Despite pursuing other tangents with varying levels of success, it's the two-seat sports cars that old MG remains best known for. The A, B, C and, to a slightly lesser extent, the F, were simple, traditional roadsters and therefore fan favourites. It's nice, then, to see that the new SAIC MG Motor aims to return to the glory days of MG sports cars with this, the Cyberster.
Designed in Marylebone and set for a debut at the Shanghai show later this month, the Cyberster is a two-door, two-seat EV roadster "recalling the brand's tradition". MG goes so far as to say that the headlights and grille were conceived with the MG B in mind. Other features are rather more contemporary: see the Kamm tail, LED 'laser belt' down the side of the car and dramatic rear light signature. And if the design looks familiar, it's because MG is aiming to follow Mini's look with hints of the Union flag: a feature that "echoes MG's British heritage", apparently.
The Cyberster is electric, though little more is known about it now in terms of specifics. As is typical for a concept (where few concessions are made to production reality) a 500-mile range is being touted alongside and electrical architecture that permits 5G connectivity. Zero to 62mph in less than three seconds is also promised - because that's what every future electric sports car promises.
"Sports cars are the lifeblood of the MG DNA and Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us", said Carl Gotham, Director of the SAIC Design Advanced London studio. Certainly, it makes a nice break from MG's range of worthy but rather uninspiring plug-ins and EVs. Here's hoping the concept really is indicative of a more interesting future for MG.
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