MG’s new, electric sports car is here, and it’s a chonker
Whatever your thoughts on the styling, name, or powertrain, isn’t it refreshing to read about a new car that isn’t a crossover? The MG badge means you’ll more likely than not have your opinions on this electric convertible, dubbed the Cyberster.
As expected—and indeed, as its concept version previewed last year—the MG Cyberster is an all-electric sports car with two seats and a retractable roof, and has just been officially unveiled at the Shanghai auto show.
While we might associate MG with small and nimble sports cars of the past, the Cyberster is significantly larger than that. At 14.8 feet long, 6.3 feet wide, and 4.4 feet high, the MG is longer, wider and taller than the current Mazda MX-5—in fact, it’s more like a 992-chassis Porsche 911, which is still shorter, narrower and lower than the MG.
At 4078 to 4376 pounds, depending on the specification, it’s 1600 pounds heavier than a Mazda MX-5, give or take a bag or two of sugar. That too eclipses the 911, the heaviest of which is around 3748 pounds. It is, to use the modern vernacular, a bit of a chonker, and the culprit is, as usual, that electric powertrain.
The Cyberster will be available in both single- and dual-motor guises, with outputs ranging from 309 hp to 536 hp. The top speed is 124mph, while the 0-to-62-mph time is likely to be very quick. Range, like that of other MG models, should be pretty decent, though full battery details haven’t yet been confirmed.
When the Cyberster arrives in 2024, it’ll be the company’s first new two-seater sports car since the ’90s MG F (driven here) and later TF (2002–5). Neither was sold in the States. The British-built TF re-emerged in 2008 as the LE500, with a new nose, interior tweaks, new suspension and brakes, and a 1796-cc engine configured for Euro 4 emissions standards.
While the car will likely be built in China, it’s been designed in London, at the brand’s studio in Marylebone, in London. Advanced Design Director, Carl Gotham, said the company’s intention was to “create a design that was respectful of the brand’s illustrious past and to bring back that sporting bloodline,” hinting at the disappearance of a proper MG sports car with the LE500 more than a decade ago. At the same time, the shape is “modern and forward-facing like the MG of today, completely in-tune with the rapid transition to electric vehicles.”
In an earlier teaser video, shown below, the Cyberster appeared with scissor doors, a Tesla-style steering yoke, and an electrically operated folding roof. The doors and electric folding roof are present and correct on the car in Shanghai, but while no full interior views have been shown, it looks like the steering wheel is at least conventional for now.
While the weight and size are something of a disappointment—making it more of a serious sports car than a spiritual successor to the MGF—MG’s recent products have been competitive, well-priced, and even good fun. If MG can replicate those brand characteristics in a sports car, we might be in for a treat—something we’ll discover when it arrives in the U.K. in summer 2024.
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Via Hagerty UK
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At least it is 429 pounds lighter than my 2004 AWD Lincoln Aviator was. I would like to see how nimble it is on a track. With that much mass it doesn’t sound like it’s very “toss-able”.
Even with that much weight at that size I would imagine it carries it’s weight well if the battery is low in the car. I wonder how that much weight in a small sports car is handled in an accident. Regardless of the battery issues such as fire, etc the force of the weight in a potentially high speed accident in a small sports car has to be a concern.
Don’t like the porshee Vette front end look, the real road experience is petrol not juice, the doors are a waste, it’s ok , for the times,but lost its tradition,, on scale it’s a 6
I don’t know; I think the doors look sleek and well-sculpted. Overall, I think it is quite attractive, with the possible exception of the lower area of the frontend. I could see me driving one, except not as an EV.
Funny thing, though – from the front quarter-view, it reminds me a little – just a little – of the 1995 Pontiac Sunbird convertible – not necessarily a bad thing, though.
Yeah, everybody wants a British car built in China. They just don’t get it do they? Build the damn thing in England.
If they built The Damn thing in England it would be another unreliable car that you worked on more than you drove just like everything else Built In England 🙂
Wrong. I’ve have many many many British cars. They have been all as reliable as the fabled “Toyota” quality. I drive my 1960’s Austins thousands of care free miles each year. Never a worry. And if had the unfortunate instance of a break down…there’s nothing I couldn’t fix on the side of the road.
I’ve never broken down once in nearly 40 years of driving British cars. I’ve had at least 20 British cars ranging from 1955-68. (And an absolutely flawless 2003 Jag S-Type) I ran out of gas a couple of times but that was no fault of the car.
Morris Garages (the actual name of MG) has been replaced by Chinese marque “Modern Gentleman” and long gone is the plant at Longbridge. No chance of building a car at Cowley, Abingdon or Longbridge.
Gee, I thought that the new meaning of MG was Mandarin Garages. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!
DANG… that thing is FUGly!
So who will be the first one to do an LS-swap in this?? Hahahaha!
I am just happy to see a manufacturer producing something that is designed to be fun to drive. Other than Porsche, BMW, and Mazda, just about everyone else has given up on two seat, fun to drive cars in favor of SUV’s and pickup trucks.
The corvette has always been fun to drive and still is the best super car for the price
I would be interested in the MG were it not made in China by a Chinese company. I don’t think Chinese quality is up to par, despite how much automotive tech they’ve stolen over the past decade or so. Buying Chinese now is like Buying Korean in the late ’80s/early ’90s. And that’s not even getting into the political discussion!
It would be a welcome surprise to see MG’s being built in Longbridge again. It’s a shame seeing a proper British motor not being built by British hands
How many pounds–er Dollars–for that chonker?
Never heard the term “chonker” before; guess that is British slang?
“Chonker” It means; a chunk of metal that will finally put Morris Garage out of business forever. Shame. All these manufacturers scream about how fast the new EV’s can accelerate but, they have forgotten plane old physics. These unusually heavy vehicles will tax tires and roads mercilessly not to mention endanger the occupants.
It’s “plain” – just sayin’
thanks Elliot. just typing too fast!
That would be a “chunker clunker” then.
It is truly sad to realize that we will never again have a simple lightweight tossable car, like the MG’s of old or early Miata’s. I don’t care to have a sub 4-second 0 to 60 time and I don’t care to have 500 miles of electric range. I want something that I can take out and put 120 miles on and just have fun. I guess I will keep my 2008 Miata for the foreseeable future
Interesting but not something I would blow my money on.
I’m sorry I would not take one even if it were given to me!
If we must go ‘EV”, take the body shell of an original MG-TD, MGA, or an MGB and throw the battery in while retaining all that made Britain famous in the 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s.
I’ll keep my 1969 MGB with leather seats, tonneau cover and wire wheels.
And Rust!
I know it’s global economy, but CHINA !?!
I could care less about all the EV cars coming, they are a waste of resources and in my opinion, the auto makers will fail without more (GM like) government subsidies in the future,. Go ahead and build all you want, I am not on the bandwagon to buy them…I can just envision 20 or 30 cars lined up at a charging station and I simply come in, pay for my gas, and proceed for another 400 miles. What a crock!!!
I doubt if you will be able to buy gas in 10 years. Better start investing in 5 gallon cans 🙂
There will always be gas because there are so many gas cars. There will always be oil companies it will be the price that would be the question.
Better still do as most (admittedly not all)EV drivers currently do and charge at home, leave the house every day with a full tank and rarely, if ever, visit a public charging station except maybe on long trips.
In the late 1800s/early 1900s talk about the NEW Horseless carriage sounded much like Your rant—
Why would I go to a charging station when I can just plug in at home before I go to bed? I get up in the morning and I can go 300 miles at 2 1/4 cents per mile.
When will it hit Australia?