Powertrain details of the MG Cyberster EV sportscar were revealed in Chinese regulatory filings.
Regulatory filings made with the Chinese government have revealed the design and specifications of the new MG Cyberster, long before the electric sports car’s unveiling. The filings also reveal that it is likely to be the most powerful MG model yet, with up to 543hp.
- MG Cyberster to have a Tesla-style Yoke steering wheel
- It will get single- and dual-motor models with up to 543hp
MG Cyberster design and features
Appearing in a set of images revealing its front and rear, the Cyberster is a sleek soft-top two-seater. It features thin headlights and an air intake underneath each unit. The front bumper has an upward swooping design and a split air intake.
The Cyberster EV features door handles that are placed on the accent line that starts from the A-pillar and extends to the rear. The Cyberster also gets unique arrow-shaped tail-lights and a split rear diffuser.
Several wheel designs and badge styles were also revealed in the regulatory filings. The filings show that MG’s EV sportcar could come with 19-inch wheels for the entry-level model, while higher versions could get 20-inch wheels.
Recent spy shots reveal that the Cyberster makes use of a Tesla-style yoke steering wheel with multiple buttons and switches. It also gets three screens, angled towards the driver, for infotainment and driving data. The spy photos also suggest that the Cyberster EV is likely to get Lamborghini-style scissor doors.
MG Cyberster EV dimensions, powertrain and performance
The filings suggest it will measure 4,535mm long, 1,913mm wide and 1,329mm high – slightly larger than the Porsche 718 Boxster and significantly bigger than the Mazda MX-5.
Details of the Cyberster’s powertrain line-up were also detailed, revealing the Cyberster would be offered in both single- and dual-motor specifications. Entry-level, single-motor models offer 313hp, while dual-motor models offer up to 543hp.
Weight varies depending on the specification, with single-motor variants tipping the scales at 1,850kg. In its heaviest form, the Cyberster weighs 1,985kg.
The Cyberster sits on an all-new platform built around 2017 E-Motion coupé concept is supposed to become production car a ‘cell-to-pack’ battery, which does away with the conventional module structure used by current EVs in the name of increased production efficiency and power density. It’s claimed to yield an 800km range.
A single motor, using the same efficiency-boosting ‘hairpin’ wiring technology as the ZS EV and presumably mounted at the rear, supplies a sub-3.0sec 0-100kph time.
MG Cyberster EV: what else is known
Our sister publication Autocar UK understandards that while it won’t be officially revealed at the upcoming Shanghai motor show, the Cyberster will be sold in the UK and European markets from 2024 with the aim of attracting new buyers in new segments.
Set to help MG continue its steep growth trajectory, the Cyberster will also significantly expand the brand’s product portfolio as it approaches its centenary in 2024.
In the 16 years since being acquired by the Chinese state-owned SAIC, MG has established itself as a leading maker of value-oriented yet well-equipped and safe family cars, selling more than 100,000 across Europe last year. In India, MG sold more than 48,000 vehicles during the same period.
Crucial to this goal will be the introduction of new cars. The MG 5 EV estate and ZS EV crossover are already among the most popular EVs in Europe, and MG will look to build on this success by appealing to younger drivers and enthusiasts with an all-new product line, designated Cyber in reference to its five primary priorities: co-creating, young, beyond, evolution and recreation.
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Regulatory filings show different wheel and badge designs on the Cyberster.
The initiative was first outlined last year with the unveiling of the Cyberster concept – an electric roadster that at once nodded to MG’s heritage as a British sports car manufacturer and previewed the technical capabilities and functionality of its future cars.
Cyberster production was approved after the Shanghai motor show as a result of a successful crowdfunding campaign in which more than 5,000 prospective buyers signed up to MG’s interactive Cybercube platform, allowing them to inform development of the production car. It’s now set to be launched as part of MG’s centenary celebrations.
A brand spokesperson said: “We are working on a surprise for you guys. Of course we know we were the affordable sports car brand in the past, and now we are the new electric vehicle brand, and we will surprise you. We will be in markets that nobody has been in before.”
Indeed, no mainstream brand has yet launched an affordable, convertible electric sports car.
While some of the concept’s more outlandish features will be lost, MG’s UK design boss, Carl Gotham, hinted that a toned-down version will make it to dealerships, calling it “a bold statement that looks strongly into MG’s future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our cutting-edge technology and advanced design”.
Beyond its design, the Cyberster indicates the shift in priorities for MG with its new range of EVs.
“Sports cars are the lifeblood of the MG DNA, and the Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us,” said Gotham, suggesting that now MG has established itself with mainstream cars, it can afford to explore other segments.
That said, the 2017 E-Motion sports coupé concept has yet to reach production, despite patents filed in 2020 revealing a seemingly road-ready design.
Will the MG Cyberster EV come to India?
MG currently sells only one EV in India – the ZS EV. The brand will launch the Comet EV in India on April 19. However, there is no news of the Cyberster EV coming to India as of now.
Also see:
MG Cyberster image gallery
MG Comet EV interior partially revealed