The title of ownership of the legendary British marque MG may have moved on to lands far away but, when it comes to the Cyberster sports two-seater, a fully electric vehicle by the way, the badge seems fitting. This new cabriolet has absolutely nothing in common with the MGB sports car of old, except the fact that it has only two seats and delivers that true sporting appeal.
Two Models
Choose the single motor Cyberster Trophy version which is supported by a comprehensive seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty.
Featuring signature scissor doors as well as a fully-electric fabric hood, the rear-wheel-drive Cyberster Trophy delivers a compelling yet refined drive. Incidentally, the fabric hood (in red or black) can be opened or closed in as little as 15 seconds at speeds up to 30mph.
There are five exterior colour choices, from the classic New English White to the vibrant Inca Yellow, accentuated by the contrasting black lower trim. Including roof fabric and exterior paint colours, there are a total of 32 colour combinations to choose from.
The Trophy delivers power figures of 250kW (340PS / 335BHP equivalent) with maximum torque confirmed at 475 Nm. The 0-62mph sprint from a standing start is completed in just 5.0 seconds.
Alternatively, for extra fun, there’s the all-wheel-drive Cyberster GT variant (the prestige flagship model), which apparently is the most powerful production model in MG’s 100-year history with an output of no less than 375kW (503PS / 496BHP) and an enormous 725Nm of lovely torque. The dual-motor GT is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in a lightning-quick 3.2 seconds according to the company, although, to be fair, testing delivered 3.4 seconds in the UK. Still, we won’t worry about that tiny difference. Suffice to say that this car is fast.
About The Cyberster
Both the Trophy and GT are equipped with four drive modes: ‘Comfort, Custom, Sport and Track’. This selection allows drivers to explore the full potential of the Cyberster from refined, long-distance touring through to pure, performance-focused options.
The Cyberster’s electrifying performance is combined with a luxurious and technologically advanced cabin (the seats are great incidentally) which offers a proper grand touring experience in the electric era.
To maximise the pleasure and comfort of long distance, roof-down motoring, a specially-designed wind deflector positioned between the front seats reduces buffeting to a minimum. The Trophy and GT’s 77kWh battery delivers an exemplary combination of range and performance. Maximum range for the Trophy is 316 miles and 276 miles for the more performance-focussed GT. As always, we’ll add the caveat that terrain, weather and how the car is driven will always affect range, just as it does in all electric vehicles (EV) currently available.
The Cabin
Premium man-made materials that feel like leather plus plenty of ‘Alcantara’ gives a sensation usually found in high-end GT models. This is borne out by the 6-way electrically-adjustable heated seats with memory function and electric lumbar support. A very distinctive heated steering wheel featuring 4-way adjustment as well as twin paddles that assist with kinetic regeneration, completes the perfect juxtaposition of elegance and outright sportiness of the cabin space. Automatically-opening twin scissor doors ensure that entering the Cyberster is always an occasion.
The cabin has that classic two-seat configuration of a British roadster but with both driver and passenger placed at the centre of a contemporary, connected, experience. Central to that is the wraparound three-screen cockpit, with a 10.25 inch driver display flanked by two 7-inch displays. A further colour display mounted in the centre console provides touchscreen access to the dual-zone climate controls. An extensive range of infotainment features are included, with ‘Android Auto’, ‘Apple CarPlay’, eight-speaker Bose sound system, digital radio (DAB) and voice recognition included. A 360° parking camera and twin USB ports are also standard.
Practical touches include a central armrest with storage, ambient lighting, sunglasses storage, sun visors with integrated mirrors and lights and a 12v power socket. A 249-litre boot capacity ensures grand touring practicality for a long weekend for two.
In addition to the aforementioned highly distinctive and multi-functional steering wheel there are metal sports pedals, with the leather-style seats available in grey with white accents or black with red.
The Drive
This EV hasn’t been rushed to market; it has had very extensive performance and handling development testing here in the UK which means trials in all weathers. The end result is a powerful roadster with a chassis optimised for UK and continental driving that offers high-levels of refinement in the city right through to a genuinely sporting experience on the open road.
The MG Cyberster is equipped with powerful ‘Brembo’ brakes, carrying the MG logo, as well as three-mode regenerative braking to maximise energy efficiency and extend the driving range. Trophy features a 19 inch alloy ‘Lightning’ design wheel, while the GT wears a 20 inch ‘Jetstream’ design with Pirelli P Zero tyres for optimised performance and control. The driving range is impressive for a sporting GT and is underpinned by rapid DC charging up to 150kW, enabling a charge of 10% to 80% to be delivered in only 38 minutes.
An extensive suite of driver assistance features provides additional safety and actively managing traffic conditions via ‘MG Pilot’. This includes Lane Change and Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Active Emergency Braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, Traffic Jam Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist and Intelligent Headlight Control.
This is an interesting and surprising car. It’s relatively new to market so please get in touch for details. Find out about more about VAT-free export options or view the list of VAT Qualifying cars for sale in the UK today to find your perfect car to import.
