4 New Plug-In Hybrid Cars Launching This Year: Jetour T2 To MG Starlight
In the last five years, we have seen a changing trend in the car industry. Most brands are aggressively working to meet the CAFE norms, and as part of that, they are developing more efficient and less-polluting technologies for vehicles. While most of them were focusing on EVs, there are brands that are working on other options like strong hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Here we have a list of four new plug-in hybrid cars that are coming to the Indian market this year.
One of India's largest luxury car manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, is working on a facelift for its flagship sedan, the S-Class. For the first time, this luxury sedan will be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The car is expected to be launched on June 15.
This PHEV version of the luxury limousine will be called the S 450e and will be offered with EQ Hybrid Technology. It is powered by a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol inline-six engine paired with an electric motor. It generates a combined 435 hp and 680 Nm of torque. It is paired with a 22 kWh battery that is claimed to deliver a 100 km driving range in pure-electric mode.
BYD recently unveiled its DM-i plug-in hybrid technology for the first time in India. Until now, BYD was known as an EV maker in India. However, the brand now wants to explore other options. DM-i stands for "Dual Mode, Intelligent" plug-in hybrid technology. Designed with an "electric-first" philosophy, the system relies primarily on a large electric motor and Blade Battery technology for city driving.
The BYD Seal U is expected to be launched by the end of 2026 and is known as the Sealion 6 in many markets. It is a premium SUV that is 4,775 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,670 mm tall. The SUV comes with premium features like leatherette upholstery, a three-spoke steering wheel, a 15.6-inch rotating infotainment touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch digital driver's display. It also gets Level 2 ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and more.
The SUV is powered by 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and turbo-petrol engine options. Both engine options are paired with either an 18.3 kWh or a 26.6 kWh battery pack. The naturally aspirated version of the SUV generates 218 PS, which is sent to the front wheels. The larger battery variant is offered with the turbo-petrol engine, which generates between 324 PS and 344 PS. The SUV offers a combined driving range of over 1,200 km.
The Jetour T2 is a plug-in hybrid SUV heavily inspired by the rugged styling of the Land Rover Defender. It is likely to be the first product launched under the JSW badge. It is expected to be priced at around ₹40 lakh to rival the Toyota Fortuner.
The SUV comes with a rugged-looking exterior featuring a flat bonnet, rectangular LED lights, large alloy wheels, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, 220 mm of ground clearance, and a 700 mm water-wading capacity.
It is powered by an i-DM 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 3-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission. This setup generates a combined 221 bhp and 390 Nm of torque. A 26.7 kWh LFP battery is part of the system, offering an EV-only range of 139 km.
This will be MG's first-ever PHEV in the Indian market. Internationally, the SUV is available in both EV and plug-in hybrid forms. The hybrid version comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a 20.5 kWh battery pack, generating around 197 bhp, delivering 100 km of pure electric range, and offering a combined driving range of over 1,100 km. MG is also expected to bring the EV version of the Starlight 560 to the Indian market in the future.
The Starlight 560 PHEV will rival models like the Mahindra XEV 9S and is expected to come with a decent number of features, such as a 12.8-inch touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, a digital instrument cluster, ventilated and powered front seats, a 360-degree camera, and possibly even ADAS.