JSW MG Motor India has locked in August 26 for the debut of its new three-row SUV, and this one is a genuinely different kind of MG launch. It isn’t a facelift or a variant update. It’s the first product built on the company’s new ADAPT (Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology), and it’s arriving with two separate powertrain options on day one, a full EV and a plug-in hybrid, under a single nameplate.
Most coverage so far has referred to the car as the Hector Hawk. A smaller set of reports has used “Hector Tomahawk” instead, so treat the final name as unconfirmed until MG’s own reveal on August 26.
What’s confirmed versus what’s still expected
JSW MG Motor India has officially confirmed the August 26 launch date and has released teaser material showing both the exterior silhouette and a first look at the cabin. Pre-bookings have reportedly opened at ₹21,000. Beyond that, most of the powertrain figures, pricing, and final India-spec details are still being reported as expected rather than officially disclosed, so read the numbers below as the current best estimate, not confirmed specification.
Design: what the teasers show
The teaser material points to a boxy, upright SUV built on the same basic shape as the Wuling Starlight 560, the global model the Hector Hawk is based on. Confirmed exterior details from MG’s own teasers include a split LED DRL setup, a black grille with chrome inserts and the MG badge, contrast-coloured skid plates, dual-tone alloy wheels, body-coloured ORVMs, wraparound LED taillamps, an integrated spoiler, a rear wiper and washer, and a brushed-aluminium strip along the window line. The roof, pillars, and shark-fin antenna are finished in black, and India gets its own five-spoke alloy design along with red brake callipers on at least some trims.
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Inside, MG’s teaser confirms a beige-and-black cabin theme, a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a large freestanding touchscreen, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The layout is a seven-seat, three-row arrangement, and one report describes a 2+3+2 configuration with a bench-style second row. A panoramic sunroof has also been shown as part of the equipment list. None of this is final until MG’s own spec sheet drops.
Powertrain: EV and PHEV, two different propositions
This is where the Hector Hawk gets genuinely interesting for the segment. Rather than launching one powertrain and adding the other later, MG is bringing both at once.
The EV version is widely reported to use a roughly 69.2 kWh battery pack paired with a single electric motor on the front axle, with output figures floating around 201-204 PS and 310 Nm. Range is being quoted at up to 530 km, but that figure is on the CLTC test cycle, which is typically optimistic compared to real-world Indian conditions, so don’t take it as the number you’ll actually see on the road.
The PHEV pairs a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with an electric motor and a smaller 20.5 kWh battery. Reported figures put the electric-only range at around 125 km, with a combined range (petrol plus electric) touching 1,000 km or more in some reports. That combination would make it one of the few plug-in hybrids in this segment genuinely capable of covering daily city commutes on electric power alone while still offering a petrol engine for longer highway runs.
None of these powertrain numbers have been officially confirmed by MG for the India-spec car yet.
Expected price
Price estimates vary fairly widely across current coverage, from around ₹15 lakh at the low end to ₹30 lakh at the high end, with several reports converging closer to the ₹18-25 lakh (ex-showroom) range depending on variant and powertrain. Given the spread, treat all of these as pre-launch estimates rather than anything close to final pricing. MG is expected to announce official prices at or close to the August 26 event, with deliveries likely to follow in the September-October window ahead of Diwali 2026.
Who it’s up against
The dual-powertrain approach puts the Hector Hawk in an unusual competitive position, effectively fighting on two fronts. The EV variant is being positioned against three-row electric SUVs like the Mahindra XEV 9S and Mahindra XEV 9e, while the PHEV is expected to go up against the Mahindra XUV 7XO and touch on family SUVs like the Tata Safari. At roughly 4.7 metres long, it also sits in the same size bracket as the XUV700.
What to watch for on August 26
- Final confirmation of the nameplate (Hector Hawk versus Hector Tomahawk)
- Official ex-showroom pricing across the variant lineup
- India-certified range figures for both the EV and PHEV, since the CLTC numbers currently in circulation are unlikely to hold up under Indian testing and driving conditions
- Full seating configuration and feature list confirmation
Techy Trends will update this piece with confirmed specifications and pricing once MG officially reveals the Hector Hawk.
