![BEV roadster: This AWD MG Cyberster makes 544 PS, 503 km range, electric scissor doors 01]()
The right-hand drive MG Cyberster made its Southeast Asian debut at yesterday’s opening of the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show. Designed as an electric successor to MG’s famed post-war era sports cars of the ‘50s and 60s, this Cyberster has swapped pistons for a 77 kWh battery.
Being a Chinese electric car, it’s a given there will be gimmicky, tech-heavy features. The highlight of the MG Cyberster is its electrically operated, automatic opening-closing scissor doors. This means that it doesn’t need traditional external door handles (but it does have a small button at the door’s upper edge), so the side profile looks flushed.
![BEV roadster: This AWD MG Cyberster makes 544 PS, 503 km range, electric scissor doors 02]()
To cope with electric drivetrain’s 544 PS / 725 Nm, all-wheel drive is a must, so it uses a dual-motor setup.
It goes from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and has a claimed driving range of 503 km (NEDC). Top speed is limited to 200 km/h.
The 77 kWh battery is MG’s parent company SAIC’s proprietary ‘Rubik's Cube’ design (NMC chemistry).
The 400V architecture accepts up to 140 kW of DC fast charging, while regular AC charging peaks at 11 kW.
![BEV roadster: This AWD MG Cyberster makes 544 PS, 503 km range, electric scissor doors 01]()
![BEV roadster: This AWD MG Cyberster makes 544 PS, 503 km range, electric scissor doors 02]()
The front suspension is independent double wishbones, while the rear uses independent multi-link.
The soft top takes 10 seconds to open or close.
The MG Cyberster has yet to go on sale in the UK – MG’s biggest market outside of China – so it’s quite a surprise that prices have been announced for Thailand, at THB 2,499,000 (~RM 324k).
For comparison, the hardtop Mazda MX-5 2.0 MT sells for THB 2,912,000 (~RM 377.7k). Mazda doesn’t sell the soft-top MX-5 in Thailand. Of course, the Cyberster's lower price is because it enjoys BEV subsidies, as well as reduced import tax excise tax - benefits which the MX-5 don't enjoy.
Speaking of MX-5, the gram-by-gram weight reduction folks at Hiroshima will be shocked at the MG Cyberster's obese 1,920 kg weight. The MX-5, even with a folding hardtop roof fitted, tips the scale at just 1,113 kg. Why does weight matter? Those who know, will know, even more so on a roadster. Those who don't, will point to the MG Cyberster's immensely higher power output, versus the MX-5 2.0-litre's hillarously low (in comparison) 181 PS / 205 Nm.
On the upside, Evo UK's review of a pre-production Cyberster says the Chinese roadster hides its weight really well.
In Malaysia, MG will be launching the MG ZS and MG 4 tomorrow. The MG Cyberster has been hinted in the SAIC Motor Malaysia's brand launch materials, but the company's immediate focus appears to be higher volume potential SUVs.
