV will also come offered with a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, LED ambient lighting, and ventilated and powered front seats.
It will get a dual zone automatic climate control, 12-speaker Sony premium audio system, along with a 360 degree camera. As for safety, in the recent ASEAN NCAP crash tests, the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid scored 29.74 out of 32. According to ASEAN NCAP, the passenger compartment remained stable in front offset crash tests, and driver chest protection was adequate. In child occupant protection tests, it scored 40.63 out of 51.
Safety features of this SUV will include six airbags, ESC, ABS, blind spot detection, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and ADAS Level 2. Its ADAS suite will include autonomous emergency braking for pedestrians and motorcycles, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and many others.
As for the powertrain, the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid in India will get a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with two electric motors and a 26.7 kWh battery pack. In the EV mode, it will offer a range of 139 km (NEDC range). The engine alone will make 154 bhp and 220 Nm of torque. However, when combined with the electric motors, it could make 375 bhp and 610 Nm of torque. It is expected to be offered with both front wheel drive and rear wheel drive configurations.
Pricing of the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid based SUV from JSW Motors is expected to be in the range of Rs 15 to 30 lakh. Once launched, it will not have any direct rivals, as there are no affordable plug-in hybrids in India. However, it will be taking on the Mahindra XUV 7XO and the Tata Safari.
MG 520 (Wuling Starlight based plug-in hybrid SUV)
The second SUV on this list is the MG 520, which will be based on the Wuling Starlight 560 plug-in hybrid SUV. In the Chinese and Indonesian markets, it is sold as Xingguang 560 and Eksion, respectively. As per the reports, its launch in India will be taking place around October during the festive season.
Dimensionally, the MG 520 will measure 4,745 mm in length, 1,850 mm in width, 1,754 mm in height, and its wheelbase will be around 2,810 mm. When compared to the Mahindra XUV 7XO, it will be 50 mm longer and will boast a 60 mm longer wheelbase as well. This will directly translate into more room inside the cabin.
In terms of the styling, the MG 520 will feature dual pod projector LED headlights at the front, LED DRL strips above and below the headlights, a honeycomb pattern grille, and a muscular front bumper. Additionally, the SUV will also get a set of 18 or 19-inch dual tone alloy wheels, integrated roof rails, rear spoiler, and wraparound LED taillights. Overall, this boxy SUV will look very macho and imposing.
The MG 520, just like all the other MG products in India, will be loaded to the brim with features. It will feature a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an 8.8-inch digital instrument gauge cluster, a two spoke steering wheel, a six speaker audio system, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated and powered front seats, a 360 degree camera, ADAS Level 2, and many others.
As for the powertrain, the MG 520’s highlight will be its 1.5-litre petrol engine, which will come equipped with a front mounted electric motor and a 20.5 kWh battery pack. Combined, it will make 197 bhp and 230 Nm of torque. Despite being a heavy SUV, it will be able to perform a sprint of 0–100 kmph in just 9.7 seconds and will have a top speed of 170 kmph.
In the electric only mode, this plug-in hybrid SUV will be able to cover 100 km. It is believed that MG will be pricing the 520 plug-in hybrid in the range of Rs 15–25 lakh. Like the Jetour T2 plug-in hybrid, it will also take on the Mahindra XUV 7XO and the Tata Safari in India.
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