While in China the SAIC-owned MG badge carries some clout, in Britain, the sporting connotations of the Morris Garages story have been almost entirely overwritten by a line-up of low-cost hatches and crossovers. In China, MG is big business – the marque sold 120,000 ZSs alone in 2019 – but in Britain, despite consistent pre-lockdown growth (it sold 1,700 cars in December), MG’s market share remains miniscule. Which is no surprise, really, given that buyers here value brand image at least as much as value for money.
What MG has arguably needed since SAIC brought it back to life in 2007 is something new and sporting to pick up from where the MG F left off. New renderings put out today suggest that's exactly what is in the works, with the digitally illustrated Cyberster pointing to the creation of an MG B/F lineage successor. Naturally, it’ll put a very 21st century spin on the formula, the two-seat concept being purely electric and featuring 5G technology as part of its armoury.
At this stage it’s only a design rendering, but the intent is clear. Those round headlights draw links to the F and B, while the flashes of electricity emphasise this thing drinks from the plug. There’s a light bar at the back – how very 2020 – and illuminated MG badges, with wide rear shoulders and even a bonnet stripe. Like the four-seat E-motion concept, it’s a looker. But like that 2017 concept, there’s no telling whether it’ll become reality.
MG’s technical reach is certainly large enough to make such creations appear viable. Its parent, SAIC, is an expert in electric mobility and MG already sells the ZS EV in Britain, plus, SAIC’s vast numbers in China suggests it has easily enough production muscle to add a halo or two to its line-up. A two-seater to pick-up from where the F and TF left off – the latter was built up until 2011 by SAIC’s MG – certainly looks like a smart way to invoke more European interest into a powerful Chinese outfit.
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