MG Cyberster electric roadster and ONE compact SUV previewed in PH
MG Philippines, now under SAIC Motor Philippines, is not ending the year quietly. The British-Chinese automaker gave members of motoring media and content creators a surprise preview of two new models that are coming to the Philippines within the first half of 2024.
Set to join their local lineup are the MG Cyberster electric roadster and the MG One compact crossover. Surprise, surprise, as they say. Anyway, here’s what we know about these two vehicles, so far.
MG ONE
MG is very much known for its crossover offerings–the popular MG ZS subcompact, and the MG RX5 compact. Also part of their lineup is the HS. Joining them soon and expanding the family is the MG One, stylized as ONE.
In terms of looks, the MG One wears a similar design language as the MG GT, and the refreshed MG HS which is yet to be launched locally, with the large front grille and swept-back headlights. Its interior takes on a more modern approach with its driver-centric dual screen setup in a single housing, and large use of straight lines.
Once launched, features could include full LED exterior lighting, 19-inch alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, electronic gear selector, and leather seats, among others.
According to specs from other markets, the MG One is a 1.5-liter Inline 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 184 horsepower and 285 Nm of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
An exact launch date for the MG One is not yet available but again, MG Philippines says it should be within the first half of next year.
MG Cyberster
Catching most of the attention during the media preview is the MG Cyberster.
Revealed in photos as a concept car in March 2021, and eventually as a production model during this year’s Auto Shanghai, the Cyberster is the brand’s first new roadster since the TF was discontinued in 2011. It is also their first fully-electric roadster.
For its design, the MG Cyberster is a classic roadster with its simple and clean lines in front, as well as its long hood. The side also gets smooth lines while the rear goes for a more wild look with its sharp looking arrow-shaped taillights with an LED lightbar. Making it more unique are scissor doors as well as its electrically retractable soft top.
Its interior on the other hand, as with many performance-oriented vehicles, is driver-focused with most of the center stack angled towards the driver. Materials are also visibly premium with nearly everything colored in Saddle Brown as well.
As mentioned, the MG Cyberster is a fully-electric vehicle. Powering it are options of a single or dual motor electric powertrains. The former with its 64 kWh battery produces 313 horsepower. Its torque figure is unknown as of this writing. Meanwhile, the latter with its 77 kWh battery produces a whopping 544 horsepower and 725 Nm of torque, with a 0 to 100 kph acceleration time of just 3.2 seconds. Those are huge numbers for a small vehicle.
Like the MG ONE, we don’t have an exact launch date yet for the MG Cyberster, but the company says that it will be joining the lineup earlier with a target release within the first quarter of 2024.
