MG ZS petrol spotted testing in India ahead of launch, could be called Astor

Tuhin Guha Updated: February 23, 2021, 12:26 PM IST

The petrol-powered iteration of the MG ZS SUV has been spotted testing in India. This C-segment crossover is expected to be the next launch for MG Motor in India and should be its rival to the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

India should get the petrol ZS in its facelifted guise, as seen at the 2020 Auto Expo. When seen alongside the MG ZS EV and in these photos, the revised ZS gets a redesigned front end. There are slimmer full-LED headlamps, a new hexagonal grille and chunkier bumpers. The rear has received a similar treatment with sharper LED taillamps, a prominent faux skid plate and new bumpers. A sharper set of alloy wheels have also been added. On the inside, there is a new fully-digital instrument cluster and a new 10.1-inch infotainment system. The physical AC controls have also been replaced by capacitive touch panels. Aside from this, the regular ZS continues to be heavily feature loaded like the electric version.

The regular ZS can be had with three engine options in international markets. This is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol with 115PS/150 Nm. Two turbo petrol engines are on offer as well, there is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit with 112PS/160 Nm and a 1.3-litre turbo with 126PS and 230 Nm. A six-speed manual and six-speed torque converter auto are on offer. We expect the N/A petrol to come here in manual as well as with the new CVT from the Hector while the turbo-petrol should get either the Hector's DCT or the international-spec AT.

News reports have also suggested that the petrol version of the ZS could be launched under a different nameplate, mostly likely the Astor. When launched in India in the next few months, we expect the ZS to very closely match the Hyundai-Kia twins in pricing, expected to start from under Rs 10 lakh.

MG Astor 2021 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 9.78 Lakhs

Displacement
1349cc

Transmission
Automatic

Max Power(ps)
110

Max Torque(Nm)
220

Mileage
-NA-

Hyundai Creta 2020 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 9.99 Lakhs

Displacement
1353cc

Transmission
Automatic

Max Power(ps)
115