What has MG done with the Cyberster electric convertible?

Forget the image of a timid China. With the Cyberster, MG has shown that the Middle Kingdom can be daring. It's not just the roadster profile that's amazing about this car, it's much more than that.

[Republishing of an essay from February 2025] - I'm incredibly lucky to be ambidextrous. The proof? I play tennis with both hands just as badly. And being able to do things indifferently with my right or left hand is an asset behind the wheel of the MG Cyberster. In front of the driver, there are three screens: the instrument cluster in the middle, the screen for the telephone, navigation and multimedia playback on the left, and the screen for functions and settings, including charging, on the right. In addition, there's a screen at the foot of the console for the air conditioning, with a shortcut bar! But why force the activation of the fog light on this screen via a small icon? Especially as it was buggy once. In that case, I just needed the heated seat that time. But still. It's a far cry from the simple roadster of the days when MG was British and not Chinese...

Elytra doors

MG didn't invent the electric Roadster per se. Tesla did with its first model. Mini has also tried its hand at the electric cabrio, but has not yet got round to it. Porsche's 718 Boxster will follow in a few months' time. In short, for the moment, the only electric convertible on the market is the Cyberster. And it's getting a little frumpy. Like a concept, it has elytra doors. A first for a production convertible. The effect is guaranteed. Children roll their eyes and adults are surprised and amused by this audacity. The electric kinetic scissor action is activated by buttons on the console, the door and the remote control. Great, except when it's raining hard and you have to wait for the whole thing to close before you're really sheltered. Especially as the real roadster is a strict 2-seater close to the ground with a cosy cockpit where all the instrumentation is oriented towards the driver.

Two engines

For this winter test, with the season's tyres on, I was able to sample the Cyberster in its sportiest version. This is the version with two engines delivering a total power output of 544 bhp (400 kW), stabilised at 510 bhp (375 kW), and a torque of 725 Nm. The 4-wheel drive (one engine per axle) gives the two-seater good grip on wet roads. However, the MG has an unfortunate tendency to understeer. And the brakes lack a little bite. Are these side-effects of its almost 2-tonne weight? I wasn't convinced by the “One Pedal” mode. So much the better, I'm tempted to say, for a pleasure car. It could hurtle along at 200kph without any trouble on the racetrack. However, this is above all a GT for dynamic driving rather than a real sports car. But then again! In the end, the ride is athletic because of the way it jerks on the road. It's no legend: you're really close to the road on board. Too close, in fact.

At the weekend

Despite the cable, the boot at the rear is big enough to accommodate carry-on suitcases and even 249 litres of shopping (with a trolley about ¾ full). When the sun finally comes out, I can open the roof electrically in 15 seconds. Without the windbreaker left in the boot, the passenger compartment can't escape draughts. Nevertheless, the road trip has the flavour of a convertible. Even with the roof closed, we're more in tune with the environment, hearing the sounds of the city and countryside than in a coupé or saloon. Especially as the engine is silent. To spice up your escapade, you can press the red “Super Sport” button for breathtaking acceleration. On the track, it's even possible to activate an even more spirited start-up mode. It displays its activation on the dashboard with a rocket. That says it all...

Recharging

Obviously, you have to remember to stop once the battery shows signs of weariness. The 77 kWh pack allows a good 300 km in real life (442 km WLTP). That's enough for a stress-free drive before you have to ask the navigation system or your paired smartphone for a charging point. The maximum fast charge speed is 144 kW. In practical terms, that's not quite as high, but it's fast enough to sip a coffee or soda in 30 minutes before setting off again. And while it's plugged in, it's a real eye-catcher. MG has created a beautiful design, surfing between classicism and modernism. The swept-back rear lights and luminous stern arch do not go unnoticed. The front end is more restrained, but with aerodynamic appendages to show that this is a car with character. At home, the AC charger is rated at 11 kW.

The pain

That's all well and good, but how much does it cost? The MG Cyberster has the soul of a GT, but not the price. At least if you compare it to equally powerful internal combustion roadsters. With a single 340 bhp (250 kW) engine, the price starts at €65,500 in Belgium, without a catalogue of options as long as your arm. Apart from the choice of colours, if you don't like the ivory-white combination on the outside and MG's red and black interior duo, everything is included. Our Cyberster GT costs €70,000 in Belgium, €68,000 in France, €67,700 in Luxembourg and CHF68,000 in Switzerland. In the end, the fly that bit MG did it well ;-)

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source : MG – Photos : © Olivier Duquesne)