MG Cyberster electric convertible hits Australian roads
A hot cool new type of EV car has reached Australia, promising to change the world of driving forever.
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Electric cars are shifting into top gear by moving from everyday transport to flashy weekend wheels.
And a Chinese brand is leading the charge.
MG introduced Australia’s first electric sports car this week, showing the new Cyberster off to customers who will receive vehicles before Christmas.
Rival machines from the likes of Porsche, Polestar, Tesla, BMW and others will follow suit, with high-performance drop-tops that serve as “halo” models, the expensive range-topping cars that attract new customers to the brand.
MG does not expect to sell many examples of the Cyberster, a car set to cost $100,000-$130,000 plus on-road costs (up to $150,000 drive-away). But the car will deliver Porsche-rivalling performance to a brand famous for cut-price economy cars.
Giles Belcher, chief commercial officer at MG Motor Australia, said orders for the new Cyberster are in the “tens”, rather than hundreds or thousands.
Sydney builder Eric Giardullo was one of the first to commit to the new MG.
The driving enthusiast will trade in his turbocharged BMW for the Cyberster.
“I put a deposit on it as soon as I found out it was coming to Australia,” he said.
Mr Giardullo’s motoring history includes an open-topped Mini Moke, a Jeep Wrangler and the BMW 2 Series.
“If you gave me a car with a metal roof, I’d take an angle grinder to it,” he said.
“I always have the roof off.
“I used to work in the construction industry, and we do some long hours – it’s really thankless work. You cop a flogging every minute, but when you get in the car at the end of the day everything is all right.
“It’s better than going to the pub.”
The Cyberster is a fast car.
Powerful electric motors push it to 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds.
It represents a new breed of guilt-free sports cars that promise to change the way people think about driving for leisure.
Toby Hagon, motoring commentator and co-founder of electric car website EV Central, said electric sports cars take the sting out of what can be perceived as a selfish purchase.
“Car enthusiasts can already choose fast and practical four-door electric cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Tesla Model 3 Performance and Audi e-tron GT,” he said.
“Now electric convertibles are on the horizon.
“Porsche is preparing to launch an electric replacement for the Boxster, Polestar has already announced plans to introduce a high-performance roadster in Australia, and Mazda is flirting with an electric successor to the MX-5.”
It won’t be long before green sports car fans are spoiled for choice.
An electric Mazda MX-5 with a small battery boosted by a compact petrol generator to boost its range could be an affordable proposition.
At the other end of the market, the convertible “Drophead” cousin to the electric Rolls-Royce Spectre won’t leave much change from $1 million.
Ford had high hopes for its Mustang Mach-E, a four-door electric cousin to the classic American muscle car.
But the blue oval had to slash thousands from its price before the first cars reached Australia, and sales have been much slower than those of its V8-powered cousin.
Mercedes-AMG swapped V8 power for electric motors in its range-topping limousine, the unloved EQS sedan that launched in July 2022 for about $350,000 drive-away.
Lightly-used examples with four-digit mileage can be found online for about $170,000, suggesting early adopters lost about $7000 per month in depreciation in addition to the costs of financing, servicing and running the car.
But folks like Mr Giardullo aren’t worried about the dollars or sense of driving a sporty EV.
His commitment to the Cyberster is part of a drive to “make the best of every single day”.
“I’ve got more days behind me than what I’ve got in front of me, so I’m going to make sure the ones in front of me are spent doing things I like,” he said.
“Driving with the wind in my hair and the sun in my face is one of the things I like.
“Life’s too short to have a roof over your head.”
Coming soon: Convertibles for the future
Japan: Mazda MX-5
The world’s best-selling convertible looks set to enter a new era with electric motors boosted by a battery and small petrol generator. The gorgeous Mazda Iconic SP concept stole hearts at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show, and you can bet Mazda is working on a way to put it into production.
Europe: Polestar 6
Cashed-up Aussies keen on a slice of Scandinavian speed have placed $37,000 deposits on the Polestar 6, a futuristic two-seater with more than double the power of a V8 Ford Mustang. It promises breathtaking speed to match its looks - and a $300,000-plus price tag.
America: Cadillac Sollei
The American brand famous for enormous “land yachts” wound the clock back to the 1950s this week with the Cadillac Sollei concept car. Finished in retro-chic“Manilla Cream” inside and out, this huge four-seat show car is here to gauge interest in a decadent battery-powered drop-top.
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