MG Cyber Coupe shapes up for production

MG MOTOR has outed a 2+2 Coupe version of its electric Cyberster sports car at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) in the UK.

In a replay of the 2023 FOS, when MG Motor debuted the Cyberster roadster, the venerated Chinese brand wasted no time unveiling the newcomer dubbed MG Cyber Coupe GTS – only a few hours after the festival gates opened.

Festival patrons were treated to a sample of things to come from the Coupe GTS (a production ready concept car) whose performance proved to be as striking as it looks gauged from the car's tyre-shredding, tail snaking antics off the line which left lurid black tyre marks a long way out from the starting line of the FOS hill climb course.

FOS organisers enthusiastically embraced the new MG with collective approval saying “it is good to see cars like this arriving on the scene, good fun EVs that are going to start raising eyebrows and gathering the interest of drivers who are looking for a bit of enjoyment on the road”.

MG Motor was tight lipped about GTS details, but it is expected to run the same powertrains in single- and dual-motor configuration as the Cyberster with similar underpinnings and features adding two more seats and other minor changes including enhanced body rigidity thanks to the metal roof.

To recap, the Aussie spec’ Cyberster uses a dual electric motor AWD powertrain delivering a claimed 375kW and 725Nm output, sufficient to propel the nearly 2000kg roadster from 0 to 100km/h in a rapid 3.2 seconds.

The same powertrain in a potentially lighter hard top may deliver similar if not superior performance.

A single-motor, rear-wheel drive Cyberster will be available elsewhere and it’s anticipated the RWD format will find its way into the GTS which carries over many Cyberster design elements with recognisable styling cues including the feline frontal styling, wheels, distinctive taillights, doors and side highlight lines… topped in this case by the sloping fast back roofline.

Though MG Motor has not confirmed production plans for the GTS the concept represents an exploration into expanding its electric vehicle line-up.

In a media release at the FOS, MG Motor hinted at the potential for a GTS model in the EV era, suggesting a blend of performance, style, and heritage that could resonate with modern enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Pundits are already tipping the GTS might make it onto the market next year and given most of the preparatory work has already been done with the Cyberster, they could be correct.

Adding veracity to the prediction is the fact that next year marks the 60th anniversary of the MG B GT tin-top fast-back, an event MG Motor would be keen to capitalise on particularly with the synergies between the GTS and the MG B GT.

When asked about the GTS at MG Motor Australia’s recent Cyberster preview in Sydney, the company’s chief commercial officer Giles Belcher followed the corporate line and was non-committal (with a sneaky grin).

Mr Belcher had earlier enthused that big things were in store for MG with a raft of new and refreshed models in the pipeline. Here’s hoping one of them is the Cyber Coupe GTS.