The MG Cyberster is everything we'd hoped an electric MG sports car might be. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

The MG Cyberster is billed as the world's first affordable EV roadster and it's the most aspirational model this British-influenced Chinese marque has yet brought us. Still remember MG's glory days? Here they are, reinvented.

Background

It's two decades since the MG brand launched a proper sports car - the TF of 1995. Since then, we've had to get used to very different kind of MG - a Chinese company making budget-priced hatches and SUVs, mostly electric ones in recent times. But the marque, these days owned by China's biggest auto maker SAIC, has higher aspirations and these allowed for the development of a halo sports car to replace the TF - this model, the Cyberster. It's an electric sports roadster, which at launch in the UK made it unique (at least for those prepared to ignore Elon Musk's old Lotus-based Tesla Roadster of 2008). Actually, just about any kind of relatively affordable sports roadster is pretty unique these days; the only combustion ones that remain are the Mazda MX-5 and (more relevantly for this Cyberster's price point) the BMW Z4 and the Porsche 718 Boxster. But those are ageing products. This MG in contrast, feels fresh and forward-thinking, the first sign of the coming convertible electric sports car revolution.

Driving Experience

You think of a roadster as being light and agile. But this one, unpromisingly, weighs up to 1,920kg. Which is almost the weight of an old MGB heavier than the old MG TF. But then, to be fair, the Cyberster is a significantly larger car than the TF, three times more powerful and twice as quick off the mark, courtesy of its all-electric 77kWh drivetrain. Just how quick you'll go depends on your selection between the two variants on offer. Things kick off with a rear-driven 'Trophy' model that offers 340PS and makes 62mph in 5.0s. The range is 316 miles. The alternative is the top 'GT', which adds 4WD and a further motor at the front, boosting power to 508PS and reducing the 62mph sprint time to just 3.2s. Range is 276 miles. So: fast or frantically fast - your choice. Top speed with both variants is 124mph. With both variants, there are four main driving modes - Comfort, Custom, Sport and Track, as well as an extra Super-Sport setting. Plus there's an adaptable brake regeneration system. The sharp handling meanwhile, comes courtesy of a team led by legendary F1 chassis tuning specialist Mario Fainello, who helped engineer Michael Schumacher's Ferrari-winning years. The power-folding roof can operate in only 10 seconds at speeds of up to 32mph.

Design and Build

A British design team created this Cyberster's eye-catching curvaceous exterior look, with its powered scissor doors and unusual arrowhead tail lights. The bonnet's as long as it would be if a combustion engine was installed beneath it and the taller stance (because it sits on all those batteries) is disguised by a black gloss hoop circling the cockpit, which visually lowers the shoulders of the silhouette. The short Kamm-style tail is there to improve the aerodynamics of the surprisingly long shape - don't think Mazda MX-5: it's more like a 911. There's over 4.5-metres of length; for comparison, a BMW Z4 is 4.4-metres and the old mid-engined MG TF was 3.96-metres. The boot lid conceals the fabric roof compartment and the motor that powers the retracting top. The wheels are either 19 or 20-inches in size, fitted out with prominent Brembo calipers. MG says it all provides 'a sense of theatre'. The interior was styled in Shanghai - which you might guess because there are more screens than in a RadioShack shop window: a centre 10.25-inch display flanked on either side by further 7-inch monitors, with an additional screen in the centre console. The steering wheel (which rather obscures the two outer screens) is three-spoke and unusual, but over-buttoned, with a prominent red starter below the right spoke. Those generous exterior dimensions allow the cabin to feel wide and spacious; it certainly feels a generation on from a Z4 or a 718 Boxster. And there's an up-market feel, thanks to Nappa leather upholstery and microfibre lining. It's practical too, with lots of cubbies - and space behind the seats. A specially-designed wind deflector positioned between the front seats reduces buffeting a bit. Out back, there's a 249-litre boot.

Market and Model

Cyberster prices start from around £55,000 for the single motor 'Trophy' version; you'll need around £60,000 for the twin motor 'GT'. The least you get plenty of equipment for that. In addition to the multi-functional steering wheel, there are metal sports pedals, with the leather-style seats available in grey with white accents or black with red. There are five exterior colour choices, from 'New English White' to the vibrant 'Inca Yellow', accentuated by contrasting black lower trim. Including roof fabric and exterior paint colours, there are 32 combinations to choose from. Standard interior equipment includes 19 or 20-inch wheels (depending on model variant chosen), plus an instrument binnacle with a centre 10.25-inch display, flanked by two 7-inch screens, with a further 7-inch screen on the centre console. Both variants get 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring, plus an 8-speaker Bose audio system, ambient lighting, a 360-degree parking camera, a heated steering wheel, 6-way electric seats and paddleshifters for the brake regen system. An extensive suite of MG Pilot driver assistance features provides additional safety and actively manages traffic conditions. This includes Lane Change and Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Active Emergency Braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, Traffic Jam Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist and Intelligent Headlight Control.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the range figures in our 'Driving' section - 316 miles for the 'Trophy' and 276 miles for the dual motor 'GT'. These are somewhat limited by the prodigious kerb weight - around 1,850kg, which is 750kg more than the old TF. The 'GT' weighs 135kg more than the single motor 'Trophy', hence its lower range. To get anywhere near either figure, you'll need to be restrained on throttle, be careful with your choice of drive mode and make full use of the adaptable regenerative braking system. SAIC is very proud of the technology behind the 77kWh battery in use here; it's ultra-thin (110mm to be exact, less than the height of a drinks can) and can charge at speeds of up to 144kW, so topping up from 10 to 80% can be done in 38 minutes. AC charging from home using a typical 7.4kW garage wallbox will take 10 hours 30 minutes from 10-100%. If the battery's completely empty, you can extend that time to around 12 hours. You could reduce the full charging time to around eight hours if you had access to three-phase AC charging and could use an 11kW wallbox. At the other extreme, if you're restricted to use of a 3-pin domestic plug, a full charge would need 31 hours 30 minutes. As usual with MG, the seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty is fully transferrable to future owners. Additionally, there's a six year factory warranty against rust, while a year's breakdown cover is also part of the deal. The MG dealer network is growing all the time - the brand expects to shortly have 120 outlets in the UK. At those outlets, a full digital service record of checks and maintenance provides the customer with complete transparency and full access to the service history of their vehicle. You'll be offered a range of MG servicing plans to spread the cost of maintenance for up to seven years.

Summary

Can one car change the entire public perception of a brand? We think this one can. The Cyberster finally makes MG the kind of brand so many hoped it would be when the Chinese bought it. This is a statement of intent about the company's future. And it's also even more of a British design than a Chinese one. Worth waiting for? In a word yes. SAIC's description of this, the most powerful MG ever made, as an 'affordable roadster' may be stretching things a bit given the premium asking prices. But these are no more than you'd pay for equivalent combustion-powered roadster models that now seem distinctly yesteryear compared to a Cyberster. On this evidence, the classic sports car genre might have some life left in it after all.

Body Glass

Electric front windows + driver and passenger one touch

Rain sensing wipers

Heated rear window

Brakes

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

4 regenerative braking mode (Auto, 1, 2, 3)

Electronic parking brake with auto hold

Brembo brakes

Red brake callipers

Anti-lock brake system

Communication

iSmart with live services (additional services include weather, live traffic, amazon prime)

Voice recognition

Bluetooth

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Driver Aids

Lane keep assist

360 degree parking camera

Intelligent speed assist

Rear cross traffic alert

4 drive modes (comfort, sport, custom, super sport)

Blind spot detection

Front and rear parking sensors

Lane change assist

Power assisted steering

Front collision warning

Adaptive cruise control

Driver Information

7" central colour touchscreen

Satellite Navigation

Traffic jam assist

e-Call (emergency call)

Wraparound 3 screen cockpit (10.25" driver display, 2x 7" auxiliary screens either side)

Driving Mirrors

Electrically adjustable, folding and heated door mirrors

Engine

Launch control

Entertainment

DAB radio

2x USB Ports (USB-C, USB-A)

Bose premium 8 speaker system

Exterior Body Features

Wind deflector (between front seats)

Active grille shutters

Electric scissor doors

Rear boot

Fully electric fabric hood

Exterior Lights

LED rear lights

LED 3rd brake light

Automatic LED headlights

Intelligent headlamp control

Follow me home headlights

LED daytime running lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Dual zone automatic climate control

Interior Features

4 way adjustable steering column

12V power outlet - Boot

Leather style upholstery with dinamica inserts

One pedal drive

Heated steering wheel

Multifunction steering wheel

Centre armrest with storage

Steering wheel paddle shift

Sunglasses storage

Metal sports pedals

Interior Lights

Ambient lighting

Safety

Active emergency braking with pedestrian/Bicycle detection

Front passenger airbag on/off switch

Pedestrian warning

Front seatbelts (3-point + pretensioner + load limiter)

Seatbelt reminder for driver an co-driver

Door open warning

Integrated air bags

Seats

Driver and passenger 6-way electrically adjustable seat with memory function

Electric lumbar support

Heated seats

Front head restraints

Sport seats

Single front passenger seat

Security

Keyless entry

Automatic speed sensing lock

Volume sensing alarm

Locking wheel nuts

Tilt sensors

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with mirror and light

Vehicle Charging

Vehicle to load charging

7kw on board charger

Wheels - Alloy

20" alloy wheels - Jetstream design

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 2040

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.2

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 750

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 10-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 61

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 50

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 38

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 150

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 7

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 80000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 77

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City: 545

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 443

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 19.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.25

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City: 340

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 276

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Left Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: 74.4

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 150

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: N

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: GT

Coin Description: Dual Motor AWD

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 7

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 80000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 7

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Service Interval Mileage: 15000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

Badge Power: 510

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 3.2

Top Speed: 125

Engine Power - BHP: 510

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 375

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 535

Engine Torque - NM: 725

Engine Torque - MKG: 73.9

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 245/40 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 275/35 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: JETSTREAM DESIGN

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4535

Width: 1913

Wheelbase: 2690

Width (including mirrors): 2110

Height: 1329

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1985

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2210

Max. Loading Weight: 225

No. of Seats: 2

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 249

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 10.9

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Premium paint

Tri coat paint

Hoods

Hood - Red

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Cosmic silver

Metallic - Camden grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - New english white

Paint - Special

Tri coat - Dynamic Red

Premium - Inca yellow

Trim - Leather

Leather style with dinamica - grey/white

Leather style with dinamica - red/black