During the 20th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), MG Philippines surprised the public with a pair of vehicles. One is the frame-based MG D90, which is set to compete against the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Nissan Terra, and the Toyota Fortuner. Meanwhile, the other vehicle is the MG ZS HEV, which is set to compete against the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV and the Honda HR-V RS e:HEV.

At the time both vehicles were previewed, the brand did not elaborate on the vehicle specifications of the D90 and ZS HEV. However, we did notice that the automaker recently received regulatory approval for an upcoming passenger vehicle that comes with a 1490cc engine. A quick check on what powers this particular engine has resulted in the same 1490cc engine (or 1.5L) that’s found in the MG ZS HEV found in global markets.

After digging for more info, the new 1.5L engine is called the L3A, and it’s a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder that benefits from direct injection. It’s also the same engine that’s found in the hybrid (and non-hybrid) versions of the MG3 Hatchback. In the MG ZS HEV, the four-cylinder alone makes 107 PS with 128 Nm of torque. But with the help of an electric motor and a 1.83 kWh battery pack, the ZS HEV makes a combined 196 PS and 250 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to the front wheels via a 3-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT).

While MG Philippines has yet to officially launch the all-new MG ZS HEV, the fact that the automaker has already received regulatory approval means that perhaps the brand is already making preparations for its eventual debut. Since electrified vehicles continue to grow in popularity in the country, the ZS HEV could prove to be a popular choice as the regular ZS is already a staple on Philippine roads.

The only question left for now is, how much will MG Philippines price the ZS HEV? With both the Corolla Cross HEV and HR-V RS e:HEV already having quite the expensive price tag, it’s possible MG Philippines undercuts its closest competitors with the ZS HEV.