MG sports car heading for Goodwood FoS, ready to take on Z4, Boxster and others
APPROPRIATELY, Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) on July 13-16 will be the scene of MG’s global public debut of the highly anticipated Cyberster BEV sports car.
The Cyberster global debut is being handled by MG Motor UK with the intention to underline its performance credentials by taking on the iconic hill climb throughout the festival. FoS attendees will be able to view the sleek convertible showcased on the main MG stand, and take a close look at its “leading-edge interior and exterior styling”.
A second Cyberster will be stationed in the First Glance paddock and will put on a show as it takes to the hill twice a day over the entire event.
Though scant technical details of the drop top roadster model are known, it is likely to offer supercar performance thanks to the combination of powerful single and dual electric motor options, rear- and all-wheel drive and possibly a 90kWh battery integrated into the chassis.
Power from the single motor variant is said to be 231kW while the dually is good for 400kW with commensurate high torque outputs pointing to sub-five-second 0-100km/h time for the single motor Cyberster and a 3.0 second bracket 0-100km/h time for the dual motor.
Initially thought to be a Mazda MX-5 rival, the Cyberster is actually larger than the iconic Japanese roadster measuring 4535mm in length, 1913mm in width and 1329mm high as opposed to corresponding MX-5 ND numbers of 3915 x 1735 x 1230.
MG is said to have benchmarked Cyberster on the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 but has stated it intends pricing the Cyberster at an “affordable” level. According to Chinese automotive regulatory figures, the Cyberster weighs in at a hefty 1850kg for the single motor model and 1985kg for the dually… hardly sports car weight. The MX-5 ND weighs in at 1090kg.
But the Cyberster easily out-powers the MX-5 in single motor form and the Boxster and Z4 in dual motor form and with a 90kW battery is tipped to have up to 900 km of range.
Other exciting features include yoke-style steering with variable gearing through 200 degrees of turning. Leaked pictures show the two seat Cyberster equipped with multiple digital screens for driver info’ and infotainment.
Signature exterior highlights, envisioned by MG’s London-based design team lead by Carl Gotham, include a distinctive low nose and curvaceous rear haunches, as well as striking new features including Lamborghini-style scissor doors and a Kammback tail.
Commercial director for MG Motor UK, Guy Pigounakis said “We’re excited to return to the Festival of Speed and with a global debut”.
“The Cyberster marks MG’s long-awaited return to sports car production and we’re ready to share what that exciting future looks like with this high-performance, technologically advanced EV,” he said.
“Two further debuts are planned, both demonstrating MG’s desire to create electric cars that will engage and exhilarate.”
Owner of the FoS, the Duke of Richmond said: “We are absolutely delighted that MG Motor UK will be returning to Goodwood this summer and honoured that it has chosen the Festival of Speed to host the global debut for the MG Cyberster”.
“With such rich history between Goodwood and MG and ahead of its centenary in 2024, I’m thrilled MG will be so much part of the Festival this year,” he added.
In addition to the Cyberster debut, MG Motor UK will pull the wraps off two other EV performance cars at the FoS both to be displayed at the First Glance paddock.
All “secret squirrel” at the moment, full details will be provided soon with MG Motor UK saying “A dramatic British-designed and built prototype codenamed EX4 has been confirmed for Goodwood”.
MG will also introduce a second, sporting EV which will be available for sale later in 2023.
Keyword: Global debut of MG Cyberster next month