MG Cyberster: Speedy, Classy, an EV Roadster With Soul

JOHANNESBURG – I was excited. Properly excited. The kind of excitement that sneaks up on you before you even realise it’s there. The keys to the MG Cyberster were placed neatly into the palm of my hand, and in that moment, an eager smile and a childlike sense of wonder took over. Instantly, I was transported back to my childhood, to my father and his MG MGF in the early 2000s.

I recall him having it on test, as he too dabbled in the car scene, and one could say he was the original in this space. I was about four years old then, but some images never fade. I recall the front end, with its sporty proportions and elegant design. That car lodged itself somewhere deep in my memory, quietly shaping my love for machines with character.

As I stood there with the Cyberster’s keys, I felt that same spark again. Writing this now, I won’t lie, the emotions come thick and fast. This car didn’t just feel like a test unit; it felt like a time machine.

It carried me back to a starry-eyed kid and the memories of my hero, my dad. But it also stirred another presence, my late uncle, Morgan Naidu, who passed away in 2012. A faithful motoring scribe, a man whose passion for words and cars left a lasting imprint on me.

I often wish he were still around. I wish I could have spent more time with him, learning, listening, letting him guide me. The truth is, I got into this crazy, demanding, beautiful industry purely out of passion and to honour his legacy.

Sometimes it hurts watching old video presentations of him: cheerful, bright, eloquent, always knowing exactly how to say what mattered. I remember him giving me a small Oxford dictionary when I was ten. Inside, he wrote a simple message: Words are key to learning, wise words, from a wise man.

I’m still learning, Uncle Morgan, still figuring out how to tell a story properly. But maybe, just maybe, I’m getting there. God’s got me. And perhaps I arrived at this moment, in this car, right on time.

I dropped the roof, let the world in, and headed straight for my mentor Mabuyane’s farm. As soon as the keys were mine, that destination felt inevitable. Of course, I first took some time to get acquainted with the Cyberster, to warm up, to understand it, to feel it.

And my goodness, it is one of the most incredible pieces of moving metal I’ve ever experienced. Yes, my dream car remains the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, but today wasn’t about dreams, it was about the present. And the present had scissor doors, electric motors, and a soul I didn’t expect.

With the wind rushing past, the open road felt like freedom distilled. Press the red Sport Plus button and the Cyberster unleashes a silent fury, a jolt of power that hits instantly and relentlessly. It’s quick, brutally quick, yet never feels unruly. You’re cocooned inside, wrapped in comfort, while the car remains planted, stable, and deeply confident through corners. Grip is abundant, composure unwavering.

Then there’s the number that still makes me smile: 0–100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. Faster than a Porsche 992 911 Carrera S. Activate launch control and it almost feels like a video game, surreal, addictive, laugh-out-loud fast.

With electric motors on each axle, the all-wheel-drive setup delivers a combined 375 kW and 725 Nm of torque. On paper, it sounds wild. In reality, it’s beautifully controlled. By the end of the 80-kilometre drive, I was genuinely taken aback. A comfortable EV roadster that delivers emotion? Yes. Hell yes.

Over the next few days, the Cyberster continued to impress. It’s priced at R1,399,900, sitting proudly as MG’s halo model, and it looks every cent of it. The design is pure theatre: a long bonnet, a short tail, a wide stance, 20-inch alloys, and those dramatic scissor doors that turn every stop into an event.

In fact, it became something of a rolling attraction. Being the only Cyberster casually cruising around Johannesburg, it drew all eyes. People stopped, stared, and took photos. On the highway, even a BMW G80 M3 gave chase to snap a picture. That doesn’t happen often.

Inside, it’s just as special. A wrap-around three-screen display, a 14-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, premium leather and Alcantara seats, ambient lighting, a premium audio system, and a soft-top roof that opens in 14 seconds. It’s futuristic, but not cold. Minimalist, yet welcoming.

The 77 kWh battery offers up to 443 km of range, with DC fast charging capable of 10–80% in around 40 minutes. It’s usable, liveable, and surprisingly practical for something that looks this dramatic.

Safety is comprehensive, too, with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera, and more, all backed by a strong warranty and maintenance plan that shows MG’s confidence.

But beyond the specs, beyond the performance figures and technology, the MG Cyberster did something rare. It made me feel. It reminded me why I fell in love with cars in the first place, because they’re not just machines. They’re memories, bridges between generations, storytellers on wheels.

And as I handed the keys back, one thought lingered: this isn’t just MG returning. This is MG remembering who they are and helping me remember who I am, too. © HigherEducationMedia