MG wings it! Will this all-electric convertible sports car fly out of UK show rooms? 

If you think the photos look great, just wait until you see them up close.

That was my treat with the new MG Cyberster all-electric two-seater sports car when I visited MG’s design studio in London’s Marylebone this week to get a personal tour of both the car and studio from the company’s design director Carl Gotham .

As MG makes a welcome return to its sports car roots, the new car was hot from its official global unveiling at the recent Shanghai Motor Show in China, where it will be built.

Because although it is a British brand that originated in 1924, MG is now owned by the Chinese car giant SAIC.

So what’s it like up close? For starters, it’s much bigger than it looks in pictures.

But it’s beautifully sculpted with some nice aerodynamic and styling cues, and a distinctive rear hip with arrow-pointing turn signals.

The dramatically rising scissor doors have been retained until the final production models and look spectacular. The aircraft-style hemispherical steering wheel will likely be merged or replaced with a standard full-circle version.

Meanwhile, the folding bonnet mechanism is neat and the British-designed roadster looks just as good up or down.

It also promises to be a thrilling ride – as a sports car with supercar performance.

With the standard single electric version accelerating from 0-60 mph in about five seconds, and the more powerful dual electric motor model doing it in just three seconds, or possibly less, I can’t wait to drive it.

Throughout its history, MG has always had a reputation – especially with models such as the MG Midget, MGB and MGB GT – as the ‘sports car for the people’: great fun at affordable prices for people with a middle income.

Impressed: Ray with the stunning new MG with lift-up scissor doors and an aircraft-style hemispherical steering wheel

Red hot: The standard single electric version should accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about five seconds, and the more powerful dual electric motor model should do it in just three seconds

The Cyberster won’t be cheap, but prices will be well below other high-performance two-seater roadsters on the market, starting at around £50,000 for the single engine and £60,000 for the more powerful twin engine.

Carl says: “It’s a special moment for all of us who played a part in the design of this unique car.

“The Cyberster offers MG customers a striking all-electric roadster that will be as exciting as MG sports cars of the past.”

The launch of the Cyberstar next summer will be a highlight of MG’s 100th anniversary.

The car is based on the same flexible platform as the existing award-winning MG4, priced from £26,995 but will cost twice as much.

MG hopes the Cyberster can capitalize on the huge void in the market for an ‘affordably priced’ electric roadster, although it’s still likely to top out at around £50k

The sloping long bonnet pays homage to that of the iconic MGBs of the 1960s and 1970s

MG said: “The two-seater Cyberster marks a long-awaited return to the MG brand’s production of sports cars, bringing the car up to date with a powerful all-electric powertrain and a modern cabin with a range of advanced driver technology. .

‘The Cyberster’s distinctive styling is inspired by MG’s heritage, with signature design highlights such as a signature long bonnet, low nose and curved surfaces.

It also introduces a number of notable new features, including scissor doors and a Kammback rear.”

Founded by Cecil Kimber in 1924 and taken from the initials of ‘Morris Garages’, the iconic car brand MG became famous for building sporty, exciting and great value cars that are fun to drive.

And having owned an MG Midget for many years myself, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the latest roadster for some much-missed wind-in-the-hair rides.