MG motors or M.G Car Company was established by Cecil Kimber in the early ’90s in the UK. The company claimed popularity primarily in the sports car segment due to its astonishing releases. In the aftermath, the company erstwhile mostly known for its state-of-the-art sports cars, entered the saloon and coupés market. Its fans around the world still remember the company for its open two-seater sporty vehicles.
It is noteworthy that a company once owned and known for having its origin in Britain was bought by a Chinese automotive giant known as SAIC Motor Corporation Limited. At its best, the company sometimes ever produced vehicles having engine up to 3 litres.
In Pakistan’s confined and non-welcoming automobile market, a shift was recently witnessed when KIA and Hyundai, the affiliate South Korean manufacturers, established their footing in the local market. The recent launch of Hyundai Tucson and before this KIA’s Sportage received immense attraction from the locals disappointed by years of monopoly of the three giants (Toyota, Honda, and Suzuki) which have more or less fell short of customer’s expectations and hence satisfaction with their products.
Pakistani consumers have already set their sights on the alleged upcoming official launch of Morris Garages (MG) Motor UK Limited in the country. Not only that, but reports are also afoot that the British auto giant might make the much-hyped entry with the launch of its two highly popular SUVs: HS and ZS-EV.
Read more: KIA expected to launch an all-new midsize SUV ‘Sorento’ in Pakistan
Earlier this year, Javed Afridi, JW Auto Park owner, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British carmaker to bring electric vehicles in Pakistan.
Javed Afridi, the owner of a franchise in Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the CEO of Haier Pakistan has from time and again expressed his desire to bring Morris Garages (MG) Motor UK Limited to Pakistan. But only recently, the businessman announced that two models of MG Motors namely MG HS and MG ZS EV were being launched in Pakistan in 2020.
Introducing Two Models for Pakistan for this year 2020.
1️⃣ MG ZS EV
2️⃣ MG HSFor 2021 You Can Select From MG GLOBAL PRODUCT LINE UP That What Model We Can Launch? pic.twitter.com/rw2S2YprLL
— Javed Afridi (@JAfridi10) September 15, 2020
In his latest post regarding the launch on his Twitter handle he said: “Introducing Two Models for Pakistan for this year 2020: MG ZS EV and MG HS.”
He further hinted at introducing more models in the upcoming year solely upon the public’s demand and reaction.
“For 2021 You Can Select From MG GLOBAL PRODUCT LINE UP That What Model We Can Launch?” Afridi tweeted.
Now let’s look at the key features these two SUVs will offer in order to weigh them up against the likes of Tucson and Sportage.
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Engine
Firstly, let’s look under the hood. The HS is powered by a 1.5L GDI Turbo-charged engine paired with with a 7-speed automatic transmission. If you prefer manual, you can also opt for 6-speed manual transmission. The turbo-charged engine is able to produce around 160 horsepower (HP), which is quite impressive and 250NM torque.
On the other hand, the ZS EV, which is an electronic vehicle (as the name suggests) functions on a 44.5 kwh battery paired with a CVT automatic transmission. It’s able to produce 141 horsepower (HP) at max. However, this isn’t the most attractive feature. MG’s ZS EV is able to travel 262 KILOMETRES IN A SINGLE CHARGE! (This is actually very impressive) You won’t have to worry about fuel economy or environmental hazards anymore.
Exterior
The ZS EV, billed as a family-friendly electric car by the company, offers better mileage than most mid-range vehicles but does not compromise on style in any way. The vehicle is equipped with a bunch of latest features. It comes with:
- LED daytime running lamps
- Rear Parking Sensors
- LED Centre Brake Light
- Bi-Function Project Headlights
- Rear aero wipers
- Front aero wipers
- Electrically adjustable side mirrors
Such features exhibit that this vehicle is specifically designed for those who want all the advantages of a zero emissions vehicle without compromising on practicality or style.
If we look at HS, it’s packed with 18-inch diamond-cut alloy rims. The aforementioned electronic features for the EV more or less are the same for the HS model. Slight change when it comes to tyre sizes; the ZS EV has smaller 17-inch wheels.
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Interior
Both ZS EV and HS come with heated front seats; the HS has leather ones while the electronic SUV comes in two options. Customers can choose between fabric and leather.
Both cars come with:
- Apple CarPlay
- Android Auto
- 4-speaker/ 6-speaker audio systems
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Rear parking cameras
The HS SUV is equipped with a 10.1-inch infotainment system, while ZS comes with an 8-inch screen.
Safety features
No matter how powerful or feature-packed a vehicle is — if it does not have adequate safety features it isn’t worth it. After all, who would prefer features over one’s survival? In this regard, the British automaker has equipped both its models (HS and ZS EV) with
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Hill Assist
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Engine Immobilizer
- Anti-Rolling Protection
Read more: Hyundai Sonata ‘8th gen’ to hit Pakistani markets in 2021
Pricing
Here comes the most important question; what will be the price of these two models by MG motors being brought to us by the popular Businessman Javed Afridi. Due to the lack of details that we have until now, the only way of making an approximation is through looking at the rates in Britain.
The vehicles are priced at:
- MG HS: £20,995 – £23,495 which translates to PKR 4.5 million to PKR 5 million.
- ZS EV: £25,496 – £27,995 which is around PKR 5.4 million to PKR 6 million.