RE: MG Cyberster goes on sale priced from £55k

[BricktopST205]

GT9 said:

The Project V is designed around low volume construction methods and materials, as well as a fairly spartan interior for the price point.
If the car is designed to attract a substantial market share, then the construction materials, finishes and equipment levels (and resulting kerb mass) of the car need to be more mainstream.

I understand that but from 1200KG to 2 tonne surely you could meet somewhere in the middle.

This thing is marketed as a 2 seater roadster whereas the reality is it is more 6 series/SL but without the luxury.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

This is going to sell in the tens of units isn't it, it will be as popular as the Kia Stinger.

I really cannot believe anyone would buy one of these over a 718 Boxster as it has completely the wrong badge on the front.

[GT9]

BricktopST205 said:

I understand that but from 1200KG to 2 tonne surely you could meet somewhere in the middle.

Let's hope Porsche and Lotus do exactly that, the Type 135 is targeted at 1500 kg.
The conundrum they all face is that as soon as you lock in your chosen battery technology in the first generation of cars, that sets the scene for the rest of the car.
Wait a few years and it's likely you can build something a bit lighter/faster/longer range.
We may indeed see delays to the release dates for this reason.

[Silvanus]

GT9 said:

BricktopST205 said:

I understand that but from 1200KG to 2 tonne surely you could meet somewhere in the middle.

Let's hope Porsche and Lotus do exactly that, the Type 135 is targeted at 1500 kg.
The conundrum they all face is that as soon as you lock in your chosen battery technology in the first generation of cars, that sets the scene for the rest of the car.
Wait a few years and it's likely you can build something a bit lighter/faster/longer range.
We may indeed see delays to the release dates for this reason.

Current Emira is just over 1400kg. I don't think the type 135 will even happen, let alone be 1500kg

[Dave Hedgehog]

GT9 said:

Let's hope Porsche and Lotus do exactly that, the Type 135 is targeted at 1500 kg.
The conundrum they all face is that as soon as you lock in your chosen battery technology in the first generation of cars, that sets the scene for the rest of the car.
Wait a few years and it's likely you can build something a bit lighter/faster/longer range.
We may indeed see delays to the release dates for this reason.

not holding out on porsche or lotus since the tycan weighs 2200-2400 kgs and the emeya 2550kgs ... different cars true but actually in production and still massively heavy EVs with not a sign of lightness

[cerb4.5lee]

BricktopST205 said:

GT9 said:

The Project V is designed around low volume construction methods and materials, as well as a fairly spartan interior for the price point.
If the car is designed to attract a substantial market share, then the construction materials, finishes and equipment levels (and resulting kerb mass) of the car need to be more mainstream.

I understand that but from 1200KG to 2 tonne surely you could meet somewhere in the middle.

This thing is marketed as a 2 seater roadster whereas the reality is it is more 6 series/SL but without the luxury.

Harsh but fair!

I'm personally obsessed with weight when it comes to cars(and I get to experience both extremes with a 550kg Caterham and a 2300kg 7 seat SUV for example), however...as most of us say, many folk don't actually give a monkeys about it though, and if they did, then nobody would buy an electric car in the first place I reckon.

[Dave Hedgehog]

cerb4.5lee said:

BricktopST205 said:

GT9 said:

The Project V is designed around low volume construction methods and materials, as well as a fairly spartan interior for the price point.
If the car is designed to attract a substantial market share, then the construction materials, finishes and equipment levels (and resulting kerb mass) of the car need to be more mainstream.

I understand that but from 1200KG to 2 tonne surely you could meet somewhere in the middle.

This thing is marketed as a 2 seater roadster whereas the reality is it is more 6 series/SL but without the luxury.

Harsh but fair!

I'm personally obsessed with weight when it comes to cars(and I get to experience both extremes with a 550kg Caterham and a 2300kg 7 seat SUV for example), however...as most of us say, many folk don't actually give a monkeys about it though, and if they did, then nobody would buy an electric car in the first place I reckon.

being the fact its half the price of a SL/6 convertible its looks good quality

[cerb4.5lee]

Dave Hedgehog said:

being the fact its half the price of a SL/6 convertible its looks good quality

Yes and don't get me wrong, I think it looks very decent from the pics/videos I've seen of it in fairness. I'll be interested to see what it is like in real life though, because a lot of the other modern MG's that I see do look a bit cheap and nasty I think.

[J4CKO]

MOOSECORTINA said:

EV`s are dead

Yeah, they are banning them from 2035 aren't they, oh, actually hang on....

Saying stuff, doesn't make it true however much you want it to be, people will be more inclined to listen to you if you present a cogent and compelling argument rather than a one liner which has an air of "La La La not listening".

[J4CKO]

cerb4.5lee said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

being the fact its half the price of a SL/6 convertible its looks good quality

Yes and don't get me wrong, I think it looks very decent from the pics/videos I've seen of it in fairness. I'll be interested to see what it is like in real life though, because a lot of the other modern MG's that I see do look a bit cheap and nasty I think.

I had a nosey round a hybrid SUV a family friend had, it was really rather good, my parents a few years back had an MG6 and that was better than I anticipated but still a fair way behind the competition, but they have moved things on.

Most base quality perceptions on the bits they touch and see when in the car, that's why Audis always seem like they are superb quality, in reality no better than anything else apart from the interior. Cant say I was wowed by my 1 Series, was alright, but then most stuff nowadays is.

Need to compare and take price into consideration, this wont be as good as an SL, but then its half the price, depends on your budget and expectations.

[GT9]

Dave Hedgehog said:

not holding out on porsche or lotus since the tycan weighs 2200-2400 kgs and the emeya 2550kgs ... different cars true but actually in production and still massively heavy EVs with not a sign of lightness

I agree Porsche are unlikely to achieve 1500 kg.
Without getting too bogged down in it, the kerb mass is not a huge influence on EV lifetime carbon footprint or performance.
Achievable cornering speeds are plenty high enough for road use, so that just leaves the subjective element of feel.
Caterham have the luxury of not having to 'chase numbers' (in their own words).
Porsche will need to show measurable improvements over their ICE siblings in things that are measurable, kerb mass aside.

[Rich Boy Spanner]

I like the look of it, and I can see a lot selling. It's business case may not even be to make a profit but to be a halo car for the brand. Anything EV or Chinese seems to attract a huge amount of 'old man shouting at the moon'. The future is EV whether people like it or not, the Chinese are the market leaders in the tech, people need to get over it. If the British hadn't made a huge mess of its car industry we wouldn't be buying Chinese cars with an MG badge. But it did.

[soxboy]

Fair play to MG for being the first entrant in this sector of the market. I wish it well, but don’t see it selling a massive amount in the UK where the likely buyers for this want to see a German badge on it. I see this in the same class as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK, more of a boulevard cruiser than sports car, and even these haven’t flown out of the showroom in recent years. Being a good price on SS will definitely help the MG.

Few in the actual market will give two hoots about the weight, only car journalists and adenoidal armchair Troy Queefs who would never buy one anyway.

[carlo996]

Rich Boy Spanner said:

I like the look of it, and I can see a lot selling. It's business case may not even be to make a profit but to be a halo car for the brand. Anything EV or Chinese seems to attract a huge amount of 'old man shouting at the moon'. The future is EV whether people like it or not, the Chinese are the market leaders in the tech, people need to get over it. If the British hadn't made a huge mess of its car industry we wouldn't be buying Chinese cars with an MG badge. But it did.

You mean unions….

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

soxboy said:

I see this in the same class as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK, more of a boulevard cruiser than sports car, and even these haven’t flown out of the showroom in recent years. .

Absolutely, and the sort of people who used to buy those cars want a big, aggressive looking JLR/German SUV these days instead.

Think how many older Z4s and SLKs you see, I cannot remember the last time I saw a brand new one.

[fortfive]

RustyMX5 said:

Finally an EV that I like the look of

Looks good and hats off to MG for getting this out the door and on sale. I think Alpine and Tesla will find this very tough competition.

[Fermit]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

This is going to sell in the tens of units isn't it, it will be as popular as the Kia Stinger.

I really cannot believe anyone would buy one of these over a 718 Boxster as it has completely the wrong badge on the front.

Yet in the last three pages at least three members have stated they're buying one or are going to look in to it?

[Honeywell]

When Labour come in and reduce the £60k pension annual limit back to £40k there will be thousands miore people seeking an EV lease via salary sacrifice. When 62% is your marginal tax rate the a green lease deal becomes irresistible. I can't be arsed to lease a Tesla but I DO have a roadster as a third car. A Cyberster solves two problems and comes with scissor doors as a novelty. Will it be as much fun as an MX5? No, But it doesn't really have to be.

We have to deal with the world as it is not as we would wish it to be.

I'm tempted though to wait to see what the new EV Boxster is like first but I suspect the price will be much higher than the MG. I doubt Porsche can invent a way to make the steering, handling fun-factor much superior to the MG because of physics. I don't care much about interiors and the MG already looks pretty good to my eyes.

Long term reliability is not a concern on a lease. Why pay more?

[Fetchez la vache]

cerb4.5lee said:

I'll be interested to see what it is like in real life though, because a lot of the other modern MG's that I see do look a bit cheap and nasty I think.

So much like the old MG's then?
Tongue partially in cheek - the last MG I sat in was an MGF / TF which suffered badly from cheapy car syndrome, and had way worse fit & finish than the MG Metro Turbo I learned to drive in (showing my age...).
Interesting to see if these Chinese MG's move my perception of their quality TBF. Chatting to my indy garage boss who has dealt with a few, I don't believe it will.

[Mikey Custard]

If it drives as good as it looks, and is properly screwed together this looks a great car. I will hold off though, until the ICE version appears (hopefully) in a couple of years time. Then it should be an affordable MX5 beater!