Latest news with #MGCyberster
Top Gear
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
MG Cyberster
What even is a 'sports car'? I only ask because most of the cars that fit the accepted person-in-the-street definition aren't in fact sporty at all. Traditionally, a sports car was low to the ground, had two doors, two seats and probably an open roof. It had a powerful engine. And its top priority was driving dynamics. That's as close as you'll get to a quantifiable declaration of sportiness. Advertisement - Page continues below But is a current BMW Z4 a sports car? Was the Mercedes SLC/SLK? Don't be daft. I've heard convincing arguments that the Mazda MX-5 is too limp in the engine department and too roly-poly in the corners to really be a sports car. I choose to ignore them because I adore the current MX-5, but I sort of get their point. So, the Cyberster. It's got skin in the game here: the MGB, MGF and MG SV were all sports cars, of varying sorts. Does it do the business? Dynamically, it's a bit of a pudding. An MG engineer told me the car's been softened off again from its original European spec: they felt they'd overdone the 'stiffen it up for those aggressive-driving, B-road warrior Brits' and had to smooth the edges back off because 'it's not supposed to be a track car". For me, they slightly overdid it, allowing too much wallow into the suspension. There's a sense of top-heaviness to the car, some of which comes from the too-high driver's seat, and some of which is down to the restless damping, which never settles in one assured movement after it's been disturbed. Advertisement - Page continues below The steering is dead: a pity as I'd hoped going for the RWD 'Trophy' model would liberate the steering of corruption from the front motor in the 'GT' and unlock a bit of road feel. Not to be, I'm afraid: it's computer game stuff, without Forza 's handy re-wind feature.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
The first electric sports car looks amazing but is spoilt by an unfinished feel
Our car: MG Cyberster GT List price when new: £59,995 Price as tested: £60,690 (Dynamic Red paint, £690) Official range: 276 miles (WLTP) Test range (best/worst): 170-200 miles Test efficiency: 2.6m/kWh The MG Cyberster is a pretty remarkable car. For a start, it's the first electric sports roadster (barring the original Tesla Roadster, which was an expensive niche product that sold in extremely small numbers) and, well, just look at it! It is outrageously lovely. Classic sports car proportions, sleek lines and dramatic upward-opening doors for proper attention-seeking impact. In the first few days, even with grotty British winter weather providing a less than glamorous backdrop, two people asked what it is, both being surprised to discover that it's Chinese-owned MG. Let's face it, MG is doing brilliantly with its electric cars, which remain some of the most popular in the UK and Europe. But that's typically because they're sensible, good value and have a long range; the Cyberster is a different proposition altogether. It's a car that you buy because you want it, not because it's a cheap company car. From the outside, especially in the Dynamic Red paint of our test car, it certainly looks the part. You can get the Cyberster with very sports car-like rear-wheel drive, while the top-specification GT has a bit more power and four-wheel drive. The car featured here is the latter, complete with 503bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds. But, straight line pace is one thing. And it's not even unusual these days, even quite humdrum electric cars providing sprightly acceleration – albeit the Cyberster GT's sprint time is impressive even by the slightly comical standards of the fastest accelerating EVs. The big question Since the hallowed GT badge is shorthand for grand touring, our main focus is on whether the Cyberster makes the grade in this role? What's it like when it comes to long drives in winter? Are the fancy doors really as much of a pain to live with as they look? Is it a car you can drive every day and still love it? Before any of that could be addressed, I wasn't even off the driveway before I had that sneaking feeling that the infotainment system was going to be my biggest woe. With a touchscreen along the centre of the dash for climate control and other interior functions, another above that for the navigation readout, a digital readout behind the wheel and then another touchscreen to the right of that for… showing you the weather? To find your nearest MG dealership? To… just annoy you? Odd. But the infotainment system does get better with familiarity – if only a bit. That screen to the right of the steering wheel really does seem entirely redundant, while the nav readout is hidden by your hand on the steering wheel, which is just plain bad design. But you get used to the settings layout in the central screen and Apple CarPlay is present (even if it is wired, rather than wireless, and not the most reliable in terms of the connection despite that). It's ultimately a case of getting used to a bad system in order to make it OK to live with. But you get used to it. Still, it's a poor effort – and MG knows it. Perhaps most importantly, it has proven that it can respond quickly to feedback – as it has done with the infotainment in the MG4 and other models. In other markets, the nav map appears on the larger, central screen lower down the console, which would make a lot of sense – maybe that improvement can be introduced here. Compelling looks Anyway, there's a lot to process about the MG. Infotainment aside, it's hugely compelling, so much so that I can't help but glance back at it when I walk away, while it's also a car that makes you feel delightfully smug to be seen in. Despite wintry weather during my test, I had the roof down a number of times and the wind protection is among the best I've experienced in any roadster. Even at motorway speeds, your hair is barely buffeted. Impressive. And refinement with the roof up is just fine, too, although the sound system could be a bit better. Other than the infotainment stuff, the daily grind in the Cyberster is not a grind at all, every journey feeling like an event. And that, surely, is the whole point. The doors Blimey, the doors are pretty cool, aren't they? I've had a couple of 'is it a Lamborghini?' queries, as I self-consciously slid into the MG with its electrically-controlled scissor doors. It doesn't get more attention-seeking than using your key to make them slide upwards to a full salute as you walk towards the car. I have also been pleasantly surprised by how little space they take up. I've managed to exit the MG in a couple of really tight spaces without damaging the doors (or injuring myself). In fact, I suspect they take up less room than a conventional front-hinged door, leaving plenty of room to drop and slide into the driver's seat, even when there's a car parked tightly alongside. But (and it's quite a big but…) the door action is sloooow... Slow to open. Slow to close. They also drip rainwater into your lap or onto the seat while they operate. And there's an issue with the sensor that's intended to prevent it from opening into something and causing damage – it will sense you standing next to the car waiting for the door to open, resulting in the door not opening. Which is more than a little annoying. To add insult to injury, on frosty mornings, the doors froze and refused to open. You can pre-set the car's climate control via the car's dedicated app, which does a fine job of defrosting the windows and warming the interior, but even then, the doors sometimes didn't defrost and remained stuck for a while. Don't get me wrong: the striking doors give the MG supercar-like levels of attention-grabbing kudos. But in practice, they are also often a total pain to live with. Winter touring Between being annoyed with the infotainment and the doors, the MG proves a great, feel-good tourer. The ride is good and the handling – while nothing that's going to worry Porsche – is confident and assured enough to satisfy an enthusiast driver. I've done a lot of motorway miles in the Cyberster, and it's a decent cruiser. I wish the driving seat dropped lower (you'll find it really hard to get along with the MG if you're over 6ft tall). Other than that, it's just dead easy. Good refinement, masses of power. What's not to like? In terms of the way it goes down the road, the MG is a fine car to spend time in. While it's an unlikely high mileage choice, the winter range at motorway speeds is around 170 miles, which is no surprise for a heavy, high-powered car. Take it easy and you'll see the range creep up towards 190 or even 200 miles in colder weather, warmer temperatures will see it nudging 230 miles. But that's still not ideal for a sports tourer; the potential range is one aspect of the MG that might make you ponder a used Porsche Taycan instead. Charging With 150kW charging potential, you can get a decent rapid charge, although the average in practice was 70-80kW. Most of my motorway journeys are about 150-200 miles and I can charge it fully at home before the journey, yet that still means I require a 10- or 15-minute charging stop during the longer journeys I typically do. I don't mind this, as often I want a quick break and a cup of tea. However, a trip to Yorkshire from the south coast – a 430-miles round trip – without the promise of charging at my destination suddenly made the MG feel like hard work. The journey eventually involved three lengthy charging stops plus a final, shorter one nearer home on the return journey. I'll say it again – the MG is unlikely to be the choice of high-mileage car drivers. Be prepared for regular stops if you're planning a touring holiday in Europe. Talking of which, the MG's boot impressed me. Its 249-litre volume doesn't sound much, but you can cram in a huge amount of stuff – and, unlike many convertibles, its volume isn't affected by the roof being up or down. Sliding into your scissor-door sports car in the supermarket car park, having just done The Big Shop, feels pretty darn good. The Telegraph verdict Because the Cyberster is essentially very good, it pains me to say that its infotainment system runs almost entirely on frustration, while for every compliment about the fancy doors, there will be an occasion when you curse them. It's so brave of MG to have dabbled in an aspirational class such as this, yet it has succeeded in producing an electric car that costs £60,000 yet has a kerbside presence that Maserati would be proud of. It really is a gorgeous, classy design, and it's a car that I like despite its faults. Yet it's a very hard car to recommend. There are just too many compromises for most people, myself included. But here's the thing; the Cyberster isn't finished. MG (and most brands controlled by Chinese manufacturers) are great at reacting quickly to critical feedback; the bones of the Cyberster are good. All MG needs to do is get its European and UK engineers to work on the driving position and the infotainment system. That alone would transform the appeal of the Cyberster which is, otherwise, pretty remarkable value for a car that stands out as much as something three or even four times the price. I really like the MG Cyberster. I'm very glad that it exists, but this is a car that feels like they simply forgot some key parts of its development. Finish it, MG. Then the ownership experience might just live up to the stunning looks.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
MG Cyberster gets a new RWD variant for Australian market. Will it be launched in India?
The new MG Cyberster RWD retains much of the eye-catching design language seen in its more powerful all-wheel-drive sibling. The MG Cyberster is expected to launch soon in the Indian market. JSW MG Motor India has already showcased the two door electric sportscar twice, most recently at the Bharat Mobility Global Auto Expo 2025. Interestingly, while the vehicle has been showcased and has been confirmed for a launch India, the specification of the electric vehicle for the market have not been revealed yet. However, it is expected that the recently launched Cyberster RWD might make its way to India. The MG Cyberster RWD was recently launched in Australia as a more affordable option in the Cyberster lineup. The RWD version of the EV is priced at $100,000 ( ₹ 54.67 lakh approx.). Here's what the new version gets. Also Read : MG Windsor EV likely to get a bigger battery, could promise longer range MG Cyberster RWD: Design The new MG Cyberster RWD retains much of the eye-catching design language seen in its more powerful all-wheel-drive sibling. It features signature scissor-style doors reminiscent of exotic supercars and a power-operated soft-top roof for open-air driving. However, a few subtle changes set the RWD version apart — notably, it rolls on slightly smaller 19-inch alloy wheels compared to the AWD's 20-inch setup. Inside, Nappa leather upholstery replaces the Alcantara material found in the higher-grade version, giving the cabin a more luxurious feel without sacrificing comfort or style. MG Cyberster RWD: Features Despite its lower price point, the RWD Cyberster comes generously equipped. The cabin hosts a 10.25-inch central display, two 7.0-inch touchscreens flanking the steering wheel, and an eight-speaker Bose sound system for an immersive driving experience. Standard tech includes wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio, and satellite navigation. Comfort features like dual-zone climate control with a PM2.5 filter, heated and power-adjustable front seats with memory settings, and a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel are part of the package. Also watch: MG Motor debuts Cyberster in India, reveals future EV plans On the safety front, the Cyberster RWD doesn't compromise. It is equipped with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep and lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, and a driver monitoring system. The model also offers front and rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring, ensuring peace of mind on every drive. MG Cyberster RWD: Specifications Under the skin, the Cyberster RWD uses the same 77kWh battery as the AWD variant but offers a longer claimed driving range of 552km (NEDC). Performance is slightly dialed back, with the single rear-mounted motor delivering 322 bhp and 475Nm of torque — enough to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in a respectable 5.2 seconds. Charging remains efficient with support for 144kW DC fast charging, enabling a 10 to 80 percent top-up in about 40 minutes. Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India, Upcoming EV Bikes in India. First Published Date: 29 Apr 2025, 19:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
2026 MG Cyberster, Cyber X and Cyberster Black showcased at Shanghai Auto Show
2026 MG Cyberster gets new colour schemes and a wind deflector. At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, MG Motor showcased three electric vehicles. There is the Cyber X 'Box' concept, Cyberster MY 2026 and the new Cyberster Black 101st Anniversary Edition. As of now, it is not known when these vehicles will go on sale, but as expected, they will first hit the global market. MG Cyberster MG says that the Cyberster is the spiritual successor to the MG B. For 2026, the Cyberster will come with two new exterior hues—Iris Blue and Andes Gray—and dual-tone Red/Black or Gray/White interiors. The interior gets body-color matched trim panels and a wind deflector that MG claims reduces cabin turbulence by up to 90 per cent. MG Cyberster Black comes with cosmetic changes only. The brand also introduced a new black edition of the Cyberster, which comes with high-gloss black paint and chrome accents. Apart from this, there is also a new Cyberster GTS on offer now that comes with a hardtop. In the international market, the brand offers a rear-wheel drive variant of the electric convertible, featuring a 64 kWh battery pack that is said to provide a range of up to 519 kilometers. The electric motor is designed to deliver a peak power output of 295 bhp. Furthermore, the electric sports car, touted as the most powerful MG model to date, is equipped with a 77 kWh battery pack that enables the Cyberster to achieve a distance of up to 510 kilometers on a single charge. The MG Cyberster is powered by dual electric motors, which collectively generate a peak power of 510 bhp and an impressive maximum torque of 725 Nm. The manufacturer asserts that the MG Cyberster can accelerate from a complete stop to 100 km/h in merely 3.2 seconds. Also Read : 2025 MG Hector launched at ₹ 13.99 lakh, is now E20 compliant MG Cyber X For the Cyber X, MG has brought back pop up headlights. The Cyber X is created by Joseph Kaban, the designer of the Bugatti Veyron supercar. It has a tall and compact design with extremely short front and rear overhangs. The surface of the car is sprayed with the color of 'Stardust Gray', presenting a matte sandstone texture. MG has brought back pop-up headlights with the Cyber X which were popular back in 1970s and 80s. As of now, the specifications of the Cyber X are not yet revealed. Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India, Upcoming EV Bikes in India. First Published Date: 25 Apr 2025, 10:59 AM IST
7NEWS
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
MG Cyberster: New RWD drop-top EV adds more range for less cash
MG Motor Australia has announced a new entry-level version of its Cyberster electric roadster, which drops the starting price of the Chinese brand's flagship sports car to just under $100,000. The new 2025 MG Cyberster 77kWh RWD joins the existing 77kWh AWD variant released in August 2024, running the same ternary lithium-ion battery but with a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup. Pricing start from $99,900 before on-road costs in Australia, $15,100 less than its dual-motor all-wheel drive sibling. MG's new base Cyberster variant generates 250kW of power and 475Nm of torque from its rear-mounted electric motor (versus 375kW/725Nm). Zero to 100km/h acceleration takes a claimed 5.2 seconds, and the NEDC driving range is quoted at 552km – versus 3.2 seconds and 500km for the AWD variant, respectively. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Standard specification is largely the same as the dual-motor flagship, save for a couple of details. The Cyberster RWD swaps out the AWD's Sport Package Alcantara interior upholstery for Nappa leather, and it rides on smaller 19-inch alloy wheels compared to the AWD's 20s. All models are also now available in a new Mayfair Blue exterior paint (pictured up top). MG Motor also confirmed a new hardtop Cyberster GTS at this week's Shanghai motor show, which is effectively a production version of the MG Cyber GTS concept car revealed at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed last July. Further details are scant and the GTS is yet to be confirmed for Australia, so stay tuned for further updates as the Cyberster GTS nears its global market introduction in the coming months. Pricing
