New MG Cyberster – and 20 more electric sports cars

MG Cyberster set for 2024 debut

The Chinese state-owned MG Motor of today is far removed from the British company born in the 1920s as Morris Garages. However, the electric Cyberster brings the MG badge back to its roadster roots. Due on sale in summer 2024, it features Lamborghini-style scissor doors and is likely to cost around £50,000. Let’s take a closer look at the Cyberster, then delve into the history of electric sports cars and supercars.

Classic styling with supercar performance

UK specifications haven’t been confirmed yet, but the Chinese-market Cyberster will offer a choice of 64kWh and 77kWh batteries. The basic, single-motor model serves up 313hp for 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, while the flagship dual-motor version with four-wheel drive musters 543hp and can hit 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. Designed in London, the Cyberster looks relatively conventional, but its tech-focused cabin boasts three wraparound digital displays and a yoke-style steering wheel (also unconfirmed for the UK).

MG Cyberster set for 2024 debut

The Cyberster made its UK debut at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it rocketed up the famous hill climb alongside the new 435hp XPower version of the MG4 EV. Soon after it reaches showrooms this year, the Cyberster will face competition from forthcoming electric versions of the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman. It’s a brave new world for MG – and a far cry from a creaky old MGB.

So let’s now look at where it all started for the electric sports car.

Tesla Roadster

The original Tesla Roadster catapulted the high performance EV into public consciousness. Amazing performance, reasonable range and a pretty Lotus-based silhouette were very appealing in 2008. As we’ll see, its successor is still under development.

Lightning GT

The British-built Lightning GT didn’t enjoy the success of Tesla. It was first revealed in 2008, boasting 408hp from two rear-mounted electric motors, plus a range of 200 miles. Production is yet to begin.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive

After Tesla made the waves, the mainstream marques tried to ride them. The Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive was introduced in 2013, with more than 700hp and a reported 160-mile range. Less than 100 were sold, at upwards of £300,000 each.

Audi R8 E-tron

The R8 E-tron, like the SLS, was something of a blip rather than a revolution, although it lasted longer than the Mercedes. Audi has been musing on an electric R8 since the standard car’s debut in 2006.

Audi R8 E-tron Mk2

Prototype electric R8s came along in 2012 and 2013. Then a production second-generation E-tron arrived in 2015. It lasted just 19 months and managed only a handful of special-order sales. A tough sell alongside a naturally aspirated V10?

Rimac Concept One

This is arguably the first proper electric hypercar. The Rimac Concept One looks incredible, has more than 1,000hp and blasts to 62mph in 2.5 seconds (on par with a Bugatti Veyron). Top Gear’s Richard Hammond famously crashed one.

Tesla Model S

It’s not a sports car in the conventional sense, but the Model S earns its place with an ability to destroy most Ferraris or Lamborghinis off the line. The flagship 1,020hp Model S Plaid can blast from 0-60mph in just 1.99 seconds.

Porsche Taycan

Porsche’s long-awaited riposte to the Tesla Model S arrived in 2019. Our review said: ‘The Taycan Turbo may “only” reach 62mph in 3.2 seconds, but that’s still stupendously quick. Supercar-quick. With no gears to shift and a muted whoosh from the e-motors, the experience is oddly serene. Like the Millennium Falcon making the leap to light speed, it doesn’t so much accelerate as teleport from one location to the next.’

Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

The estate version of the Taycan is a seriously cool alternative to an SUV. We drove the flagship Turbo S version and said: ‘This is, ahem, an electrifying car, but also one with plenty of precision, feedback and sensation. It’s proof positive that EVs can be exciting, and allays any concerns that going electric means dialling back the fun of driving.’

Volkswagen ID R

Race on Sunday, sell on Monday, right? Not quite, but the Volkswagen ID R, which broke the record at America’s Pikes Peak and the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climbs, is a proof of concept. Electric has always been fast; in this case, it’s the fastest…

Nio EP9

With new ideas come new upstarts who want to ruffle some feathers. Nio doesn’t want to be a supercar manufacturer, but the Nurburgring record-smashing EP9 is a gorgeous machine in its own right. Each of its wheels has its own electric motor, giving a total output of 1,360hp.

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio

Lamborghini, THE supercar manufacturer, has turned its attention to electric power. The Terzo Millennio looks to a future where there isn’t a howling V10 or V12 to be heard. What this concept lacks in ferocious noise, it makes up for in visual drama. The wheel rims glow orange when it drives.

Dendrobium D-1

If the Nio is an upstart, the Dendrobium is veritable vapourware. Still, with backing from Williams Advanced Engineering, there’s still a chance this spectacular zero-emissions electric supercar could make production.

Aspark Owl

The Aspark Owl goes even further down the theoretical road, but we’re including it because, well… look at it. It’s Tesla meets late-1990s GT1 racing. It’ll get to 60mph in less than two seconds and crack almost 250mph. That’ll be £3 million and – before you ask – yes, it’s been seen running.

Rimac Nevera

This was the difficult second album for Rimac and it hasn’t held back. The headline numbers include 1,914hp, 0-60 mph in 1.85 seconds, a 340-mile range and a £1.7 million price tag. The Nevera also uses 12 ultrasonic sensors, 13 cameras and 6 radar sensors to enhance the driver’s on-track performance. It’s Gran Turismo made real.

Pininfarina Battista

An old name takes on a brave new world. After decades as a coachbuilder and design house, Pininfarina is going it alone for the first time in its history. The Battista (named after the company’s founder) is based on the Rimac Nevera and only 150 will be built. As you’d expect, it looks stunning.

Lotus Evija

As stunning as this, though? Arguably not. The Evija heralds the rebirth of Lotus under new owner Geely, with radical ‘porous’ styling that reflects its amazing performance. A 2,000hp output means 0-62mph in less than three seconds, plus a top speed beyond 200mph.

Polestar Precept

Here’s a future we can all get behind. Polestar has confirmed its electric Precept concept will enter production, albeit not for several years. There’s no news about the powertrain as yet, but neat details include camera door mirrors and a roof-mounted Lidar module for autonomous driving.

Xing Mobility Miss R

Who is Miss R? Who knows, but we like the idea of an off-road supercar with 1,341hp. Taiwanese Xing Mobility is already testing a prototype and promises a run of 20 cars, priced at around £750,000 each.

Tesla Roadster

Tesla is set to come full-circle, with a second-generation Roadster. While the first was a Lotus Elise in electrified drag, this is a bona fide supercar. Controversial Tesla boss Elon Musk has claimed 0-60mph in a brain-scrambling 1.9 seconds – if they ever build it…