Affordable MG electric roadster will be joined by three more new EVs.
The Cyberster roadster will arrive before 2024 as an affordable halo car for MG and one of three new models arriving by that date.
While yet to be confirmed for Australia, if it does, it will build on the Chinese brand’s recent phenomenal success in Australia on the sales charts, selling almost 40,000 units in 2021 and seeing an increase in sales year-on-year of 155.9 per cent. What’s more, MG has confirmed right-hand drive production for the Cyberster.
The MG 4 hatchback will launch first, before the end of this year. The value-driven rival to the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro is expected to become MG’s biggest seller beside – or even surpassing – the MG ZS small SUV.
A production version of the Cyberster, first revealed as a concept at the Shanghai motor show last year, is likely to be shown at this year’s Beijing motor show in April, given MG’s history of showcasing new models at major Chinese events.
The concept was said to be based on a bespoke EV architecture, offering a range of 800km and a 0-100km/h time of less than 3.0sec.
Talking about adding the Cyberster to the MG line-up, Pigounakis said: “The problem with sports cars is that everybody loves them but not many people buy them.” He added, however, that MG’s global volume means it can “afford to invest in sports cars and take a longer-term view on when there will be a return on investment”, adding that having a sports car “will bring us massive PR and marketing benefits”.
The third new MG to arrive by 2024 hasn’t yet been confirmed, but it is likely to be a third SUV, given the continuing consumer demand for high-riding vehicles.
Rachel Burgess