My little rendezvous with the MG Cyberster at the Buddh International Circuit last year had left me wanting for more. I’d walked into the paddock not knowing what to expect – electric sportscars aren’t a concept a petrolhead’s brain wants to accept after all. But in the flesh, the car made a great first impression. And when I drove it, even though for just a handful of controlled laps on track and then around an autocross circuit in the parking lot, I was impressed. The usual sportscar theatrics like the exhaust note and jolt-inducing gearshifts were missing, but with 510PS and 725Nm sent to all four wheels via dual electric motors performance was smile-inducing.
Where it lacked in terms of theatrics, the Cyberster seemed to more than make up with its pizzazz. Its drop-dead gorgeous design and electric scissor doors make a statement that will have most prospective buyers ignore the powertrain’s silence. And with a sticker price of ₹77.50 lakh ex-showroom, the Cyberster comes across as a steal if you want a set of wheels that will have your neighbours’ jaws drop every time you head out. My limited seat time had me convinced the Cyberster isn’t just a sportscar for show-boating though, and I had been waiting to spend more time with it, which has finally happened.
I’m not going to talk a lot about the design since that has been spoken about already, it’s the driving experience I’m keen on focusing on. That said, it’s a little hard to not talk about the design because the Cyberster looks stunning, and makes people stop in their tracks to ogle at it. The styling is pure sportscar and it’s also easy to mistake the Cyberster to be an Italian sportscar. I heard many passers-by exclaim “Ferrari!” on seeing it – no prizes for guessing I was driving with the top-down, which allowed me to hear them! The classic sportscar silhouette and short overhangs, silver-finished roll-over hoops, raised boot lip and snazzy-looking 20-inch wheels help it turn heads. And if that isn’t enough, you simply need to drop the top (can be done in 10 seconds, even on the go at up to 50kmph), or just press a button to have the electrically-operated scissor doors do their thing.
I also like the cabin layout, though it feels a little cramped. The triple-screen layout gives the feel of a real ‘cockpit’ and I also like the steering wheel, though the flat-bottom is too wide. The steering blocks your view of the screens on the left and right though, and steering-mounted controls take getting used to. The left and right screens are touchscreens, which means you can toggle through menu options and also choose what you wish to see. The user interface is dated though, and could do with a refresh. The seating position is typical sportscar but you sit slightly higher than ICE-powered sportscars courtesy the battery pack below you, so ingress and egress are easier. Quality of materials feels good, but some customisation options for the colour of the leather would have been welcome.
The Cyberster is strictly a two-seater, and there’s barely any space to keep any bags behind you, though the boot is reasonably-sized. The Bose audio system sounds good and with no exhaust note to entertain and just a bit of a growl through the speakers, you’re better off listening to music with the roof closed. There’s a lot to like about the power delivery and throttle responses and for the matter, full marks to MG for getting the throttle responses as smooth, because you almost never feel you’re driving an EV. Except for when you mash the throttle and give it the beans. Irrespective of the mode you’re, in the Cyberster lurches forward and accelerates hard. Super Sport mode is where you can truly push your passenger into his seatback as the car accelerates so quickly, there isn’t much of a reaction time.
As I found out, the 77kWh battery pack lets you drive for over 400km on a single charge, and a 60kW DC fast charger had me recharge the battery to 80 percent in about an hour. An early morning drive to Pune’s outskirts allowed me experience the dynamics too and the Cyberster impressed with its stability, in a straight line and around corners both, The car feels heavy due its 2-tonne weight though, given the battery pack and weight of the mechanisms for the scissor doors and the reinforcements, as this is a convertible. That said, for most if not all occasions the Cyberster has enough handling prowess to not let you down, thanks to its well-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels and sticky Pirelli P Zeros. It will also be interesting to see how long the Pirellis last since this is an EV, and there’s lots of torque going to the wheels instantly. The suspension impresses with its balance between ride and handling, and the Cyberster was able to soak up Pune’s potholes and ruts
surprisingly well.
The couple of days I spent driving it ensured heads turned wherever I went in the Cyberster, besides which every time the car was parked outside office, there were people clicking photos of it or with it. And given the experience of living with it, I can confirm the Cyberster is an interesting form of the automobile. It is a looker and an attention magnet and also quick enough to let you drive away if the attention gets too much. Its electric powertrain may not suit everyone’s tastes, but the Cyberster certainly has an audience for itself. Which also explains MG selling over 500 units of the car in just about six months!
Words Abhay Verma
Photography Saidatta Naik
