MG ups their game with a halo sports car. The MG Cyberster has definitely caused a stir. But does it have enough pedigree?
Singapore – Electric “flappy” doors, might sound gimmicky, but the MG Cyberster is the storied British marque’s new halo car. It is pretty impressive, and an important “branding” tool, for a company which has gone on to make more sensible cars, since going under Chinese ownership.
I mean, we can’t disguise the fact that MG is very much a Chinese car brand, fully owned by Chinese state-owned SAIC; and that its “rebirth” wasn’t really the best executed. But I can safely say that people in the company have had their ears on the ground. We all know that the Cyberster is not going to be a volume seller. But what MG has sought to do, was to build a halo sports car, based on its EV know-how. The Cyberster in essence is their interpretation of what an electrified British sports car should be.
I feel that they have more-or-less… or should I say, more-than-less, nailed it spot-on. An electrified open-top roadster, which would loosely emulate things British, like the Lotus Elan, Triumph Spitfire and erm… Mazda MX-5.
In-all the Cyberster is strikingly stylish. A well-proportioned body, with muscular bulges where they’d importantly should be. Perhaps the one thing which I am not entirely a fan of, are those arrowed turn signal lights, as they can come across as too “roadworks” signage-like.
As for the scissor doors, I am on the fence, since they have their practical side, where they take up less space when they open. However, I feel that MG could have done this without the electric servos, and instead have the doors operated manually.
On the inside, the Cyberster’s cockpit prioritises the driver – just like in any good sports car. In all, the dashboard has four separate screens, which in my books is a lot! While the three which face the driver provide for some flexibility in what they can display, I do feel that the screen which offers controls for the air-conditioning, could have been physical switches. While there is a screen overkill, one significant improvement here is that the infotainment’s operating system response is much quicker; unlike the laggy systems which dogged cars in their range, when they first arrived on our shores. Material quality has not shifted too far away from the MGs we currently know. But as a halo car, I do wish that MG had done a little more to “tie” things together.
Now for the Driving Bit
With an additional motor up-front for this AWD variant, delivery of its 529hp (400kW) and earth-stopping 725Nm, is nothing short of eye-watering; as witnessed by its 3.2 second century sprint time. Even with AWD working for you, you are still able to tease a little tyre squeal, when taking off. I have to admit that even after going through countless EVs, it is quite uncanny that things are this silent with the roof down.
While there are many parallels with open top ICE sports cars, the muted buzz of the two motors, coupled with speakered-in noise, takes time to get used to. Sure, it is lacking in some soul, but the upside here is when you are driving down narrow sideroads, where you are walled by lush greenery. This is where you can truly appreciate the comforting rustle of foliage, taking their bow as you pass.
Surprisingly, the Cyberster’s suspension does provide more give than I would expect. But it holds its own around turns, even affording you just a little bit of slip to keep that smile plastered on your face. Initially, when I took to the wheel, the first car which came to mind was the Mazda MX-5, since it is a modern (Japanese) take of what would be an open-top British sports car. But very quickly, my impression gravitated to the more “centre-weighted” Alpine A110. Much of this is due to the placement of the battery, which sits underfloor, and between the wheels.
But it is the above that draws some confusion to one who thinks in boxes, and perhaps there is some method to the MG’s madness. The best way to sum the Cyberster up, would be one where it feels largely like a mid-engined sports car – tuned to be more akin to a grand tourer. Confusion aside, I have to say that it is a very pleasant car to drive daily.
Perhaps, one issue I think MG should address are the two “paddle shifters” behind the steering wheel. The left paddle makes adjustments to the car’s regenerative braking, while the one on the right, tweaks the drive modes. It would have been more logical if both paddles were instead for the regenerative braking, since you can make quick adjustments to how much slowing down the car needs in traffic; or even more so, around a series of spirited corners. The drive modes on the other hand, could be adjusted on the steering wheel instead (much like how Porsche does theirs).
But What About the Competition?
At $341,888 for this example, and $324,888 for the more tame RWD variant, the MG Cyberster would be up against some serious ICE competition. For one, it retails for only $3,000 less than the BMW 420i Convertible.
The Alpine A110 1.8 S goes for $373,800, while the BMW Z4 sDrive 20i M Sport costs about $10,000 more than the French sports car. You could also snag yourself a Mercedes-Benz CLE180 Cabriolet for similar money as the Alpine. Or if you are not willing to “splurge”, Mazda is still selling its similar-sized MX-5 RF (hardtop) for $279,888.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very beautifully balanced | Too expensive |
| Handles very well | Interior quality could be better |
| Some strange quirks functional quirks |
MG Cyberster AWD 77kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Dual Motor, All-wheel Drive |
| Motor power / torque | 529hp / 725Nm |
| Battery capacity | 77kWh |
| Efficiency | 19.1kWh/100km |
| Electric Range | 443km |
| 0-100km/h | 3.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200km/h |
| VES Band | A1 |
| Dealer | Eurokars EV |
| Price | S$341,888 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Beautifully balanced, and easy to live with. Pity the price. |
