This is it: MG's first soft-top sports car in decades spotted in the wild as the electric Mazda MX-5 rival nears production

The long-awaited MG Cyberster two-door coupe has been spotted in the wild after years of teasers and a recent leak of patent images.

The images published by Chinese site xcar.com.cn show a camouflaged slinky two-door drop-top, with two different sets of large aerodynamic alloy wheels and a seemingly ready-for-production body.

While the car is decidedly more tame than the wild concepts shown several years ago, it looks to maintain a similar swoopy face and solid bar tail-light design across the rear. It also has an integrated spoiler design, with design elements that are similar to everything from the Lotus Exige to the Alpine A110.

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The spy images confirm the car will stick closely to the patent drawings released months ago, although the interior of the car is yet to be revealed. The previous concept vehicle shown in 2021 had a yoke steering wheel and ‘e-sports’ inspired cabin. 

The Cyberster is confirmed to be all-electric, but will maintain a long, opening bonnet. It is said to debut a new electric platform for MG.

Other features confirmed by MG in China include a 5G connected multimedia suite, and the brand has also suggested in the past that it can make a model with 800km of range on the NEDC cycle, 0-100km/h performance in around three seconds, and that the coupe will be produced in both rear- and all-wheel drive formats.

The car was originally slated to be revealed in November of last year, but was delayed due to COVID concerns.

MG’s Australian division has confirmed the production version of the Cyberster will be available in both left- and right-hand drive (the latter likely for the brand to launch its hero product in its historical home of the UK), and thus will have the potential to be made available in Australia.

The UK’s Autocar has also reported that ‘Cyberster’ may not be its production name, at least for export markets, noting the brand has trademarked the name ‘MG C EV’ in the United Kingdom. Other potential names include the MG E, as ‘E’ is next in line after the brand's final combustion coupe before being sold to its current SAIC owner, the MG F.

The prototype Cyberster appears more tame compared to the concept. (image credit: xcar.com.cn)

Cost will be a big factor, given MG’s current budget positioning in the market, although the brand’s UK commercial director, Guy Pigounakis, told media in 2022 that the incoming coupe would be a “game-changer” in terms of public perception of the MG brand, and that the car isn’t a natural successor to the MG F.

“It’s completely not. It’s in a completely different sector of the market.”

Next up for MG in Australia will be the launch of the MG5 combustion small sedan, and MG4 electric hatchback, both due in the first half of 2023. The brand had a massive December to top-off 2022, out-selling key rivals like Hyundai and Mitsubishi. For the whole year in 2022, it placed seventh overall, outselling Subaru, Isuzu Ute, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen, but still trailing brands like Ford, Mazda, Kia overall.

There is also a facelift due for the MG HS mid-size SUV, and a ‘self-charging’ hybrid version of the ZS has been released in Thailand, although it is not yet confirmed for the Australian market.