“Everything can be a new energy source.” The domestic new energy market continues to thrive, with a constant stream of new energy vehicle models. In addition to the more commonly encountered SUVs, MPVs, and sedans, a new category of sports cars that combine fashion, personality, and driving pleasure has also joined the ranks of new energy vehicles. In the domestic market for new energy sports cars, the brand SAIC MG, which has always been known for manufacturing and designing sports models, has released the first electric convertible sports car in China, the “MG Cyberster,” which took 7 years to develop. This pure electric convertible sports car not only has a classic appearance, but also features iconic elements of sports cars such as electric soft top convertibles and scissor doors.
In just last November, MG Cyberster was officially announced to be on the market, offering three configuration versions with a suggested price of 31.98-35.98 million yuan. The car has already arrived at the stores. Sina Auto also visited the Beijing Xiangrui Yubo SAIC MG 4S store in Xinfadi, Beijing to check the car’s availability and sales policies.
At present, the MG Cyberster is available as a display car in the store. In terms of sales policies, it offers a 2-year 180,000 interest-free fixed loan; a 3 to 5-year super long low-interest loan; purchasing a car entitles you to free installation of a charging pile within 1 year, as well as various car purchase policies such as floor mats, car covers, and roof rack cleaners. Classic Heritage Wins Three First Titles When it comes to two-door convertible sports cars, MG has a historical heritage. As early as the autumn of 1962 at the London Motor Show, a two-door sports car product, the MGB convertible, was launched. As MG’s most legendary two-door convertible sports car, it has sold over 500,000 units globally, breaking the sales record for a single model at the time. Queen Elizabeth II of England, Elvis Presley, former member of the Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman, and the Beckhams are all fans of it. It also successfully opened up the American market for the MG brand and became the best-selling British sports car in the American market. Today, the design inspiration for the MG Cyberster comes from the legendary MGB sports car, integrating traditional classics into the futuristic digital sensory style, presenting the legendary classic in a modern way to the public.
In addition, it also holds three first titles at home and abroad, these three firsts are: the first convertible electric sports car in China, the only soft-top convertible with scissor doors in the world, and the first production car of a Chinese car brand to make its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Being able to simultaneously obtain these three first titles is not easy for such a “very new” Chinese brand new energy sports car.
The appearance design of MG Cyberster is full of running style. It has convertible elements, scissor doors, and the golden body proportion of a supercar, which fully embodies the personality of the consumer. The design team understands the consumer’s desire to stand out in any occasion, so they concentrated all the elements of a sports car and design sense into this model. No matter from which angle, it is a product that fully embodies the elements of a sports car and design sense.
Although this car is a new energy vehicle, the designer did not design the front part of the car too simple, but the electrification attribute makes the front face design of the MG Cyberster more like a traditional fuel-powered car, focusing on three-dimensionality and layering. The lowered front end makes the car look more low-slung, and the MG’s iconic grille axis evolves into a powerful front lip, extending back to the hood, creating a unique and eye-catching front face shape. As a sports car and a pure electric sports car, the MG Cyberster must consider aerodynamic characteristics. There are still large openings on the lower bumper, which not only serve as brand recognition, but also achieve better aerodynamics and heat dissipation. At the same time, the extended contours of the front end to both sides can better guide airflow. I personally think this design is very beautiful, and it also combines performance and aesthetics.
The front headlight group of the Eye of the Storm is evolved from the MGB headlight, which is a tribute to the previous work. The outline of the headlight is both classic and modern, with a simple structure and clear focus. The graphic formed by the three textured daytime running lights is very tense, with three turn signals interspersed, forming a clever echo.
The MG Cyberster features a LED light strip that runs through the entire rear, enhancing the contour of the rear and creating a strong visual impact. The arrow-shaped taillights, inspired by the British flag, add a unique personality to the overall design of the car, creating a cohesive and unified style. When illuminated, they also exude a strong sense of individuality.
The sports car with the golden ratio has a long front and short rear, with short overhangs, giving the MG Cyberster a dynamic look from the side. The overall design is more soft and lacks sharp lines, giving the car a less aggressive appearance from any angle. The dimensions of the MG Cyberster are 4535×1913×1329mm, with a wheelbase of 2690mm, making it very compact.
The waistline design is unique to British sports cars, with the shape on the side of the door panel better showcasing the car’s dynamic posture. The two shoulder lines create a more dynamic body shape. At the same time, this design also makes the MG Cyberster look fuller from the rear. The car comes in three exterior colors: Bullet Silver, Light Speed Yellow, and Flame Red.
The MG Cyberster offers a variety of wheel styles, combining piano paint and polished aluminum alloy to create a unified and dynamic style for the vehicle. The entry-level model has 19-inch wheels with Pirelli tires (245/45 R19), while the mid-to-high-end models are equipped with 20-inch wheels.
The stylish scissor doors of the MG Cyberster can be opened in multiple ways, including the exterior door button, the button under the interior door panel, the door button on the auxiliary dashboard, and voice control. To prevent emergencies, a mechanical unlocking device is also provided behind the seats. The scissor doors have a 61° golden opening and closing angle, with stepless adjustment between 30°-76°, allowing for elegant entry and exit regardless of body size. The soft top convertible on the MG Cyberster is not only stylish, but also performs excellently in terms of opening and closing speed. When driving at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour, the top can open or close in just 10 seconds without compromising the vehicle’s aesthetics.
Centering on the driver, emphasizing the driving atmosphere Although intelligence is an indispensable label for new energy vehicle products, as a sports car focused on driving enjoyment, the emphasis on the driving atmosphere is paramount. The MG Cyberster adopts the embracing design concept commonly used in European sports cars, focusing on the driver’s design, allowing the driver to feel a sense of security and unity with the car that has never been experienced in other models. In addition, in order to highlight the luxury of this car, the interior extensively uses genuine leather and velvet suede materials for wrapping, and exquisite stitching also provides excellent quality and a sense of luxury. You could say that this design is selfish and disregards the feelings of the passengers, but no matter how you interpret it, it doesn’t change the fact that the MG Cyberster is a driver’s car.
The MG Cyberster features a set of three screens surrounding the driver’s position, inspired by spacecraft design. These screens display driving and vehicle-related information clearly and support split-screen and linked display. The built-in infotainment system offers limited online entertainment apps and Gaode maps, providing a functional but not overly rich experience.
The integrated central console design is quite upright, with a small touch screen at the top for adjusting the air conditioning, ambient lighting, driving assistance information, and viewing basic vehicle information such as battery level. The shape of the shift buttons next to it resembles a shuttle, and there are also some commonly used buttons designed below the center console, making it easy to use without much effort.
The steering wheel features a new design, with the inspiration for the multifunction button area coming from gaming consoles. It is wrapped in leather and offers a good grip. The paddles on the back allow for adjusting regenerative braking on the left and driving modes on the right. Below the steering wheel, there is a red button for one-touch access to the track mode.
After entering the race track driving mode, the vehicle’s dashboard turns into a passionate red color, displaying more professional information and providing lap timing and real-time G-force display, adding to the driving enjoyment.
Sports car seats usually require excellent wrap-around and support, but this also means compromising comfort, making it easy to get a sore back after long drives. The inspiration for the new integrated sports seat comes from the back-carrying system of professional mountaineering packs. The “Y” shaped structure effectively disperses the force on the back and relieves the burden on the waist. The seat surface uses suede material to enhance the touch and also prevents body sliding caused by aggressive driving.
The space in the trunk is quite surprising, the storage of the soft top convertible does not encroach on the trunk space, and there is no need to arrange the items in a fixed direction to open and close the soft top convertible as with some previous soft top convertibles. The trunk’s appropriate width and depth can accommodate multiple standard-sized backpacks, carry-on suitcases, and various other items.
MG Cyberster offers three different versions of the endurance with CLTC 501 kilometers, CLTC 520 kilometers, and CLTC 580 kilometers. All three models are equipped with a lithium battery pack. The legendary four-wheel drive version is equipped with front and rear dual motors.
In terms of power, the entry-level 501Km Charm Edition and 580Km Transcendence Edition are both equipped with a rear permanent magnet synchronous single motor. The motor has a maximum torque of 475N.m, and the total power of the motor is different, at 231kW and 250kW respectively, with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds. The top-of-the-line 520Km Legendary Four-wheel Drive model is equipped with front and rear dual motors, with maximum power of 150kW in the front and 250kW in the rear, and a total torque of 725N.m. The 0-100km/h acceleration time is only 3.2 seconds, making it a solid member of the three-second club.
The unique design and concept of the MG Cyberster may not be widely accepted by users, but this does not prevent it from being a car full of personality and driving enjoyment. The addition of scissor doors and a soft convertible top makes this car truly unique and stands out from the rest. The car is now available in stores for test drives, and those interested can visit the store to check it out and place an order.