New MG Cyberster Roadster has the WOW Factor.
New MG Cyberster has the WOW Factor.
The famous MG sports car brand originated in the UK in 1924 and is now owned by SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, China’s largest car manufacturer. Under SAIC’s stewardship, MG has experienced significant growth, becoming the largest Chinese brand in Europe with estimated sales of 280,000 vehicles in 2024. With a diverse line-up of vehicles designed to meet the needs of modern-day drivers, MG continues to push the boundaries of technology and design in the automotive industry.
An Exciting Return.
The new Cyberster is an all-electric performance roadster, and it represents an exciting return to the convertible market for the iconic MG brand. Even though the MG Cyberster is new to the market, it was a long time in the pipeline, as it was first developed back in 2017 in SAIC’s London studio, and it then evolved into the Cyberster concept car shown in Shanghai in 2021. From this a production version was approved using the same architecture as the MG4 hatchback and finished in toned-down road-ready bodywork.
Supercar-Style Scissor Doors.
The Cyberster continues a lineage of driver-focused sports cars that started with the T-Type models form the 1930s, followed by the MGA, MGB and the MGF. The Cyberster is designed to be a reasonably priced, modern, fully-electric, drop-top sports car replacement for the ever popular MGB from the 1960s. The two-door, two-seater sports car draws a number of styling cues from the classic MGB Roadster while also ushering in new high-tech features, including scissor doors, an interactive gaming cockpit and 5G connectivity. With an overall length in excess of 4.5-metres, the Cyberster is similar in size to a regular mid-size SUV, but it looks nothing like anything else on the road. Despite having the battery bolted under the floor, the car is just 1.33 metres tall, and this is due to the employment of MG’s 110mm “Ultra-thin” battery pack. There is an aerodynamically-designed air-dam, a long bonnet and faired in headlights at the front, and the rear end of the car is equally dramatic. The rear LED lights are in the shape of directional arrows, with the indicators located on the outer edge of the tail lights. A continuous LED light strip stretches across the width of the car and tapers downwards at both ends, and a curved rear diffuser completes the striking look at the rear. Its powerful sportscar profile has a distinct two-stage shoulder line, with a flattened ‘kamm tail’ rear, accentuated by striking alloy wheels. By far, the most talked about feature of the Cyberster are the amazing supercar-style, electrically-powered ‘scissor doors’ that open up and away rather than outwards, and they certainly are an attention-grabber when they are in the process of being opened or closed. Buttons on the key fob provide access to the cabin, but the doors can also be opened from the outside by way of a door-mounted button once the car key is in close proximity. From inside the car, the doors can be opened by way of console-mounted switches which are located either side of the electric roof open/close switch. The fabric roof can be raised or lowered in under 15 seconds, and it can be operated at speeds of up to 50km/h.
Beautifully Crafted Cabin.
Inside the Cyberster there is a quadruple-screen layout, with three screens pivoted towards the driver and a fourth in the centre console that provides easy access to heating and ventilation controls. The biggest screen (10.3”) is behind the steering wheel and it displays all of the necessary driver information data, whereas the smaller 7” screens on either side of the 10.3” screen are home to the navigation on the left, and the rear camera view on the right. All of the touchscreens are intuitive, responsive and are easy to read. The interior is roomy (for the type of car it is), and storage consists of a glovebox, a big shelf behind the seats that can accommodate bags or coats, tiny door bins and a couple of cubbies in the centre console. Material quality is good, and overall build quality is excellent. With lots of electric seat adjustment available, along with steering wheel reach & rake adjustment, it is easy to find a comfortable driving position. The gorgeous sports seats not only look great, but they are also comfortable and supportive. Due to excellent levels of insulation in the roof, when it is up there is little road or wind noise in the cabin. As you would expect with a two-seat roadster, boot capacity isn’t very big but, with a volume of 249-litres, it has the ability to accommodate a couple of small suitcases, or a number of bags of groceries.
Trim & Drivetrain Options.
There are two versions of the MG Cyberster, an entry-level Exclusive, single motor version and a more powerful dual-motor GT – both of which use the same 77kWh battery. The single-motor model produces 340hp and 475Nm of torque, with power sent to the rear wheels. However, its 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.0 seconds proves it’s not a slow version. The performance-focused, dual motor GT version is all-wheel drive, and it increases the power output and torque to 503hp and 725Nm respectively. As a result, it has a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 3.2 seconds, which is in real supercar territory. The official WLTP distance between charges for the entry-level Exclusive model is 507km and for the GT model it is 443km. The maximum charge rate is good at 144kW, which MG claims can charge the battery from 10-80% in 38 minutes, while a 7kW home charge will top the battery up (from empty) in just over 10 hours.
Test Car Details.
My test car was a Cyberster GT which was finished in Dynamic Red metallic paint. Both versions of the Cyberster are loaded with the same extensive list of equipment, so the only noticeable exterior difference is the 20” alloy wheels the GT gets compared to 19” rims on the entry level Exclusive. Shared standard equipment includes, front and rear parking sensors, electric-opening scissor doors, an electric-folding fabric roof, auto-folding door mirrors, electric windows, heated and electrically adjusted sports seats, a wind deflector, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, heated steering wheel, LED external lighting, three-screen dashboard, central touchscreen, Bluetooth, navigation, USB ports, a 360-degree camera system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control to name a few. The Cyberster also gets the full ‘MG Pilot’ suite of safety equipment, including blind-spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, active emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, and lots more too. Whether being driven at motorway speeds or just cruising around town, the Cyberster is composed and relaxing to drive. The comfortable suspension, soft seat upholstery and spacious cabin mean that long distances are enjoyable. There is an EV-typical instant response from the electric motors and near-silent propulsion, as well as a one-pedal mode to make driving in traffic even easier. The Cyberster handles bumps well at lower speeds, but being positioned low on the road, large speed bumps do require a gentle approach. Due to the positioning of the battery pack, the driving position is pleasingly high and, with the low-set dashboard, this allows for excellent visibility. The Cyberster’s excellent driving dynamics are evident right from the start of every journey, and the GT’s all-wheel drive system provides a great sense of stability, even at motorway speeds. As mentioned earlier, the GT can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds, and its straight line performance is outstanding. A variety of driving modes are available to allow you to tailor the car’s character to your needs. The standard setting will be perfectly acceptable for many drivers, but for times when you want a more spirited drive, there is a Super Sport mode located on the steering wheel that unleashes full power. Launch control is also included. To activate this, you simply press the brake pedal with your left foot, press the accelerator pedal fully to the floor, release the brake, and prepare to be sucked back into your seat.
Verdict, Price & Warranty.
The new Cyberster really stands out with its sleek design, advanced technology, and supercar-level performance. The Cyberster is not only a testament to MG’s heritage but also represents a strategic shift towards a more premium brand positioning, focusing on desirability and high-end technology. With prices starting at €69,900 for the Exclusive model and €75,500 for the GT version, the new Cyberster represents outstanding value for money in terms of its power to price ratio. The comprehensive 7-year /150,000km warranty that comes as standard shows the confidence MG has in the quality and reliability of their cars.
Visit www.mg.ie for further information.
