UPDATE: Pricing locked in; order books open
The order books for the MG Cyberster have opened in Australia, with the all-new electric roadster set to cost “between $100,000 and $150,000” when it arrives later this year.
MG has also confirmed it will import only the flagship 77kWh AWD version of the electric sportscar into Australia, foregoing other versions in the range which have smaller battery packs and less performance.
The MG Cyberster 77kWh AWD packs 400kW/725Nm from its dual electric motors and can hit 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds.
"Dealers are taking orders as we speak with the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) range will fall between $100,000 and $150,000. Exact MSRP figures will be finalised closer to the launch date,” said MG Australia’s national sales manager Brad Chruszcz.
“We will be bringing in limited numbers of these cars into the country so it’ll definitely be a case of supply verse demand given the interest we’ve already had from the public and our 90+ dealers.”
April '24: Spotted! MG Cyberster arrives in Oz
The first examples of the MG Cyberster have arrived in Australia, with Wheels spotting this testing mule in Melbourne this morning.
Parked up in Docklands, this particular example is a right-hand drive ‘engineering evaluation’ vehicle and arrives a few months before the production version will launch in the second half of 2024.
It’s unclear if MG is planning to give the Cyberster any form of local suspension tuning, however this car has already covered some distance in Australia given it was spotted in Sydney a few weeks ago.
It looks striking, too, despite the tape over its badges and other testing signage. This car rolls on 20-inch alloys shod with staggered Pirelli P Zero tyres.
The 20-inch wheels also suggest this is the flagship version of the Cyberster which scores larger wheels and a bigger 77kWh battery. Dual electric motors produce combined outputs of 400kW/725Nm and MG claims the Cyberster will hit 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds.
MG is yet to confirm what variants of the Cyberster it will offer in Australia — three are available in China — or how much it will cost. Previous speculation suggests a starting price higher than $100,000.
December: MG Cyberster officially confirmed for Australia, launch timing locked in
Good news for anyone waiting for the Aussie arrival of the MG Cyberster: we can now confirm it's due to launch in H2 2024.
Until now it was believed the Cyberster, which is MG's first all-electric sportscar, would arrive Down Under in late 2024 or even 2025, so today's confirmation that it will be next year is good news.
Speaking with Wheels earlier today, an MG spokesperson said: "MG Motor can confirm our line up for next year (2024) to include an all new MG3 available in both ICE and Hybrid, as well as the all new HS and Cyberster."
Still no word on how much the Cyberster will cost, although it's almost guaranteed to be higher than $100,000. Continue reading our story below for more details.
August 10: The MG Cyberster looks likely to cost around $100k when it reaches Australia
The all-new MG Cyberster will launch next year in its China home market and the United Kingdom, before making its way to Australia in late 2024 or early 2025.
Based on MG’s new electric architecture called MSP (Modular Scalable Platform), the Cyberster is all but guaranteed to become MG’s most expensive car – unless the IM LS7 does launch locally.
“That’s good that you mentioned that”, responded MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao when asked if a $100k price tag is likely, before adding “that’s a good forecast” as he laughed the question off.
Ciao previously justified a more premium positioning for his marque that's currently best known for its affordable everyday cars.
“This is a premium brand, this is a very good sports brand. So [with MG], the price range, I believe, is very wide. It’s very easy to get over $100,000” said Mr Ciao.
Our original story, below, continues unchanged
April 18: MG Cyberster unveiled, Australian debut confirmed
MG has unveiled the production version of the 2024 Cyberster Roadster, and an Australian launch is confirmed.
Snapshot
- Electric roadster unveiled at Auto Shanghai
- Australian release confirmed
- Lambo-esque scissor doors, bigger than MX-5
- Likely rear- or all-wheel drive with 231-400kW
Good bits
- Proper sports proportions
- 231kW RWD & 400kW AWD options
- 0-100km/h under 4 seconds
- Australian launch confirmed
Not yet confirmed
- Driving range? 🤷♂️
- Australian timing!
- Price?! Probably $100,000+
The convertible comes as MG’s first all-new sports car since the mid-engined MG F that ran from 1995 to 2011. It's also the first MG sports car designed under Chinese ownership, and it's taken quite a different approach to the iconically lithe MG B (1962-1980).
Measuring 4535mm long, 1913mm wide and 1329mm tall, and riding on a 2690mm wheelbase, the Cyberster is comfortably larger than MGs of old – it’s also 20cm longer than a BMW Z4, and extended 60cm compared to a Mazda MX-5.
Despite increased dimensions, the Cyberster manages to evoke classic sports car proportions with its long, low bonnet and rearward driving position. Yet its details are decidedly futuristic with LED headlights, angular LED taillights and sharp body lines.
Then there are the Cyberster’s unmissable scissor doors, which open up and out like a Lamborghini Aventador – a rather ostentatious choice, but one sure to grab attention and buyer interest.
Inside, the cabin isn’t spartan like a Lotus Elise. The Cyberster is fitted with three digital screens: one for the digital driver’s display, another for the infotainment, and a third for the HVAC controls.
The car pictured is fitted with a conventional round steering wheel, but spy photos and the prior concept hint that a yoke-style item (as offered overseas with some Tesla models and by Lexus in the RZ) could come to fruition.
Specifications from the Chinese government suggest the Cyberster will be offered in rear- or all-wheel drive configurations. The former is likely to output 231kW, and the latter 400kW.
Kerb weights rated between 1850-1985kg are also expected, so 0-100km/h should be dispatched in less than four seconds.
Information on WLTP driving range from the battery pack is not confirmed, nor is the Cyberster’s underlying platform.
MG Cyberster specifications
2024 MG Cyberster | Rear-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
---|---|---|
Length | 4535mm | |
Width | 1913mm | |
Height | 1329mm | |
Wheelbase | 2690mm | |
Kerb weight | 1850-1985kg | |
Power (estimated) | 231kW | 400kW |
0-100km/h (estimated) | sub-4 seconds | |
WLTP driving range | TBC, expect 400km+ | |
Release | Summer 2024 (Northern hemisphere) | |
Australian launch | Australia confirmed, timing TBC | |
Price | TBC, expect upwards of $100,000 |
When will the MG Cyberster come to Australia?
The car’s launch is scheduled for Summer 2024 in the UK and Europe – so a little more than a year away. An Australian release will follow, but exactly when is unconfirmed.
“I can confirm that we will be bringing the MG Cyberster to the Australian and New Zealand market and hope to have more exciting news to share around this in due course, ” an MG Motor Australia spokesperson told Wheels.
As for pricing, the Cyberster could be a circa-$50,000 rival for the Mazda MX-5 – but its size and powertrain setup suggests it’ll be closer to $100-150K, where it would do battle with the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster.
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