MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV All 6 Driving Modes Explained

The Hector Tomahawk PHEV is one of the first exciting mass-market plug-in hybrids available in India. With it, the SUV brings a fair amount of technical jargon that can be overwhelming for first-time buyers. Here, we simplify one of the most complicated aspects of its drivetrain: the different driving modes.

Depending on the driving situation, the Hector Tomahawk PHEV powertrain can operate as a pure electric vehicle, use the petrol engine to generate electricity, combine the engine and motor to drive the wheels, or use the engine to recharge the battery.

MG offers six operating modes in the Tomahawk PHEV: Pure EV, Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid, Regeneration, Pure Engine and Engine Drive + Charge. Understanding these modes makes it much easier to understand why a plug-in hybrid can deliver EV-like driving around town while still offering the long-distance convenience of a petrol engine.

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The basic powertrain

The Tomahawk PHEV uses a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, a 20.5 kWh battery and an electric motor. The petrol engine produces around 102 hp and 125 Nm, while the electric motor produces around 201 hp and 237 Nm.

The battery can provide more than 115 km of claimed electric-only driving range, while the combination of the battery and 52-litre petrol tank gives the SUV a claimed overall range of more than 1,100 km.

The important thing to understand is that the petrol engine does not have to drive the wheels all the time. The car can decide whether electricity, the engine, or both should provide the required propulsion.

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Pure EV mode

Pure EV mode is the simplest operating mode. The battery sends electricity to the electric motor, and the electric motor drives the wheels.

The petrol engine remains switched off, so there is no need to burn fuel during this type of driving. This is the mode that makes the Tomahawk PHEV behave most like a conventional electric car.

It is particularly useful for city driving and short daily journeys. With more than 115 km of claimed electric range, a driver with a relatively short commute could potentially complete their daily journey without using the petrol engine at all.

The biggest advantage here is smoothness. The electric motor can deliver torque almost immediately, which makes the SUV feel responsive when pulling away from traffic lights or moving through congested roads.

Series Hybrid mode

Series Hybrid mode is one of the most interesting parts of the Tomahawk's powertrain.

Here, the petrol engine does not directly drive the wheels. Instead, the engine is used to generate electricity. That electricity can then be used by the electric motor to propel the vehicle.

The power flow can be simplified as:

Petrol engine → generator → electricity → electric motor → wheels

This means that even though the petrol engine has started, the electric motor remains responsible for driving the wheels.

The advantage is that the engine can operate in a way that is better suited to generating electricity, while the electric motor handles propulsion. It is conceptually similar to a range-extender system.

This mode can be useful when the battery's charge is getting low but the vehicle still needs electric propulsion.

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Parallel Hybrid mode

Parallel Hybrid mode is where the petrol engine and electric motor work together to propel the vehicle.

Instead of the engine merely generating electricity, the engine can contribute directly to propulsion while the electric motor provides additional assistance.

The basic idea is:

Petrol engine + electric motor → wheels

This mode becomes particularly useful when the driver demands more power, such as during acceleration, overtaking or higher-speed driving.

The electric motor can provide immediate torque while the petrol engine supplies sustained power. The result is a combination that can offer stronger acceleration than relying on either power source alone.

This is also one of the key differences between a plug-in hybrid and a pure EV. Once the battery charge becomes low, the vehicle doesn't simply lose its ability to travel long distances. The petrol engine can take over or assist as required.

Regeneration mode

Regeneration is not really a conventional driving mode in the same sense as EV or Parallel Hybrid mode. Instead, it describes what happens when the vehicle uses its electric motor to recover energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration.

When you lift off the accelerator or apply the brakes, the electric motor can operate in reverse as a generator.

The vehicle's kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy, which is then sent back into the battery.

The simplified process is:

Wheels → electric motor acting as generator → battery

This is called regenerative braking.

It is one of the reasons hybrids and EVs can be particularly efficient in city traffic. Every time the vehicle slows down, some of the energy can be recovered instead of being completely wasted as heat through the conventional brakes.

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Pure Engine mode

As the name suggests, Pure Engine mode relies primarily on the petrol engine for propulsion.

Instead of asking the electric motor to provide the main driving force, the powertrain allows the petrol engine to operate as the primary source of propulsion.

This can be useful when the battery's available charge is low or when the driving conditions favour direct engine operation.

It also means that the Tomahawk PHEV does not have to behave like an EV simply because it has a large battery. The system has the flexibility to use its petrol engine when necessary.

Engine Drive + Charge mode

Engine Drive + Charge takes the concept a step further.

In this mode, the petrol engine is used not only to propel the vehicle but also to generate additional electricity for the battery.

The powertrain is therefore doing two things at the same time: moving the SUV and replenishing some of the battery's charge.

This can be useful when a driver knows that they will soon enter an area where electric driving is desirable but the battery does not have enough charge.

For example, imagine driving on a highway with a low battery and knowing that you will soon reach a city. The system can use the petrol engine during the highway section and build up some battery charge, allowing more electric driving later.

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Why does the Tomahawk need six modes?

The reason is efficiency.

There is no single powertrain configuration that is ideal for every driving situation. An electric motor is excellent at low-speed acceleration and stop-start traffic, while a petrol engine can be useful for sustained high-speed driving and long-distance travel.

A hybrid system therefore tries to use each component where it makes the most sense.

That is ultimately the point of the six-mode system. The Tomahawk PHEV is not simply switching between a petrol engine and an electric motor. It is constantly deciding how electricity should be generated, stored and delivered to the wheels to balance performance, efficiency and range.