MG Gloster SUV is a full sized 7 seater which will launch later this year in India
MG Motor had showcased the India-bound Gloster premium three-row SUV at Auto Expo 2020. The MG Gloster is basically a rebadged Maxus D90 for the Indian market coming in a price bracket of Rs 40-45 lakh ex-showroom (claimed). Globally, the D90 rivals the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
At the biennial automotive event, the Gloster made a relatively-late debut and that too, with its interiors tinted away from view. Still, there were some ‘workarounds’ to get a glimpse of the inside. Now, thanks to automotive enthusiast Vikram Singh, an MG Gloster test mule was spied ahead of its possible launch in the festive season (first-half of November). The images give an insight into the interiors as well.
Even though the interiors were not in its final launch specification, one could make out the steering wheel design (with different badging) identical to that of the Maxus D90. While the rest of the dashboard lacked clarity, the central console had an interesting detail. Unlike in the Maxus D90, the MG Gloster gets an Audi-style gear selector for its automatic transmission. Audi calls it the ‘yacht lever’ since it resembles the throttle lever in a conventional yacht. The design made its first appearance in the third-gen (D4) Audi A8.
The MG Gloster that was on display at Auto Expo employed the same less-interesting gear lever of the Maxus D90. Of course, at the time, the vehicle was still in its planning stage and essentially had only a few styling bits and badges to differ it from its international sibling. Maxus is also a SAIC-owned automotive brand.
The MG Gloster, at a dimension of 5005x1932x1875mm (LWH), is quite massive in Indian standards. It will be available in both 6-seater and 7-seater avatars. The test mule was in a 7-seater configuration and could most likely be a middle variant. Being an early example, the SUV had a vague mix of specifications. The B- and C-pillars looked bland without the usual black shade while the quad-exhaust pipes felt extremely tacky. Most parts of the interiors were also hidden from view by make-do covers.
The Maxus D90 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 217bhp and 350Nm. This is mated to either a 6-speed manual (RWD) or 6-speed automatic (AWD). As per reports, the MG Gloster will come with a twin-turbo version of the FCA-sourced 2.0-litre Multijet II diesel engine. It churns out roughly 218bhp and 480Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic could be the only transmission available.
