The all-new MG Cyberster is a brilliant premium fully electric roadster that is more than the halo vehicle for the brand. Its dynamic performance is the absolute highest and greatest that the MG brand has ever produced in literally 100 years. It looks like a fresh concept car pulled right out of a show but it is fully functioning and very real. The Cyberster was completely purpose-built on the scalable MG/SAIC Nebula Pure Electric platform to fully represent what can be done today and prepares us for what is imminent from the brand and its parent company SAIC. It was designed in Marylebone, London by Joscha Thielen (German Senior Exterior Advanced Designer for SAIC) and Carl Gotham (British Advanced Design Director for SAIC). Just last May 2024, Jozef Kaban joined the MG Global Design Center as their new Vice President, who is known in the industry for crafting the iconic Bugatti Veyron and for being the former Audi exterior chief designer and design director for Skoda and Volkswagen (he also had notable efforts with BMW and Rolls-Royce).
Proportionally, the Cyberster’s wheelbase of 2690 mm and its overall size is much closer to a Mercedes-Benz SL-series but larger than a BMW Z4. Even if the trunk capacity is a spread-out 249-liters, that will not accommodate a full golf bag, it has more than double the trunk capacity of a Mazda Miata and 37-liters more than an SL. You can buy two smaller Mazda MX-5 soft-top roadsters for the retail price of P4.5 million, so the big question that many have in their minds is: “is the Cyberster worth double Miata’s?” The quick answer is honestly, yes! If you want the roadster experience but want more luxury, dynamic performance, and flamboyance for less money than even a BMW M240i Coupé let alone the Z4 in either engine variant or an entry-level Porsche 718, then the Cyberster, in our Philippine market, will enthrall and astonish you.
The handling and ride comfort (fully independent double wishbones up front and multi-links at the rear), even at its heightened track/sport mode settings, are remarkable and very compliant with mixed 20-inch alloys wrapped with tenacious Pirelli P-Zero Elect XL (245/40R20 99W front & 275/35R20 102W) tires. And despite the substantial kerb weight of 1984 kg. thanks mostly to the battery, the Cyberster is very athletic and nimble thanks to the tuning of Marco Fainello, the vehicle dynamics engineer behind the Ferrari FXX and who is said to have been involved in the legendary Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher’s five Ferrari titles. The Cyberster also uses fly-by-wire steering, which I first experienced with the Lexus RZ450e, so steering precision and response are also excellent, effortless yet tactile.
For the time being, MG Philippines is selling only its top-spec 77-kWh lithium-ion battery dual-motor AWD variant with full options that include a very comprehensive safety suite, Bose® 8-speaker audio system, ambient lighting, three-mode KERS (Regenerative Braking) with the powerful fully vented brake discs that feature Brembo 4-pot calipers in the front, four drive modes, driver-centric 3-screen cockpit (10.25-inch instrument display flanked by two 7-inch auxiliary information/control screens) powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip combined with the Unreal Engine 4.0 graphic engine, a fourth screen next to the drive controls manages climate control and other energy features, the awesome powered scissor doors that can be angle adjusted from 30-degrees to 76-degrees (the cool scissor doors have sensors to protect itself and others when functioning so you will have to get familiar with its behavior), sleek rear ducktail, full-LED signature lighting that include the rear Union Jack turn signals, 360-degree cameras, excellent build quality and refinement, detail-rich, full smartphone connectivity, very insulated powered retractable canvas roof with glass window and heat element for defrosting that can open and close within 15 seconds while moving up to 50 km/h, multiple USB ports, tasteful faux-leather and Alcantara sport seats, adjustable drink holders, and more. There are no clear plans about importing the 64-kWh rear-drive only models at the time of this review.
The combined power from both electric motors produce 536 hp (400 kW) and 535 lb-ft (725 Nm) of torque all available instantly from rest. The MG Cyberster actually offers two synthetic aural driving options, one to showcase electrification while the other to mimic an enthusiastic internal combustion engine, I preferred to shut both off and enjoy the purity of the purpose-built roadster in silence. Our test unit came in Dynamic Red; other available colors are New English White, Camden Grey and Cosmic Silver, with Inca Yellow offered as an option with a choice of a black or red roof depending on color choice.
Acceleration from naught to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) is an incredible 3.1 seconds with launch control, and 3.2 seconds consistently with little effort and without any tire noise. The top speed is governed to 200 km/h (125 mph). The maximum range of a fully charged Cyberster is approximately 504-kilometers (315-miles). Charging the Cyberster takes 38 minutes from 10 to 80 % with a maximum 150 kW DC charge rate.
I only have two gripes with the MG Cyberster, and before I go on and state what they are, do know that our test unit is a preproduction model so there is a strong possibility that these two criticisms could be addressed; one, it doesn’t have a wireless smartphone charger and two, I wish it had a dedicated start/stop ignition button. As soon as you unlock the Cyberster the high-performance roadster is essentially “on” already until you step out of the car and lock it.
The 2024 MG Cyberster is greater than the sum of its parts. The refinement and incredible dynamic performance that it is capable of used to be only available to Supercars and Hypercars at prices that even surpassed some luxury homes. It is still not inexpensive but for what it is and what it can do under green full electrification is mind blowing, very compelling, and highly recommended.
