MG's Electric Heartbeat: The Definitive Guide to the MG Cyberster

For decades, the name MG (Morris Garages) was synonymous with the quintessential British sports car: lightweight, nimble, affordable, and designed for the sheer joy of driving. Cars like the MGA and MGB defined an era of open-top motoring, creating a legacy of wind-in-the-hair freedom. However, after a turbulent history, the modern, SAIC-owned MG brand has largely focused on producing practical and value-oriented SUVs and hatchbacks. But in a stunning return to its roots, MG has unleashed the Cyberster—a vehicle that is not just a new car, but a bold proclamation of intent and the electric halo for a brand undergoing a renaissance. This is a comprehensive look at the world’s first truly accessible all-electric roadster.

A Legacy Reborn: The Genesis of the Cyberster

To understand the Cyberster’s significance, one must look back. MG’s golden age was built on two-seater roadsters. The MGB, produced from 1962 to 1980, sold over half a million units and became an icon of affordable fun. After the collapse of MG Rover in 2005, the brand was acquired by China’s Nanjing Automobile, which itself was later acquired by SAIC Motor. Under SAIC, MG was successfully rebooted as a manufacturer of budget-friendly family cars, quickly gaining market share in Europe and beyond with models like the ZS and MG4 EVs.

While commercially successful, this new direction left enthusiasts yearning for a car that embodied the brand’s sporting soul. The whispers of a return to form began to swirl, culminating in the 2021 reveal of the MG Cyberster concept car at the Shanghai Auto Show. It was a radical, futuristic design study with “Magic Eye” headlights that opened and a “laser belt” of LEDs along its sides. The concept was so well-received that MG launched a crowdfunding campaign to gauge public interest in a production version. The campaign was a resounding success, securing 5,000 pre-orders and giving the green light for the project.

The journey from a wild concept to a production reality was overseen by SAIC’s Advanced Design Studio in London, ensuring a tangible link to the brand’s British heritage. The final production model, unveiled in 2023, toned down the most fantastical elements of the concept but crucially retained its most dramatic and celebrated features: the electronically-operated scissor doors and its classic long-bonnet, short-tail roadster proportions. Launched to coincide with MG’s centenary celebration, the Cyberster is positioned as both a tribute to the past and a bold leap into an electric future.

Production Years and Market Rollout

The MG Cyberster is a very new vehicle, marking a fresh chapter for the brand.

Production Start: Full-scale production for the Chinese domestic market commenced in late 2023.
Global Release: The global rollout, including key markets like the United Kingdom and Europe, is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024.

Therefore, the official production years for the MG Cyberster began in 2023 and are ongoing (2023-present).

Models and Trim Levels

Upon its global launch, the MG Cyberster is offered in two distinct powertrain configurations, which correspond to its primary trim levels. Both models share the same 77 kWh (usable capacity) battery pack, providing a solid foundation for both range and performance.

1. MG Cyberster Trophy (Single Motor RWD)

The Trophy model represents the purist’s choice, adhering to the classic rear-wheel-drive layout that defined MG’s historic sports cars. It is designed to offer a balanced and engaging driving experience, prioritizing agility and feel over outright straight-line speed.

Powertrain: Single rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor.
Power Output: Approximately 340 bhp (250 kW).
Torque: 350 lb-ft (475 Nm).
Performance (0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h): 5.0 seconds.
Battery: 77 kWh.
Estimated Range (WLTP): Expected to be over 300 miles (approx. 501 km), though final homologated figures may vary slightly by market.
Key Features: As the entry-point model, it offers the core Cyberster experience, including the signature scissor doors, a high-quality interior, and a comprehensive suite of technology. It is fitted with 19-inch wheels and a standard braking system. The Trophy is aimed at drivers who value the traditional sports car dynamic and the purity of a rear-drive chassis.

2. MG Cyberster GT (Dual Motor AWD)

The GT is the undisputed flagship of the range, transforming the elegant roadster into a genuine supercar competitor. By adding a second electric motor to the front axle, the GT gains all-wheel drive and a staggering increase in power, delivering explosive acceleration.

Powertrain: Dual motor setup (one front, one rear) providing all-wheel drive.
Combined Power Output: Approximately 544 bhp (400 kW).
Combined Torque: 535 lb-ft (725 Nm).
Performance (0-62 mph / 0-100 km/h): A blistering 3.2 seconds.
Battery: 77 kWh.
Estimated Range (WLTP): Due to its higher power output and weight, the range is slightly reduced compared to the Trophy, estimated at around 270-280 miles (approx. 440 km).
Key Features: The GT model builds on the Trophy’s specification with performance-oriented enhancements. It features larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a more powerful Brembo braking system with four-piston calipers for superior stopping power, and unique GT badging. This trim is for the enthusiast seeking maximum performance and the security of all-wheel drive, offering acceleration figures that challenge vehicles costing two or three times as much.

Design and Engineering: A Modern Classic

The Cyberster’s most immediate impact comes from its design. The scissor doors, a feature typically reserved for Italian supercars, provide immense visual drama and are the car’s defining characteristic. Beyond this party piece, the vehicle’s proportions are expertly judged. A long, low bonnet flows into a steeply raked windscreen and a taut, muscular rear end, culminating in a distinctive Kammback tail. The rear lighting is equally audacious, with arrow-shaped LED tail lights that serve as a nod to the Union Jack.

Underneath the skin, the Cyberster is built on SAIC’s Modular Scalable Platform (MSP), an architecture shared with the successful MG4 EV. However, it has been heavily modified for sports car application. The primary challenge was packaging a large battery pack into a low-slung roadster chassis without compromising structural rigidity—a critical factor in an open-top car. The result is a vehicle that is significantly heavier than its petrol-powered predecessors, with the GT tipping the scales at nearly 2,000 kg. However, the low center of gravity afforded by the floor-mounted battery aids stability and handling.

The fabric soft-top roof is fully electric and can be operated in around 10-15 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph, ensuring the open-air experience is always just a button-press away.

The Cockpit: A Digital Embrace

Inside, the Cyberster’s cabin is as forward-thinking as its powertrain. The layout is unapologetically driver-focused, dominated by a trio of curved digital screens that wrap around the driver. This setup displays all critical information, from speed and navigation to battery status and media controls, creating an immersive, cockpit-like environment. Physical switchgear is kept to a minimum, with key functions like drive selection and roof operation handled by buttons on a sleek center console.

Material quality is a significant step up for the MG brand, with a mix of leather, Alcantara, and polished metal-effect trim creating a premium ambiance. The sports seats offer substantial support, essential for a car with this level of performance.

Future Outlook and Market Position

The MG Cyberster enters a unique and largely uncontested space in the automotive market. As of its launch, there are no other all-electric, two-seater roadsters available at its anticipated price point (expected to be around £55,000 for the Trophy and £60,000 for the GT in the UK). Its philosophical competitor is the Mazda MX-5—the champion of affordable fun—but the Cyberster operates in a different league in terms of power and technology. Performance-wise, it challenges established petrol-powered rivals like the Porsche 718 Boxster and BMW Z4, while significantly undercutting them on price.

Its true purpose, however, extends beyond sales figures. The Cyberster is a “halo car” designed to fundamentally reshape public perception of the MG brand. It injects excitement, glamour, and high performance into a lineup known for practicality. It demonstrates SAIC’s engineering prowess and signals that MG is not just a follower in the EV space but a potential leader.

The future for the Cyberster looks bright. It will likely inspire a new generation of electric sports cars from other manufacturers, effectively kick-starting a new market segment. For MG, its success will be measured not just in units sold, but in the positive brand association it generates, potentially lifting the appeal and sales of its entire model range. It is a love letter to the past, written with the ink of the future, proving that the thrill of the open road has a bright, silent, and electrifyingly fast future.