Turning one hundred years old always deserves any celebration. For this reason, MG has thought that for its centenary, which is celebrated in 2024, it will launch a sports model that complements its already outstanding network of SUV vehicles, which go back to the roots of the brand. With this new car, the British firm hopes to attract a younger audience.
They have dubbed it the MG Cyberster and it was presented as a concept car at the 2021 Shanghai Motor Show. Right off the bat, 5,000 potential buyers were interested in it, and they gave the project the green light for production. From the brand they report that it will have an affordable price, but to find out we will have to wait until 2024.
At the Birmingham firm they want everything that concerns your new car be amazing. “We are working on a surprise for you. Of course, we know that in the past we were the affordable sports car brand, and now we are the new electric vehicle brand, and we will surprise you“, an MG spokesman said.
He also added that they hope to expand their market niche. “We will be in markets where no one has been before”.
The unknown will be what kind of sports car they prepare. It is hinted that it could be an affordable, all-electric two-seater roadster. It could compete with similarly sized electric-powered models like the Mazda MX-5 or the Toyota GR Sports EV.
Similarly, the production version of the Cyberster concept would serve as a successor to the TF, which was the last sports car offered by MG.
Carl Gotham, chief designer of MG UK, acknowledged that the company’s new project is a “hugely exciting concept” for designers and added that sports cars are the “vital element of the MG DNA”. He revealed that the hypothetical roadster will look to the future while reinforcing the image of the brand and will be based on its “cutting-edge technology and advanced design”.
There are things that can slow down production, like futuristic lighting units, protruding aero components, massive wheels, and a tech-heavy interior.
On the other hand, specifications such as the announced range of 800 km of autonomy and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds sound unlikely to be achieved with a price electric vehicle, in a principle, affordable.
MG was acquired by Chinese SAIC 16 years ago, which led to a gradual reintroduction of the brand in global markets. The new era of the British firm has been quite successful, especially in its country, and from its headquarters in Birmingham it hopes to reach the milestone of one million sales by 2024 in 100 global markets.
This article was published in Top Gear by Gustavo López Sirvent.