This new MG concept is a “Cyber” attack on Tesla

China’s SAIC-owned MG has unveiled its Cyberster concept and the high-performance electric sports car concept has clearly been designed to take the fight to Tesla’s upcoming Roadster.

Apart from its two-seater open-topped layout the only feature that MG fans may recognize from the brand’s storied past are the round headlights. However, even these are innovative interactive units called “Magic Eyes” which open when the car is switched on. The Cyberster also gets a so-called “Laser Belt” LED strip that runs the length of the car and follows the outline of the door. Imagine a four-door Tron light cycle and you won’t be far off.

The overall design is very current (electric car pun intended) featuring a long, low nose with a deep front splitter, a high waistline, and compact cabin, stepping up to a high rear deck with twin speed humps/rollover hoops. The rear lights appear to feature arrow-style turn signals, based on the Union Jack flag. We expect Mini may have something to say about this.

However, it won’t be Mini that MG is gunning for with the Cyberster. The company has yet to reveal the car’s battery capacity or motor output, but it has said that it will accelerate from 0-62 mph in less than three seconds and cover 500 miles on a single charge. That pits it against the Tesla Roadster and perhaps even the likes of the Lotus, Pininfarina, and Rimac. Presumably at a fraction of the price as well.

MG hasn’t offered a two-seater since the MG F/TF went out of production in 2011, having  introduced it some 16 years earlier. Instead since its rebirth under Chinese ownership the company has concentrated on affordable family-focused vehicles and EVs, selling across much of the world, but not in the U.S.A.

“Sports cars are the lifeblood of the MG DNA and Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us,” says. Carl Gotham, Director of SAIC Design Advanced London.

The marque’s return to the roadster is indeed an enticing prospect. Should Elon be worried?