Morris Garages India have have launched their new flagship full size Gloster SUV in India ranging from Rs.28.9L to Rs.35.3L. Bookings are now open for the feature loaded full size SUV, with the booking advance of Rs.1L. MG’s full-size SUV will be available with either a six- or seven-seat layout and will offer 4WD as an option. The MG Gloster is a rebadged version of China's Maxus D90 which is also sold as the LDV D90 in Australia.

Variants and features:

The Gloster is available in four trim levels – Super, Smart, Sharp and Savvy. The MG Gloster Savvy and Sharp variants

will be available with a 6-seat configuration; with captain seats in the middle row, while the MG Gloster Super & Smart will feature a 7 seat layout as standard. The MG Gloster Sharp can be optioned with either seating arrangement.

The top spec Savvy variant will include the following features:

• All LED Headlamps & tail lamps

• Cornering assist lamps

• Auto headlamps & wipers

• Auto Dimming IRVMs

• 19" alloy wheels

• Panoramic sunroof

• Auto park assist

• 12 way Power adjustable driver seat with memory

• 8 way Power adjustable passenger seat

• Triple zone auto climate control

• Ventilated front seats

• Massaging driver seat

• Auto park assist

• Intelligent auto start Stop

• PM 2.5 filter

• Smart powered tailgate

• Heated and smart ORVMs

• Tire pressure monitoring system

• 12.2” touchscreen system

• i-Smart connected car tech

• Digital instrument cluster

• Leather upholstery

The MG Gloster also features Advanced Driver Assist Systems which include:

• Adaptive Cruise control

• Automatic parking assist

• Forward Collision warning

• Auto emergency braking

• Blind spot detection

• Lane departure warning

Powertrain:

The Gloster will be available with two 2.0-litre diesel engine options. The Super and Smart Variants will be available with a single turbocharger engine and develops 163hp and 375Nm, while the Sharp and Savvy Variants will get a twin turbo unit developing a superior 218hp and 480Nm. An 8-speed automatic gearbox is standard on both engines. The twin turbo engine will be available with Borg Warner's shift-on-the fly four-wheel drive with selectable drive modes including Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock, Auto, Eco and Sport modes. The single turbo diesel is two-wheel drive only.

Safety features:

The Gloster has been awarded 5 Star rating at the Australian NCAP crash tests and includes a long list of standard safety features:

• 6 airbags

• All wheel disc brakes

• ABS with EBD

• ESP with traction control

• Hill hold control

• Hill descent control

• Auto vehicle hold

• Roll movement intervention

• Electro mechanical differential lock

• Pretensioner seatbelts

• 360 degree camera

• Driver Fatigue reminder

• Heated ORVMs

• Electric parking brake

• Smart key access

Pricing and launch:

The new MG Gloster is competing against other full-size, 7-seat ladder-frame SUVs including the Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and the Mahindra Alturas G4. Prices for the Single turbo diesel range start from Rs.28.98L for the Super Variant and goes upto Rs.30.98L for the Smart variant. The Twin Turbo range starts from Rs.33.68L for the Sharp 7 seater with the 6 seater costing Rs.33.98L and the top spec Savvy 6 seater priced at Rs.35.38L.

These prices simply make the Gloster the best value for money full size SUV compared to its rivals.

The Nissan Magnite officially unveiled.This new compact SUV is going to be the Make-it or Break-it product for Nissan India. 

Exterior

The production-spec Nissan Magnite seems to retain most of the concept’s design elements including the large grille, the Sharp creases and the funky alloy wheels. It has even the same sculpted bonnet and angular headlights. Since the Magnite was originally meant to be launched as a Datsun, the grille bears resemblance to the other Datsun models.

The side profile looks muscular with prominent body cladding and large wheel arches which seem to dwarf the 16”

wheels. The higher spec variants also seem to receive a dual-tone roof, blacked-out pillars and silver roof rails. At the back, the Magnite sports sharp looking LED tail lamps which resemble those on the Triber's, a clean tail gate and a dual tone bumper. The Magnite is also set to be the first model in India to sport the new Nissan logo.

Interior

The interior too is expected to be close to the concept with a large, centrally mounted 8” touchscreen and layered dashboard with an octagonal theme. Other expected features include:

• 4 airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Rear AC vents

• Rear 60:40 Split Seat

• Push button start

• 7 inch Digital instrument cluster

• Auto climate control

• Auto headlamps

• Auto wipers

• 360 degree camera

• Connected car tech

• Front and Rear seat armrests

• Auto folding ORVMs

• LED Projector Headlights 

• L-shaped LED DRLs

• 16-inch alloys

• Functional roof rails

• 336-litre boot space

• 205 mm ground clearance

• 8-inch Touchscreen infotainment Apple Carplay Android Auto

• 6 Speakers 

Powertrain

The Nissan Magnite is expected to be available with two engine options. The first will be the 1.0L Energy series, 3 cyl Naturally aspirated engine from the Renault Triber, producing 72PS Power through a 5 speed manual gearbox. The second powertrain will be a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol unit producing 95PS Power through either a 5 speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

Pricing and launch:

The new Nissan Magnite will be launched by early 2021.The Magnite is also likely to be priced very aggressively with expected starting price of Rs.5.5L ex showroom for the entry level non turbo variant. The fully loaded top spec variant is expected to be priced equivalent to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, one of its chief rivals. When launched, the Magnite will go against the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Ford Ecosport, Mahindra XUV300 and the Honda WRV as well. Stay tuned for further updates on the Nissan Magnite.

But what about hatchbacks? Well, they’re still in demand too and we think they still would be in the near future. After all, small, affordable and peppy cars are always good in have in congested cities. Speaking of small cars, the Kia Picanto has made quite a name since its launch a few years ago. Also known as ‘ Kia Morning’ in many countries, the Picanto is available in three engine options, funky colours and a few of the so called attractive features.

Based on the Hyundai i10 platform internationally, the Picanto is quite similar in size to that of the

i10 making it look like one too, if you look closely from different angles. But that’s possible only if you have a keen eye. The 2020 avatar of the Picanto has many aesthetic changes made to it which make it a bit overwhelming for a small car.

The front end gets a new chrome ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, LED projector headlamps, a redesigned bumper with a new place for the fog lights and bigger air dams. Overall, we think Kia has tried to make the Picanto look a bit aggressive but the front actually looks like there’s too much happening there all at the same time. A bit cramped of sorts.

The rear and sides too don’t miss out on the 2020 updates. The rear bumper gets a diffuser, taillights are now LED and the alloy wheels get a new design. Yes, we know, it looks like it has fake exhausts. The look at the back is opposite from what’s happening in the front. There’s lots of space the designers could fill stuff in. Or not, perhaps.

Speaking of the interior, most things looked the same as the earlier models except for a few additions that would make it a highly attractive package in India. A large eight- inch touch screen Infotainment System with UVO connectivity suite, automatic AC, push button start- stop, an electric sunroof, ventilated front seats and a semi digital instrument panel with a 4.2 inch multi- information display. As keen drivers, we liked the electric sunroof bit the most.

Speaking of the heart of the matter, the Kia Picanto comes with three engine options- a 1.0 litre three cylinder naturally aspirated engine churning out 75 bhp and 95NM of torque, a four cylinder 1.2 litre engine making around 85 bhp and lastly, a 1.0 litre three cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 99 bhp. That’s a lot of choice for a small car! The three cylinder motors however get only a 5 speed manual gearbox whereas the four cylinder motor gets the option of a 4- speed automatic.

Safety too isn’t compromised. It has what most modern small hatchbacks come with- seven airbags, ABS, EBD, reverse parking assist, and many other features which we may not see in India even if the car is launched soon. The seven airbags option is also a great start in terms of safety for a small car like the Picanto and we do hope to see it if at all the car is launched in India.

Speaking of the Kia Picanto launch in India, Kia has expressed that it isn’t keen on entering the hatchback segment in India yet, especially when it is currently focussing on bringing the compact SUV Kia Sonet into India soon. But with times changing quickly, you may see the Picanto on Indian roads sooner than expected. Or, maybe not so soon. Well, only time will tell in case you’ve been waiting for this hatchback.