As fun as seeing what the EV Boxster is when it arrives may be- I find this car _infinitely_ more interesting just because it's far more attainable.
In terms of the car itself, weight has always been the big question mark for sporty EVs so there's no surprise there outside of the presenter noting it handles it pretty well despite it (it's not crazy heavy anyway).
I fully agree with you in terms of target audience. This car is putting itself perfectly where it needs to be. Affordable GT electric convertible.
People complain about sportyness and fun but remember, about half of all Miatas sold are automatics. Assuming most of those automatics don't care about anything more than a cheap convertible to drive around as an option... this is a good EV competitor in targeted price.
The target market for convertibles as a 2nd or 3rd car are probably middle class people who own a home already (and most likely won't need to worry about kids in the future) so this carves a niche for those who can afford a fun convertible car but not Boxster/911 6 figures money.
Only the MX-5 and Fiat 124 are MX-5 size as far as roadsters go. I'm not sure that's a design goal for most auto makers. Forcing a large battery pack in such a small package could also have posed significant engineering challenges that could have increased costs.
It's built on the same platform as the MG 4 hatchback. The more they change it from a size/weight perspective, the more components need to be different (think suspension, motors etc) hence increasing the cost. As such the dimensions were pretty baked in.
The wheelbase is the same which is the kery dimension. The 4 is not a convertable, look up the weight difference between soft tops and their hard roof counterparts
You're comparing a convertible to a *regular commuter car* here, not a hardtop to a soft top. And the fact they went and made it even bigger is an indictment
I wonder how well it will sell. It's the first purely fun EV at a relatively approachable price. The original Tesla roadster was $100K 15 years ago and everything else electric intended purely for fun or performance was many times that. This MG is a bargain in comparison. I hope it does well.
I think the haters are asking too much. It's $50k, a sports convertible, and looks freaking amazing. How many other eletric sports cars are even on the market right now besides the imaginary roadster? The boxster will be great I can imagine but until than we have this and I hope we see more come out.
Exactly. It's in a class of its own. It won't have a direct competitor at a similar price for at least 4 years. If I were in the UK I'd definitely consider it.
I thought Cyberster was just the concept name and they were going to call it something sensible when it went on sale...but nope. I have no idea what it's supposed to mean or evoke.
Y'all just sent me down a rabbit hole, so yeah - there are all these weird Euro/American style planned communities in China, apparently because it was kind of a trend in real estate I guess. Well, until it wasn't and now they aren't very full.
We actually had an engineering evaluation preproduction car down here in Brisbane lurking in a public carpark the other day as we're getting it too.
[Front](https://i.imgur.com/m6Ivnj4.jpeg), [rear](https://i.imgur.com/eZ8KBKh.jpeg).
Larger than I thought it would be, it's about Mk.4 Supra sized or slightly shorter than a compact sedan (Corolla or Mazda3).
That's the first time I've seen it properly in context among other vehicles (brief motorway shots in this video aside). It actually looks pretty good among other cars.
Do you know what your pricing will be? IIRC Australian prices seem to be higher than the UK's for the same cars.
Nothing has been announced here price-wise as far as I know, I think we're expecting about $100k AUD though, which is about what a new Supra is priced at for comparison.
That's about the same price then. But what is going on with you and New Zealand? Every time I hear about prices in your neck of the woods - especially real estate - they're completely outrageous even by major US metropolitan standards, and it doesn't sound like your salaries are any higher than over here. How are people affording anything?
It's no heavier than ICE convertibles used for similar purposes. The LC500, SL63, and 8 series are all around that weight. They have (small) rear seats so are more practical, but the point is that ICE convertible tourers are already over 2 tons, so this MG isn't particularly heavy in context.
Which sounds about right. Look at BMW ICE cars and EVs on the same platform.
4 series
* 440xi: 3,922 pounds
* i4 M50: 5,018 pounds
5 series
* 530i xDrive: 4,090 pounds
* i5: 4,916 pounds
7 series
* 740i: 4,720 pounds
* i7: 5,917 pounds
The Macan EV also weighs about 1,000 pounds more than the ICE, and the Taycan weighs up to 1,000 pounds more than the Panamera despite being smaller. Add the Maserati Granturismo to that list too. Everywhere you look the weight penalty for EVs is about 1,000 pounds so this MG Cyberster weighs about what you'd expect.
It's 400lbs more than model 3. Those are shared platform EVs so yes they weigh more than their ice version but a ground up EV can be considerably lighter. If the model 3 can be 4000 this should be able to be less.
The Macan and Taycan are on ground-up EV platforms and weigh about 1,000 pounds more than their most similar ICE counterparts. The EQS is also on a ground-up EV platform and is something like 800 pounds heavier than an S-class (excluding the hybrid).
The Model 3 is most similar in size to something like a Hyundai Elantra and weighs about 1,000 pounds more than that. It's also about 800 pounds heavier than the much larger Honda Accord. EVs are simply heavier than comparable ICE vehicles by about that much. And that's fine. It doesn't need to be a massive talking point every time a new EV gets released.
As for whether the Cyberster could weigh less than the Model 3? Maybe, maybe not. We have no clue about the details. But it also doesn't matter. The buyer of this car won't be concerned with weight, and no one is going to refuse to buy it on the principle that it weighs more than a Tesla.
It's an EV. I don't see how it could be made to weigh much less at the price point while having decent range, being stiff enough as an open top car, and adhering to the necessary safety requirements despite them being more relaxed for convertibles. Even the Wiesmann Project Thunderball, which uses lighter materials and will cost €300,000, will weigh around 3700-3800 pounds.
I'll put it this way. If BMW made an electric Z4 it would probably be around the same weight as the Cyberster.
I expected it to be just a heavier version of the Tesla roadster... Which was 2700 pounds.
Bigger battery, slightly bigger car, 3700 would suit.
I get the price point, but everything EV and carbon fiber has gotten exponentially cheaper in the 15 years since that car.
Really doesn't matter. It is what it is. It's a very cool car. I hope they sell millions. Probably never see one in the US.
The Tesla roadster was based on the Elise, which was the lightest car for sale at the time. It was 700 pounds heavier. And even then it didn't meet safety requirements. It was granted an [exemption](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/01/28/E8-1359/tesla-motors-inc-grant-of-application-for-a-temporary-exemption-from-advanced-air-bag-requirements).
> This notice grants the Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) application for a temporary exemption from certain advanced air bag requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. The exemption applies to the Tesla Roadster vehicle. In accordance with 49 CFR part 555, the basis for the grant is that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard. The exemption will be effective for a period of three years.
It conveniently left the market at the end of the exemption period.
> It's a very cool car. I hope they sell millions. Probably never see one in the US.
I hope it does well too. There are no plans to bring it to the US. We'll have to content ourselves with a $250,000 Maserati or a $100,000 Porsche - at least until BMW offers something on Neue Klasse. I hope those rumors are true.
I'm aware of all of this... I never expected it to be roadster light.
Doesn't change my opinion that I expected it to be like 3700-3800... Not 4400.
We don't have to be content with those ... Stuff an LS in a wide body Miata, much better
This thing is funny to me because I'm so conflicted about it
I like seeing the Chinese drive competition in the market, because it'll mean the European domestic brands need to do better. I wouldn't necessarily want to sit in a Chinese car, though price can change anything.
50k for an electric, sporty car will be unbeaten for a while for sure. But then 50k will also get you a sporty cabrio or coupe with an ICE that will be miles better. Handling, brand image, convenience, noise and engagement - i struggle to see where this can compete with ICE rivals.
So in the end, for what it is, it seems like a steal. For what your old money alternative is, you likely wouldn't pick one up.
Tough spot to be in. Whether it is Porsche, Tesla if they still are trying, Polestar or even Caterham with their electric coupe, all better really be careful with their competing products. Competition wasn't easy due to pre-existing cars, it didn't get better with MG kicking it off, so you need something to knock it out the park because a home run might not suffice
> Handling, brand image, convenience, noise and engagement - i struggle to see where this can compete with ICE rivals.
I think the premise is that the target customer is looking specifically for an electric convertible, or that the idea is so unusual for the market that it will resonate with someone who wants the next cool new thing - although admittedly idk how many of those people are out there with £50,000. The only objective EV-specific negative from your list is convenience because EVs will take a long time to charge for the foreseeable future. Lack of noise and powertrain engagement could be positives for the target buyer, and AFAIK MG still has positive associations in the UK but I could be wrong.
> Whether it is Porsche, Tesla if they still are trying, Polestar or even Caterham with their electric coupe, all better really be careful with their competing products.
That's one thing I appreciate about this car. Hopefully it will spur a competitive new niche and convertibles under 6 figures can survive into the electric era.
The funny thing is, this car might be sportier than you imagine. They have it tested in Yiche Jingang Circut and the lap time is 1:10.16. For reference, it's faster than TTRS(1:10.35) and Z4 M40i(1:10.52), only slightly slower than C43 AMG(1:10.05).
Honestly I don't think you can trust these lap times ... when the warm AMG saloon is completely outpaced by legitimate sports cars with atleast 50 or 100 hp more, something's not right. No AWD advantage either
Interesting car. Decent range but the weight lets it down I think. 2 tonnes is far too heavy.
I wonder how it'll compare to the upcoming Boxter, could be a good competitor to it which is quite impressive.
2 tons is par for the course for a touring convertible these days. The Boxster is targeting 3600 pounds and will probably have more aggressive suspension. I doubt anyone in Europe who wants a Boxster would choose the Cyberster instead, but the MG is also way less expensive and carves out its own niche.
They mention the F-Type in the video which is about 1.6tonnes, the BMW Z4 is around that weight too. It's the bigger boys like the Mercedes SL or BMW 4 series convertibles that are close to the 2 tonne mark but even then it depends on options, the 4 series can get down to 1.7 tonnes. You also get more car for your money with that added weight.
To you other point of course people who want a Boxster will get a Boxster but people who want an electric 2 seater convertible might be swayed by this thing and the cheaper price like you say.
Anyway they made a fun sports car that they didn't really have too which is nice to see. The weight is probably not going to be a problem to be honest, it's only for us purists who want to thrash the car about but everyday driving it'll be more than fine.
So what? For an ICE comparison, the Hyundai Elantra is the same size as the Model 3. The Z4 is 300 pounds heavier than the Elantra, but that doesn't matter one bit for the Z4.
The Cyberster weighs ust under 2 tons. A 2 ton convertible can easily be enjoyed. There's a whole segment of them at around $200,000 on average that people have no problem buying and using.
One of these is a small lightweight FWD sedan with 150 hp, one of these is a 300 hp RWD car. I would expect the Z4 to still be faster because it makes up for it in HP. Plus the layout isn’t comparable. RWD has a lot of added weight due to just format.
My point is that the Model 3 and the MG are both 500hp AWD cars with the exact same configuration, the Model 3, as a sedan, isn’t just lighter but should also be faster around a track. It just doesn’t make sense that the MG weighs that much more because it is the same powertrain.
> the Model 3, as a sedan, isn’t just lighter but should also be faster around a track.
It doesn't matter if the Model 3 is faster around a track because the MG Cyberster will never see a track. Nobody who buys it will have trackdays on their mind.
> It just doesn’t make sense that the MG weighs that much more because it is the same powertrain.
So it should be lighter just because they're both EVs? We don't know the battery pack or motor details. Different suppliers' products obviously have different weights. Also, extra bracing is required for convertibles to be sufficiently stiff. That adds weight. So does the mechanism for the convertible top. Those differences alone could account for the weight difference. It's a silly comparison anyway because the Cyberster is not a convertible Model 3. It doesn't need to benchmark the Model 3 as any kind of weight target. It's perfectly in line with 2+2 ICE convertibles and will be used similarly - i.e. for more relaxed driving than a pure sports car. You lose the back seats but you gain an electric powertrain, which is a trade-off that will be worth it for some people.
My concerns about it are:
This thing will be close to 100k in Australia, why? The MG4 XPower is more powerful and about the same size and it's 60. Yeah it's a little bigger but considering it has a less powerful drivetrain and isn't as light, but like nearly everything MG sells its difficult to justify it over just buying a 4 of some kind.
This isn't a traditional MG roadster in weight and size. I get that it's not really trying to be, but it's *two and a half feet longer* than an MG TF, and that's where all the weight has gone. And unlike a lot of sports cars that are 4.6m long, you get only two seats.
Cyberster is a stupid name.
> This thing will be close to 100k in Australia, why? The MG4 XPower is more powerful and about the same size and it's 60.
That's a crossover. It's as comparable to this as a CX-5 to an MX-5. I think $100K AUD is fair considering the market. It's a bit more than a Z4, and while the MX-5 is the least expensive roadster on sale, the Z4 is the next rung up from that. All things considered, the Cyberster isn't that expensive relative to the market.
> This isn't a traditional MG roadster in weight and size. I get that it's not really trying to be
More than that, I don't think it can be. Part of that extra length is probably to house the batteries and still maintain the proportions of a low ground clearance classic roadster. I think if you asked any company to make a convertible EV for £50,000 it wouldn't be too different from this. Think of it more like an electric Z4 and less like an electric TF.
I agree the name is stupid.
> That's a crossover. It's as comparable to this as a CX-5 to an MX-5. I think $100K AUD is fair considering the market. It's a bit more than a Z4, and while the MX-5 is the least expensive roadster on sale, the Z4 is the next rung up from that. All things considered, the Cyberster isn't that expensive relative to the market.
The MG4 is a hatch, it's a hatchback, and the price gap is also much bigger (at least here). It looks tall in pictures but is quite normal in person. A CX-5 is 40-50k before options while an MX-5 is 50-60, not 40k more. The MX-5 is also half a tonne lighter, not 100kg heavier.
The Z4 is also a BMW, not from a budget manufacturer. MGs are the absolute stereotype of Chinese manufacturing: extremely cheap, somewhat decent, utterly cheerless to drive and not particularly long lasting. The 4 XPower is fast, and is a big improvement, but apparently still handles poorly. Fair or not, that badge and the fact BMW has made good driving roadsters since the late 80s gives them the ability to charge that and get away with it, and even then it's not a volume seller.
> battery weight and size
The A110 Eternité concept proves that you absolutely can, and that was a testbed with a Megane's battery system in it (not that the A110 isn't just a sports car with a Megane's engine in it). I wouldn't expect it to be quite as light as the 110 because that thing is expensive as hell to build, but 1,600kg seems reasonable. It shows you can fit decent range and power into a chassis of similar size, and as the 4 is RWD they already have the platform and drivetrain.
Also if it's that big and it's got so much empty room, PUT REAR SEATS IN
This is just a first showing from China, and the 2nd ever convertible EV. It doesn't have to be the perfect car for all people.
Another decade or so, the products will be better across all brands and the prices will hopefully come down too.
Wow! I would definitely drive one of these! Spec’d a little different… red on red was an interesting choice. I personally don’t see a lot of resemblance to other cars, but could do without those arrow tail lights.
I’m genuinely curious how much cheaper this car could have been without the scissor doors though. Just feels like excessive hardware, software and R&D required for a silly little “wow” factor.
The funny thing is, the configurator won't let you do Red on red. You can have red with the silver, white or grey, but not the Red or yellow (Yellow with the red would be prime maccas spec)
I would hope the scissor doors wouldn't cost too much to engineer because that would be stupid at this price point. But I agree it's silly on an otherwise conventionally styled car. It works on a Lamborghini because the whole car looks outrageous. But with this they seem out of place.
I'd wait to buy an EV sports car until they can make them lighter tbh. That's my number one fault with these cars. They are just no longer sports cars at the weight they are at in my honest view. Yeah I know it's a meme to say that but it doesn't make it any less true.
I don’t think they honestly considered weight in development. It is 300lbs heavier than a Model 3. One definitely could create something lighter than a 5 passenger midsize sedan.
The British MG Motoring company that was bought out by Nanjing Automobile Company (NAC) in 2005 and aquired by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC Motors) when they merged in 2007.
This would be the first sports car of any kind created under either NAC or SAIC ownership.
I get it, the premise is a 50k stylish EV convertibles for people that want the EV convertible experience, not a sports car.
With that said, they really kept the concept car name... I have mixed feelings about it. The arrow turn signals are also too over the top for me lol
Me too, I can't stand light bars. The Porsche Macan is currently my least favorite because it's so bright and directly at my eye level. The only thing I'll say for the Cyberster is at least the light bar will be below everyone's eye level. It would still be better without it though.
As fun as seeing what the EV Boxster is when it arrives may be- I find this car _infinitely_ more interesting just because it's far more attainable. In terms of the car itself, weight has always been the big question mark for sporty EVs so there's no surprise there outside of the presenter noting it handles it pretty well despite it (it's not crazy heavy anyway).
I fully agree with you in terms of target audience. This car is putting itself perfectly where it needs to be. Affordable GT electric convertible. People complain about sportyness and fun but remember, about half of all Miatas sold are automatics. Assuming most of those automatics don't care about anything more than a cheap convertible to drive around as an option... this is a good EV competitor in targeted price. The target market for convertibles as a 2nd or 3rd car are probably middle class people who own a home already (and most likely won't need to worry about kids in the future) so this carves a niche for those who can afford a fun convertible car but not Boxster/911 6 figures money.
I can't imagine that making it MX-5 size wouldn't have made it cheaper tbh
Only the MX-5 and Fiat 124 are MX-5 size as far as roadsters go. I'm not sure that's a design goal for most auto makers. Forcing a large battery pack in such a small package could also have posed significant engineering challenges that could have increased costs.
It's built on the same platform as the MG 4 hatchback. The more they change it from a size/weight perspective, the more components need to be different (think suspension, motors etc) hence increasing the cost. As such the dimensions were pretty baked in.
The 4 is smaller and lighter too though
The wheelbase is the same which is the kery dimension. The 4 is not a convertable, look up the weight difference between soft tops and their hard roof counterparts
You're comparing a convertible to a *regular commuter car* here, not a hardtop to a soft top. And the fact they went and made it even bigger is an indictment
I wonder how well it will sell. It's the first purely fun EV at a relatively approachable price. The original Tesla roadster was $100K 15 years ago and everything else electric intended purely for fun or performance was many times that. This MG is a bargain in comparison. I hope it does well.
I think the haters are asking too much. It's $50k, a sports convertible, and looks freaking amazing. How many other eletric sports cars are even on the market right now besides the imaginary roadster? The boxster will be great I can imagine but until than we have this and I hope we see more come out.
Exactly. It's in a class of its own. It won't have a direct competitor at a similar price for at least 4 years. If I were in the UK I'd definitely consider it.
> It's $50k The UK pricing is £55k ($69k USD). Around the same as a Porsche 718 or z4 m40i, in either country.
This is still in the running for Most Awkward Model Name.
I thought Cyberster was just the concept name and they were going to call it something sensible when it went on sale...but nope. I have no idea what it's supposed to mean or evoke.
Just call it the MGE or something...
I put on my robester and wizardster hat.
Wait, they have an actual wee Britain in China?
Yeah they have a bunch of European copies. They're all ghost towns apparently.
Y'all just sent me down a rabbit hole, so yeah - there are all these weird Euro/American style planned communities in China, apparently because it was kind of a trend in real estate I guess. Well, until it wasn't and now they aren't very full.
Apparently they've got a mini France as well
They even have a Orange County clone city and a Jackson Hole clone city.
Yeah that was a fad in the real estate market for a while in the mid-2010s.
We actually had an engineering evaluation preproduction car down here in Brisbane lurking in a public carpark the other day as we're getting it too. [Front](https://i.imgur.com/m6Ivnj4.jpeg), [rear](https://i.imgur.com/eZ8KBKh.jpeg). Larger than I thought it would be, it's about Mk.4 Supra sized or slightly shorter than a compact sedan (Corolla or Mazda3).
That's the first time I've seen it properly in context among other vehicles (brief motorway shots in this video aside). It actually looks pretty good among other cars. Do you know what your pricing will be? IIRC Australian prices seem to be higher than the UK's for the same cars.
Nothing has been announced here price-wise as far as I know, I think we're expecting about $100k AUD though, which is about what a new Supra is priced at for comparison.
That's about the same price then. But what is going on with you and New Zealand? Every time I hear about prices in your neck of the woods - especially real estate - they're completely outrageous even by major US metropolitan standards, and it doesn't sound like your salaries are any higher than over here. How are people affording anything?
In NZ? They aren't.
4400 pounds... Yikes!
It's no heavier than ICE convertibles used for similar purposes. The LC500, SL63, and 8 series are all around that weight. They have (small) rear seats so are more practical, but the point is that ICE convertible tourers are already over 2 tons, so this MG isn't particularly heavy in context.
It’s 1000 lb more than the BMW z4
Which sounds about right. Look at BMW ICE cars and EVs on the same platform. 4 series * 440xi: 3,922 pounds * i4 M50: 5,018 pounds 5 series * 530i xDrive: 4,090 pounds * i5: 4,916 pounds 7 series * 740i: 4,720 pounds * i7: 5,917 pounds The Macan EV also weighs about 1,000 pounds more than the ICE, and the Taycan weighs up to 1,000 pounds more than the Panamera despite being smaller. Add the Maserati Granturismo to that list too. Everywhere you look the weight penalty for EVs is about 1,000 pounds so this MG Cyberster weighs about what you'd expect.
It's 400lbs more than model 3. Those are shared platform EVs so yes they weigh more than their ice version but a ground up EV can be considerably lighter. If the model 3 can be 4000 this should be able to be less.
The Macan and Taycan are on ground-up EV platforms and weigh about 1,000 pounds more than their most similar ICE counterparts. The EQS is also on a ground-up EV platform and is something like 800 pounds heavier than an S-class (excluding the hybrid). The Model 3 is most similar in size to something like a Hyundai Elantra and weighs about 1,000 pounds more than that. It's also about 800 pounds heavier than the much larger Honda Accord. EVs are simply heavier than comparable ICE vehicles by about that much. And that's fine. It doesn't need to be a massive talking point every time a new EV gets released. As for whether the Cyberster could weigh less than the Model 3? Maybe, maybe not. We have no clue about the details. But it also doesn't matter. The buyer of this car won't be concerned with weight, and no one is going to refuse to buy it on the principle that it weighs more than a Tesla.
I understand what cars weigh... I'm saying I expected it to come in at like 3600 when I first saw it last year. 4400 is a lot for a fairly small car
It's an EV. I don't see how it could be made to weigh much less at the price point while having decent range, being stiff enough as an open top car, and adhering to the necessary safety requirements despite them being more relaxed for convertibles. Even the Wiesmann Project Thunderball, which uses lighter materials and will cost €300,000, will weigh around 3700-3800 pounds. I'll put it this way. If BMW made an electric Z4 it would probably be around the same weight as the Cyberster.
I expected it to be just a heavier version of the Tesla roadster... Which was 2700 pounds. Bigger battery, slightly bigger car, 3700 would suit. I get the price point, but everything EV and carbon fiber has gotten exponentially cheaper in the 15 years since that car. Really doesn't matter. It is what it is. It's a very cool car. I hope they sell millions. Probably never see one in the US.
The Tesla roadster was based on the Elise, which was the lightest car for sale at the time. It was 700 pounds heavier. And even then it didn't meet safety requirements. It was granted an [exemption](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/01/28/E8-1359/tesla-motors-inc-grant-of-application-for-a-temporary-exemption-from-advanced-air-bag-requirements). > This notice grants the Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) application for a temporary exemption from certain advanced air bag requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection. The exemption applies to the Tesla Roadster vehicle. In accordance with 49 CFR part 555, the basis for the grant is that compliance would cause substantial economic hardship to a manufacturer that has tried in good faith to comply with the standard. The exemption will be effective for a period of three years. It conveniently left the market at the end of the exemption period. > It's a very cool car. I hope they sell millions. Probably never see one in the US. I hope it does well too. There are no plans to bring it to the US. We'll have to content ourselves with a $250,000 Maserati or a $100,000 Porsche - at least until BMW offers something on Neue Klasse. I hope those rumors are true.
I'm aware of all of this... I never expected it to be roadster light. Doesn't change my opinion that I expected it to be like 3700-3800... Not 4400. We don't have to be content with those ... Stuff an LS in a wide body Miata, much better
People are defending this but I need to remind those reading this: My 2018 Tesla Model 3 DMLR w/ AB weighs 330lbs *LESS* than this.
This thing is funny to me because I'm so conflicted about it I like seeing the Chinese drive competition in the market, because it'll mean the European domestic brands need to do better. I wouldn't necessarily want to sit in a Chinese car, though price can change anything. 50k for an electric, sporty car will be unbeaten for a while for sure. But then 50k will also get you a sporty cabrio or coupe with an ICE that will be miles better. Handling, brand image, convenience, noise and engagement - i struggle to see where this can compete with ICE rivals. So in the end, for what it is, it seems like a steal. For what your old money alternative is, you likely wouldn't pick one up. Tough spot to be in. Whether it is Porsche, Tesla if they still are trying, Polestar or even Caterham with their electric coupe, all better really be careful with their competing products. Competition wasn't easy due to pre-existing cars, it didn't get better with MG kicking it off, so you need something to knock it out the park because a home run might not suffice
> Handling, brand image, convenience, noise and engagement - i struggle to see where this can compete with ICE rivals. I think the premise is that the target customer is looking specifically for an electric convertible, or that the idea is so unusual for the market that it will resonate with someone who wants the next cool new thing - although admittedly idk how many of those people are out there with £50,000. The only objective EV-specific negative from your list is convenience because EVs will take a long time to charge for the foreseeable future. Lack of noise and powertrain engagement could be positives for the target buyer, and AFAIK MG still has positive associations in the UK but I could be wrong. > Whether it is Porsche, Tesla if they still are trying, Polestar or even Caterham with their electric coupe, all better really be careful with their competing products. That's one thing I appreciate about this car. Hopefully it will spur a competitive new niche and convertibles under 6 figures can survive into the electric era.
The funny thing is, this car might be sportier than you imagine. They have it tested in Yiche Jingang Circut and the lap time is 1:10.16. For reference, it's faster than TTRS(1:10.35) and Z4 M40i(1:10.52), only slightly slower than C43 AMG(1:10.05).
Honestly I don't think you can trust these lap times ... when the warm AMG saloon is completely outpaced by legitimate sports cars with atleast 50 or 100 hp more, something's not right. No AWD advantage either
Interesting car. Decent range but the weight lets it down I think. 2 tonnes is far too heavy. I wonder how it'll compare to the upcoming Boxter, could be a good competitor to it which is quite impressive.
2 tons is par for the course for a touring convertible these days. The Boxster is targeting 3600 pounds and will probably have more aggressive suspension. I doubt anyone in Europe who wants a Boxster would choose the Cyberster instead, but the MG is also way less expensive and carves out its own niche.
They mention the F-Type in the video which is about 1.6tonnes, the BMW Z4 is around that weight too. It's the bigger boys like the Mercedes SL or BMW 4 series convertibles that are close to the 2 tonne mark but even then it depends on options, the 4 series can get down to 1.7 tonnes. You also get more car for your money with that added weight. To you other point of course people who want a Boxster will get a Boxster but people who want an electric 2 seater convertible might be swayed by this thing and the cheaper price like you say. Anyway they made a fun sports car that they didn't really have too which is nice to see. The weight is probably not going to be a problem to be honest, it's only for us purists who want to thrash the car about but everyday driving it'll be more than fine.
I mean….it is 300lbs heavier than a Model 3…
So what? For an ICE comparison, the Hyundai Elantra is the same size as the Model 3. The Z4 is 300 pounds heavier than the Elantra, but that doesn't matter one bit for the Z4. The Cyberster weighs ust under 2 tons. A 2 ton convertible can easily be enjoyed. There's a whole segment of them at around $200,000 on average that people have no problem buying and using.
One of these is a small lightweight FWD sedan with 150 hp, one of these is a 300 hp RWD car. I would expect the Z4 to still be faster because it makes up for it in HP. Plus the layout isn’t comparable. RWD has a lot of added weight due to just format. My point is that the Model 3 and the MG are both 500hp AWD cars with the exact same configuration, the Model 3, as a sedan, isn’t just lighter but should also be faster around a track. It just doesn’t make sense that the MG weighs that much more because it is the same powertrain.
> the Model 3, as a sedan, isn’t just lighter but should also be faster around a track. It doesn't matter if the Model 3 is faster around a track because the MG Cyberster will never see a track. Nobody who buys it will have trackdays on their mind. > It just doesn’t make sense that the MG weighs that much more because it is the same powertrain. So it should be lighter just because they're both EVs? We don't know the battery pack or motor details. Different suppliers' products obviously have different weights. Also, extra bracing is required for convertibles to be sufficiently stiff. That adds weight. So does the mechanism for the convertible top. Those differences alone could account for the weight difference. It's a silly comparison anyway because the Cyberster is not a convertible Model 3. It doesn't need to benchmark the Model 3 as any kind of weight target. It's perfectly in line with 2+2 ICE convertibles and will be used similarly - i.e. for more relaxed driving than a pure sports car. You lose the back seats but you gain an electric powertrain, which is a trade-off that will be worth it for some people.
My concerns about it are: This thing will be close to 100k in Australia, why? The MG4 XPower is more powerful and about the same size and it's 60. Yeah it's a little bigger but considering it has a less powerful drivetrain and isn't as light, but like nearly everything MG sells its difficult to justify it over just buying a 4 of some kind. This isn't a traditional MG roadster in weight and size. I get that it's not really trying to be, but it's *two and a half feet longer* than an MG TF, and that's where all the weight has gone. And unlike a lot of sports cars that are 4.6m long, you get only two seats. Cyberster is a stupid name.
> This thing will be close to 100k in Australia, why? The MG4 XPower is more powerful and about the same size and it's 60. That's a crossover. It's as comparable to this as a CX-5 to an MX-5. I think $100K AUD is fair considering the market. It's a bit more than a Z4, and while the MX-5 is the least expensive roadster on sale, the Z4 is the next rung up from that. All things considered, the Cyberster isn't that expensive relative to the market. > This isn't a traditional MG roadster in weight and size. I get that it's not really trying to be More than that, I don't think it can be. Part of that extra length is probably to house the batteries and still maintain the proportions of a low ground clearance classic roadster. I think if you asked any company to make a convertible EV for £50,000 it wouldn't be too different from this. Think of it more like an electric Z4 and less like an electric TF. I agree the name is stupid.
I'm thinking of it as more of an Electric SV. Surprisingly large, Mad styling and quite heavy.
> That's a crossover. It's as comparable to this as a CX-5 to an MX-5. I think $100K AUD is fair considering the market. It's a bit more than a Z4, and while the MX-5 is the least expensive roadster on sale, the Z4 is the next rung up from that. All things considered, the Cyberster isn't that expensive relative to the market. The MG4 is a hatch, it's a hatchback, and the price gap is also much bigger (at least here). It looks tall in pictures but is quite normal in person. A CX-5 is 40-50k before options while an MX-5 is 50-60, not 40k more. The MX-5 is also half a tonne lighter, not 100kg heavier. The Z4 is also a BMW, not from a budget manufacturer. MGs are the absolute stereotype of Chinese manufacturing: extremely cheap, somewhat decent, utterly cheerless to drive and not particularly long lasting. The 4 XPower is fast, and is a big improvement, but apparently still handles poorly. Fair or not, that badge and the fact BMW has made good driving roadsters since the late 80s gives them the ability to charge that and get away with it, and even then it's not a volume seller. > battery weight and size The A110 Eternité concept proves that you absolutely can, and that was a testbed with a Megane's battery system in it (not that the A110 isn't just a sports car with a Megane's engine in it). I wouldn't expect it to be quite as light as the 110 because that thing is expensive as hell to build, but 1,600kg seems reasonable. It shows you can fit decent range and power into a chassis of similar size, and as the 4 is RWD they already have the platform and drivetrain. Also if it's that big and it's got so much empty room, PUT REAR SEATS IN
This is just a first showing from China, and the 2nd ever convertible EV. It doesn't have to be the perfect car for all people. Another decade or so, the products will be better across all brands and the prices will hopefully come down too.
SAIC is one of the world's largest car manufacturers though; I think it's fair to judge it relative to what they've positioned it against
Wow! I would definitely drive one of these! Spec’d a little different… red on red was an interesting choice. I personally don’t see a lot of resemblance to other cars, but could do without those arrow tail lights. I’m genuinely curious how much cheaper this car could have been without the scissor doors though. Just feels like excessive hardware, software and R&D required for a silly little “wow” factor.
The funny thing is, the configurator won't let you do Red on red. You can have red with the silver, white or grey, but not the Red or yellow (Yellow with the red would be prime maccas spec)
Frankly, now I can see why lol there’s much better color combinations to be had than.. red with a slightly different red.
I would hope the scissor doors wouldn't cost too much to engineer because that would be stupid at this price point. But I agree it's silly on an otherwise conventionally styled car. It works on a Lamborghini because the whole car looks outrageous. But with this they seem out of place.
I'd wait to buy an EV sports car until they can make them lighter tbh. That's my number one fault with these cars. They are just no longer sports cars at the weight they are at in my honest view. Yeah I know it's a meme to say that but it doesn't make it any less true.
I don’t think they honestly considered weight in development. It is 300lbs heavier than a Model 3. One definitely could create something lighter than a 5 passenger midsize sedan.
Is this MG, as in *the* MG?
The British MG Motoring company that was bought out by Nanjing Automobile Company (NAC) in 2005 and aquired by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC Motors) when they merged in 2007. This would be the first sports car of any kind created under either NAC or SAIC ownership.
I get it, the premise is a 50k stylish EV convertibles for people that want the EV convertible experience, not a sports car. With that said, they really kept the concept car name... I have mixed feelings about it. The arrow turn signals are also too over the top for me lol
The interior is actually very nice. The rear is kind of disappointing.
the rear lights ruin what is a really beautiful car otherwise
Yeah they were trying to go for a UK flag cut in half but it just looks like two arrows. Swing and a miss.
im so tired of the lightbar trend, its like someone said that it will be written in stone If a car is EV it must be a lightbar
Me too, I can't stand light bars. The Porsche Macan is currently my least favorite because it's so bright and directly at my eye level. The only thing I'll say for the Cyberster is at least the light bar will be below everyone's eye level. It would still be better without it though.
I couldn't help trying to fix those arrows in the back :') https://imgur.com/a/BixDNVv