MG’s newest crossover will be given a boost next month.
The Hyundai Tucson-rivalling MG HS line-up will be bolstered by the addition of a range-topping Essence model, sitting above the current Vibe and Excite.
UPDATE, 19/06/2020 9:15am – MG has revealed pricing for the HS Essence. We’ve updated our text and headline, and moved the story forward on the website.
The MG Australia website is also promising an HS Essence Anfield, in a nod to the brand’s partnership with British soccer club Liverpool.
With a panoramic sunroof, surround-view camera, and a red interior option with sportier seats, the HS Essence will be priced at $36,990 before on-road costs.
That puts it in line with a low-end Mazda CX-5 Maxx Sport with front-wheel drive, or a high-end Hyundai Tucson Elite on price.
As with the wider HS range, it will also feature a reversing camera and parking sensors, a 10.1-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and proximity entry.
It should also pack a powered tailgate, paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control, and interior ambient lighting.
The range-topping HS will be powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine as the existing Vibe and Excite, producing 124kW and 250Nm.
A pair of new powertrains will follow in the footsteps of the range-topping Essence when they arrive in February 2021.
The first of the two is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 172kW and 370Nm, mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.
While the smaller ZS will soon be available with a battery-electric variant, MG will instead introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the HS.
The e-HS, as it’s known in other markets, mates a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine to a 90kW electric motor and a 16.6kWh lithium-ion battery.
Power is delivered to the front wheels only via a 10-speed automatic transmission.
MG claims a combined 217kW and 480Nm, while the hybrid system makes the HS 200kg heavier than the internal-combustion model.
