What could be the best weather for driving a high-performance roadster on the racetrack? A day on which it rains cats and dogs, of course! The roadster in question is the MG Cyberster, a car that we have been impatiently waiting for. In fact, it is a car that perhaps MG was waiting for too. The whole romantic idea of an open-top car with the sky, your roof and wind in your hair was romanticised by the MGB. In a sense, the Cyberster is a spiritual successor to that. 

But there is a catch!

While the original MGB, with its open top, had a beating heart that gave it the sound and the character a sports car can’t do without. This one, the Cyberster, is all-electric. Does it make it any less of an absolute belter? I would say no. And as you read along, you will know why. 

First off, its all-electric credentials are given away by the name, Cyberster, a play on the words cyber and roadster. The name also makes me wonder… What if this era that we are living in is the last one where we get to drive actual cars on actual roads? What if virtual reality eliminates the need for both of those in the future? I have shuddered (with anticipation and fear both) many times. Anyway, back to the real world. 

So, everything about this car is supposed to feel digital, and it does. Now, before all you purists get turned off, just hear me out. You may feel that the idea of an all-electric vehicle is limited to uninspiring and boxy commuters. But the MG Cyberster has enough cred to change your mind. It is still a very real sports car. It even encroaches supercar territory sometimes. 

Let me start with the design, which is one of the major selling points for this car. I mean, come on, where are you going to find a looker such as the Cyberster south of ₹1 crore? It looks sharp and sleek. It has an open top. 

And then there’s the real showstopper… scissor doors. Imagine pulling up into a crowded parking lot and shooting those doors up in the sky as you get out of your car, and people simply gawk in awe. And it is going to happen! 

I also like the 20” wheels. Not only is the design fantastic, but they’re wrapped in top-notch Pirelli P Zero rubber. The tyres are not just an aesthetic or boastful choice. This car needs all the support it can have from the tyres. More on that later. The wheels also have a little 100th Anniversary badge for MG. A nice touch. 

The only thing I felt could be a bit better is the rear end. It is a little too much in the face. But then again, it is my opinion. Some people might love it. After all, if the Union Jack can be used for a taillamp, an arrow is not the worst thing in the world now, is it? 

Overall, I feel like the MG Cyberster is a very handsome car, and the build quality matches the looks. The paint, the panels, the fitment… it all comes together nicely. One thing that is certain is that this car will get you a lot of attention, both wanted and unwanted. 

Then comes the interior. I liked it quite well. It is luxurious and overall very well-designed. Everything feels premium to the touch. I also like the fact that the steering wheel has actual buttons instead of those capacitive ones that are all the rage nowadays. In this supposedly very digital car, that is a very analogue and tactile touch. 

One feature that stood out to me was the wraparound cockpit. You have a 10.25” instrument cluster in the middle and two 7” infotainment screens on either side. It feels like working on a widescreen curved monitor. The steering does tend to block the view of some stuff on the screen, but it is more about getting used to it. 

Talking about that, the steering wheel is tilt and telescopic adjustable, so it is quite easy to find a sweet spot. 

You also get a 320W 8-speaker sound system from Bose, which is all well and good, but in India, you will probably have to give up the open sky to enjoy it to the fullest. So it is a good thing that the soft top can be retracted and brought back up in 10 seconds. So, you won’t miss much when your favourite song comes on! 

Onwards to performance, then. The MG Cyberster has a 77 kWh battery pack and two electric motors for a total output of 503 bhp and 725 Nm of torque. This should explain why I said that this car encroaches upon supercar territory… and also, why it ‘needs’ the spectacular grip from those Pirelli P Zeros. 

And more than that, thank heavens for the AWD system. The RWD variant (which India does not get) would have really pushed those Pirellis to the limit. But to the ones who wanted their own rendition of Tokyo Drift, do not fret. The AWD variant has a power split of 62:38, biased to the rear. So if you prod a little, you can still get this MG to play a bit. 

How does it drive? Well, it launches like bats out of hell. Thanks to the instant electric torque and a sophisticated AWD system, it goes from 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds! It pushes you back in the seat every time you put it in Super Sport mode and use the launch control. 

The only downside is the top speed, which is limited to 200 kays an hour. I wish it could do more because on the back straight of BIC, it might feel a little restricted. Maybe an optional software update could fix that, MG? 

The exhilaration that the MG Cyberster brings is not limited to straight lines either. It can handle itself around corners as well. According to MG, the 77 kWh battery pack is just 110mm thick, and they show it by comparing it to a can of Coke (or any other soda you like). Also, it has been placed as low as possible in order to make sure the CoG is low. 

MG also says that the Cyberster is tuned by F1 engineer Marco Fainello, and it shows. The Cyberster is very faithful to your inputs. It is not overwhelming or overly twitchy. It does things just right. Thanks to the power distribution and the 50:50 weight distribution, the understeer that comes with powering the front wheels is mitigated to quite an extent. 

During the slalom run and the Gymkhana run, I was able to appreciate the predictability with which the Cyberster handles. There is a bit of understeer, and you need some track experience to really make the most out of it. In the appalling weather, I was also thankful for the well-calibrated and comprehensive suite of electronics you get on it. 

Also, the braking, thanks to the Brembos, is on point as well. Overall, if you have some experience driving on the racetrack and get a few laps in to get used to it, you can do decent lap times with the Cyberster… at least on par with other convertibles, considering the limitations of a convertible. 

The point here is that this car, while reviewed on the racetrack, belongs out on the roads. A run through some good winding roads around the Himalayas or something is where this car is enjoyed the best. That is where you will appreciate the open-top experience and the old-school romance of roadsters. 

One thing you have to keep in mind, though, is that it is an electric car. The torque and the resulting thrust are instantaneous. And since this car is so approachable, one also needs to invest some time in getting to know about it, as one wrong move could spell trouble. 

Now, I said approachable… What does it mean? Well, the price tag and perhaps the most attractive aspect of this car. It comes in at 74.99 lakhs Ex-Showroom… Now, think about that for a minute. 0-100 km/h in 3.2s, 100 km/h to a standstill in 33 metres, 503 bhp, AWD, scissor doors, retractable soft-top, and so much more… for 74.99 lakhs! 

No car offers such value, and the closest competition is the Z4 M40i, which is over a crore! It is like less than sports car money for a car that is almost a supercar (sans the top speed)! Granted, the Z4 is a Bimmer, and BMW knows their dynamics, but it cannot be nearly 25 lakhs better than this… can it? I leave it up to you. 

Now, some real-world issues and some wishful thinking. The biggest concern for the MG Cyberster is going to be the charging infrastructure. A sports car with this much performance, if left stranded due to an empty battery, is not going to be a pretty sight. 

That said, the MG Cyberster still makes a very strong case for someone who has a few sports cars and wants another… something that stands out and goes ‘whoosh’ without any fuss or noise. It might also make for a very good first sports car, and thanks to its price tag, I think it is going to be that for many. 

Wishful thinking? I wish MG would also make a hybrid version. 

I remember when I drove the i8 in France and then again in Austria. It was ahead of its time in terms of design and hybrid performance. With the combined strike force of ICE and electric, it had a pretty good performance. But it tended to leave one wanting once the electric power ran out and you relied only on the petrol engine. It felt underpowered and sluggish. But as an idea, it was brilliant. 

There are more examples. Porsche 918 Spyder. Its greatness is portrayed by its stature as one-third of the original Holy Trinity of supercars. Again, a hybrid. 

So in my opinion, hybrids would be my choice at the moment. If made well, they can have tons of performance when both ICE and electric motors work together, decent power when running on ICE alone, silence and environmentally conscious (I am still not sold on this) when on battery alone, and eliminate the biggest point of apprehension when it comes to electric cars… charging. 

So, the MG Cyberster is a great car and a great comeback for MG. Should you get it? If you are not averse to EVs, absolutely! Even if you are, you ought to give it a shot; it might change your mind. For me… please make a hybrid version, MG, please… thanks.