The upcoming MG Cyberster, the first electric convertible from the brand, has been spied completely undisguised.
In a photo shared across social media and apparently taken at an MG facility, we can see the Cyberster’s rear, including its distinctive tail lights that have arrow-shaped indicators which connect to a full-width lighting assembly.
The top is down, but previous spy photos have shown the production model will have a fabric top. The featured example is finished in either silver or a pale beige, with a different wheel design to past prototypes.
We already knew what the design would look like thanks to patent images published online last year, though the front overhang in these images seemed longer than on spied prototypes and therefore closer to the initial concept, which had an aggressive wheel-at-each-corner stance.
Autocar reported previously that the reveal of the production drop-top EV was delayed to April 2023. It was reportedly set for a debut at last year’s Guangzhou motor show before it was delayed.
The same article said UK deliveries would begin in 2024 as per previous reports – in time for the centenary of the MG brand.
MG Australia has previously said it is weighing bringing the electric roadster here, as it will be built in right-hand drive.
“We can confirm that we are reviewing the MG Cyberster for the Australian and New Zealand market in right hand drive configuration and are currently exploring different variants and specifications,” said a spokesperson for MG Motor Australia last August.
The Cyberster will be offered with a choice of single-motor or “very high performance” dual-motor powertrains according to MG UK commercial director Guy Pigounakis. The former is likely to send drive to the rear wheels as on the new MG 4.
How exactly it’ll be priced and positioned within MG’s crossover-heavy line-up is unclear.
“Right up to when the [first full-scale production prototype from China] was arriving [in the UK] we were looking at it as a natural successor to the MG F. It’s completely not. It’s in a completely different sector of the market,” said Mr Pigounakis.
While its role as the brand’s only sports car will lend a halo effect, Mr Pigounakis’ remarks point to the production Cyberster being potentially more expensive than had been envisaged.
According to recent trademark filings, MG could call it the C EV – a nod to the old six-cylinder, MG B-based MG C.
Indeed, MG captioned a teaser video with “return of the legend”, pointing to the brand dusting off an old nameplate.
The low-resolution teaser video, which was uploaded to MG UK’s social media, gives us a preview of what appears to be the production Cyberster.
Technical specifications haven’t been revealed yet, though the concept had a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.0 seconds and 800km of range.
Expect the production version of the MG Cyberster to have performance and range figures that are a little more down to earth.
MG hasn’t confirmed what platform the vehicle will use, though its new Modular Scalable Platform – which underpins the MG 4 – seems a likely choice.
The small electric hatchback offers a choice of 51kWh and 64kWh batteries, with range of between 350km and 450km on the WLTP cycle.
The entry-level version, which has been approved for sale locally ahead of a launch in the first half of 2023, produces 125kW of power.
Another single-motor rear-wheel drive version is available overseas and may come here, and produces 150kW of power.
Finally, the MG Mulan – as the MG 4 is known in China – is offered with a 330kW/600Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain.
This Cyberster will have essentially no competition once it launches.
Given MG’s positioning more as a value-oriented brand, the production Cyberster is likely to undercut upcoming electric sports cars like the Lotus Type 135, due in 2026, and the Alpine A110 replacement that’ll share its platform, as well as the next Tesla Roadster.
Porsche is also preparing an electric replacement to its 718 Boxster and Cayman, which is due around 2024 or 2025.
While MG has always offered a range of sedans and/or hatchbacks, dating back to its founding in the UK in 1924, the demise of the TF droptop in 2011 has lead to one of its longest droughts without a sports car yet.
Should the Cyberster come here, it will serve as part of MG’s expansion of the local range which currently consists of the MG 3 light hatch, ZS small crossover family, and the mid-sized HS crossover.
The MG 5 small sedan is due here this year, as is MG 4 electric hatchback.
