Our SUV-dominated world can be boring for automotive enthusiasts but there is finally good news for roadster fans. We already knew MG had greenlighted an affordable EV roadster previewed by the MG Cyberester concept, but a new set of patent images finally reveal the car in its production form.
The roadster shown on the patent filings doesn’t have any badges, but most of its styling cues are clearly inspired by the MG Cyberster concept from the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show. The overall design might be significantly toned down compared to the flashy concept but we already knew this was going to happen since the Cyberster looked far from a production-ready vehicle.
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Starting with the proportions, the production model has longer front and rear overhangs, smaller diameter wheels, and a taller windshield. Still, it looks quite sexy, even with the addition of the soft-top roof that makes it less exotic than the roofless concept car.
At the front, a pair of larger headlights are mounted on the fenders, but the design of the bumper looks very similar to the concept with the intakes forming an “evil smile”. The aerodynamic splitter is visually connected with the side sill extension on the profile, and the dual diffuser at the back. There, we have the most obvious connection with the Cyberster concept, the arrow-shaped taillights. Of course, the tail is less sculpted with extra room for the license plates, while the rear deck has grown to fit the soft top when not in use. Still, the model looks quite nice, sending some previous-gen BMW Z4 vibes.
We don’t have a clue about the powertrain or the specifications of the upcoming model, but it will certainly be fully electric. The concept had a quad electric motor setup allowing a sub-3-second 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration. This is likely too much for a production sportscar so we guess it will inherit a less powerful powertrain, hopefully sending power to the rear axle. The concept’s advertised range of over 800 km (497 miles) is also expected to be lower in the production car, in a quest to keep the cost and the weight down by using a smaller battery.
High-ranked officials have hinted at an affordable price, which would put the roadster against the electrified successor of the Mazda MX-5, the rumored fully electric Toyota MR2 successor, as well as the existing ICE-powered Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins. Nowadays, it is quite rare for automakers to unveil affordable sportscars so it is really nice that SAIC-owned MG wants to join this segment, after missing out for a few years with an SUV-focused model range. After all, MG was one of the main forces in the roadster business from the iconic pre-war T-Type and Midget models, all the way up to the TF.
Earlier reports stated that the production version of the MG Cyberster would be launched in 2024, as part of MG’s centenary celebrations, although the patent filings suggest we could see it a lot earlier than that – probably in 2023.
