MG Hector Hawk spied: Starlight 560 twin lands in India with EV and PHEV
MG has been caught testing the EV version of its upcoming Wuling Starlight 560-based SUV, tipped to be badged the Hector Hawk. Launch is set for August 2026 in both EV and PHEV forms, targeting the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and Mahindra XEV 9S on price and space.
What was announced
MG's next India launch is a three-row SUV based on the Wuling Starlight 560, expected to wear the Hector Hawk badge when it arrives in August 2026. It sits on the new ADAPT platform revealed earlier this month, and will be offered in both a plug-in hybrid and a pure electric form. Direct rivals will be the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and the electric Mahindra XEV 9S.
If MG lands the Hector Hawk EV under Rs 25 lakh with 530km of claimed range, the three-row SUV segment gets rewritten overnight.
The latest test mule confirms an EV version, identified by a blanked-off grille and a charging port on the left-rear fender. Design details visible through the camouflage include rectangular LED headlights with LED DRLs above and below, wraparound taillights, and a relatively clean side profile on simple alloys. Inside, spy shots point to a minimalist dual-tone dashboard with two screens.
| Spec | EV | PHEV |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 69.2kWh | 20.5kWh |
| Engine | Not offered | 1.5L petrol |
| Range (claimed) | 530km | 127km electric |
| Body | Three-row SUV | Three-row SUV |
Figures are pre-launch estimates based on the Wuling Starlight 560 donor car; India-spec numbers will be confirmed at launch in August 2026.
The Car Jury verdict
MG has form on this playbook: rebadge a Chinese-market car, price it aggressively, undercut Mahindra and Tata on tech. The Windsor EV proved buyers will accept it if the sums add up. The Hector Hawk pushes the same idea into three-row territory, which is exactly where Mahindra's XEV 9E and BE6 currently look unbeatable.
Rachit Hirani of MotorOctane sums up MG's dual-launch habit bluntly: "They have also launched EV with ICE." That is the Hawk's real weapon, a PHEV with 127km electric range for buyers who still want a petrol safety net. Wait for the August pricing before signing anything on an MG Hector replacement or a Safari. If MG lands the EV under Rs 25 lakh with that 530km claim, the segment gets rewritten overnight.
