MG Cyberster is Priced at £55,000

It feels like it’s taking a long time. It’s almost exactly three years since MG unveiled its (British-designed) two-seat electric roadster concept. Following its official debut at Goodwood last year and following an 18-month performance and handling development program led by the engineering team at Longbridge, the Cyberster officially goes on sale in the UK today. The first scheduled deliveries are scheduled for August.

So what do you get? Well, there are two trim levels: the single-engine, rear-wheel-drive Cyberster Trophy, priced from £54,995, and the flagship GT version, which adds an additional engine for all-wheel drive and costs from £59,995. Both use the same 77kWh battery, rated for a maximum range of 316 miles on the Trophy and 276 miles on the GT, and can be charged up to 150kW, meaning at its peak it can charge from 10 in 38 minutes should be charged to 80 percent. Both have the same electric soft top and the extravagant “signature” scissor doors.

As you would expect, output is where they differ. The Trophy makes 340 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque from its single motor, which sounds like an ideal amount for an electric convertible that must stop people from buying a 300 hp Porsche 718 Boxster. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds. However, given the modest premium asked, it’s easy to see the GT being preferred by UK buyers – particularly as it boasts 503bhp and 535lb ft of torque, narrowly topping the national limit in 3.2 seconds . That’s 718 Spyder RS ​​territory, for less than half the price.

Inside, MG promises a “contemporary, connected, state-of-the-art experience” from a two-seat interior that is still intended to be reminiscent of a classic British roadster. Not many of them had screens, but the Cyberster has three, a 10.25-inch driver display flanked by two smaller 7-inch screens. There is even a smaller one in the center console for the climate control. Six-way electrically adjustable, heated seats are standard, and behind them is a 249-liter trunk.

Thanks to its additional tuning, MG insists the chassis has been properly optimized for British roads, which is good as the smallest alloy wheel on offer on the Trophy is a 19-inch Lightning design. The GT gets 20s with upgraded Pirelli P Zero tires. There are four driving modes: Comfort, Custom, Sport and Track, as well as three regenerative braking modes. And of course the full range of (mostly frustrating) modern security features.

“The Cyberster is a car designed to delight, whether through its stunning design or dazzling performance,” said David Allison, MG head of product and planning. “Both the Trophy and GT are compelling two-seat EV sports roadsters that promise to take grand touring into the electric age.” Tapping into the UK market at a competitive price (including a seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty) is a good start for this goal. Now we just need to try one out to see if it rides as well as it looks.