Say hello to MG Motor India’s second product offering – the ZS EV. After much speculation on what it would be like, the India-spec EV is the same as the one sold in the UK. As revealed earlier, the company will assemble the ZS EV at its sole plant in Halol, Gujarat, and that process will commence later this month. As far as the launch is concerned, that will happen in January 2020.

With those details out of the way, let’s understand what is powering the MG ZS EV. A front-mounted electric motor that produces 141bhp/353Nm gets its juices from a 44.5kWh battery pack, while a single-speed unit handles transmission duties. The company claims that the setup is enough for a 0-100kmph sprint time of 8.5 seconds. Although MG Motor India hasn’t confirmed the top speed figure, the UK-spec model tops out 140kmph.

As you’d expect, the battery supports quick charging (DC and AC). With a 50kW DC feed, the MG ZS EV can replenish 80 per cent of the battery within 50 minutes. All MG dealerships will have such chargers, which all MG ZS EV customers can use 24×7. Those who opt for can get a 7.4kW AC fast charger installed at their offices or homes. With it plugged in, the wait for 100 per cent charge could be between 6 to 8 hours. If neither of those options is convenient, plugging the car to a 15amp socket is also an option. In such a scenario, one might have to wait between 16 to 18 hours to get the full charge. The ARAI-certified range on a single charge is 340km.

Unlike the MG Hector, which comes with a massive 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment display, the ZS EV makes do with an 8.0-inch unit. However, the latter packs more features. For instance, the ZS EV will boast MG’s i-Smart 2.0 technology, which ropes in over sixty connected-car features. A few amongst those include automatic emergency calling, remotely turning the AC on/off, the capability to receive OTA updates, geofencing and live traffic information. Gizmos such as a PM 2.5 filter, panoramic sunroof, multiple driving modes (Eco, Sport & Normal), cruise control, LED DRLs and 17-inch alloy wheels will also be on offer.

To start with, MG Motor India will sell the ZS EV in five cities – Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru. Just like it did with the Hector, the company is likely to price the EV aggressively to worry the sole competitor – the Hyundai Kona Electric. A quick comparison between the two reveals that the ZS EV has the size and a fatter list of features on its side. The Hyundai, on the other hand, offers more range on a single charge (452km) and has the backing of a much stronger service network. Which, out of the two, would you choose?