MG evokes fond memories for many. Today, MG is owned by the Chinese conglomerate SAIC, which thus also manages the legacy of the legendary car brand. Now the memories will be brought to life through the MG Cyberster.
Between MGB and Ferrari
MG's new sports car is an electric roadster with performance and handling that can compete with supercars from Italy. Although one can trace similarities between the early MGB and the Cyberster, it is worth noting that at 4,54 meters in length the Cyberster belongs to at least two car classes above the MGB, - more in the same size as the Ferrari 296 Hybrid. Although it shares one thing with the MGB – it is relatively affordable for a sports car. In China, the most expensive model is marketed at a price equivalent to NOK 525. British media expect a price of 000 GBP - approx. NOK 50. In comparison, the Ferrari 000 Hybrid costs over NOK 650 million in Norway.
Marks the 100th anniversary
The last time anyone produced an electric roadster was the Lotus-based Tesla Roadster from 2008 to 2012. It was a signal model to show the potential of electric cars. Until then, electric cars were small, slow-moving cars for short journeys. One can perhaps speculate whether the MG Cyberster is also a signal model, albeit with a different message than Tesla. MG turns 100 in 2024, which will be celebrated with the Cyberster. I also think that more people than I wonder why someone buys one of the world's most famous sports car brands to produce boring everyday cars. SAIC needs a new sports car to remind people of MG's sports car era. I don't think many of today's 30-year-olds know what MGB is.
Promisingly equipped
It commits to developing a sports car under MG. SAIC's design studio is located in London and is led by Carl Gotham. They are the ones who designed Cyberster. The undercarriage has been reviewed and "fine-tuned" by Marco Fainello, earlier chassis dynamics engineer at Ferrari's F1 division in the Scuderia. The suspension at the front is double wishbones and multi-link suspension at the rear - with dynamically controlled damping. The ESP system can be switched off completely if you want to "operate". You will also find Brembo brakes, a Continental braking and stabilization system, intelligent cruise control and the possibility of remote parking. Many will probably also like the electric scissor doors and triple screen in the dashboard.
Driven on Chinese roads now
On MG's Chinese website you can order the MG Cyberster now. From the end of November this year, the Chinese car press has had cars made available to them. Whether it is about pre-production cars or production cars is a little unclear, but already in spring, pictures of the car were shown in connection with Guangzhou Auto Show. These were two cars made for taking photos – one left-hand drive and one right-hand drive. Before this, images of the prototype from 2021 were shown. These differ greatly from the production model. SAIC states on its news pages that the UK can expect to receive cars in mid-2024. I assume that also applies to Norway.
Three editions
In China you can get the Cyberster in three versions, where it will probably be the version with "dual motor" that will be most popular in our latitudes. The name of the equipment grades are translated from Chinese. Other designations may be used when the cars arrive in Europe.
Pioneer Edition has a small battery pack of 64 kwh, simple engine of 314 hp and 475 Nm with rear wheel drive. 0-100 stated at 4,9 seconds. Price in China: NOK 467.
Style Edition has a large battery pack of 77 kwh, a simple engine with several powers, 340 hp and 475 Nm with rear-wheel drive. Price in China: NOK 496.
Glamor Edition has a large battery pack, two engines with a combined 544 hp and 725 Nm with 4-wheel drive. 0-100 stated at 3,2 seconds. Price in China: NOK 525.
In addition to the three versions mentioned, it is planned to develop an extreme version, called "Red Hood". The cars can be delivered in the following three colours: red flame, Bullet Silver og Light Speedy Yellow. Ranges are stated as 500 and 580 km according to the Chinese measurement standard, which gives more optimistic figures than the WLTP measurements.
MG between MGB and Cyberster
MG is known for its light sports cars. Everyone remembers the 60s icon MGB – a conventional roadster and coupe – beautiful, smooth-driving and relatively affordable. From 1986, MG, along with what was left of British Leyland, was incorporated into Rover Group. They further developed the MGB into the RV8 with Rover's V8 engine, while also developing the MGF, a new lightweight model with a mid-engine. In 1995, Rover Group sold to BMW. They kept the MGF in production until 2000, when they sold MG/Rover back to a start-up British company called MG Rover Group. A sequel to MGF, called MGTF, was developed there, which was in production until the company went bankrupt in 2005. The estate was bought up by Chinese Nanjing Automobile who within 2 years managed to resume the production of MGTF in China, at the same time they restarted MG's production in Longbridge, England, where they sent parts from China for assembly. Production ceased in 2010. Meanwhile, Nanjing Automobile had been incorporated into SAIC. The next sports car in the series will be the Cyberster, 14 years later.
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