Did you know that MG still builds cars? The company that greatly contributed to America’s love of driving is still plugging along, and it’s just been announced that the MG Cyberster is going to make its official European debut at the Munich-based IAA Mobility 2023 Germany in September. This is the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, or International Automobile Exhibition, that used to be held in Frankfurt every year.
However, with MG, all is not what it may seem. In fact, you may recoil in horror, not because the Cyberster will be an EV roadster (never would have guessed!), but because of who MG is these days.
MG Rover Group disintegrated in 2005, and its assets (including Austin and a host of discontinued brands) were bought by a Chinese company called Nanjing Automobile. Nanjing also acquired MG’s plant in Longbridge, which allowed the new MG Motor company to resume building the MG TF sports car, as well as a number of Rover models now under the MG banner. SIAC Motor, a Shanghai-based manufacturer, bought Nanjing Automobile in 2007. Over time, new models were purely Chinese and not related to leftover Rover models, with these cars being sold in the UK and other markets as MGs but in China as Roewe, Maxus, Wuling, and Baojun.
Now that you’ve caught your breath, MG Motor designs and develops vehicles in the United Kingdom, but its cars are built in China, Thailand, and India. The Cyberster is a throwback to the MGs of yore, but with a modern EV twist. It “firmly underline’s MG’s desire to design and engineer exciting performance EVs with bold styling, leading-edge driver, and infotainment technology.” The new roadster arrives to the market as MG celebrates 100 years since its founding. It “combines the brand’s evocative heritage with striking, contemporary design language and sophisticated EV powertrain.”
Commenting on the Cyberster and other EVs MG will be introducing in Munich, Jan Oehmicke of MG Motor Europe says, “We look forward to welcoming everyone to the MG stand, where they’ll be able to preview three of our most performance-focussed and exhilarating all-electric vehicles. IAA Mobility 2023 is an ideal platform to connect with motorists and offer a glimpse into MG’s exciting future, which features cars like the Cyberster, which will be with us next year.”
Considering these global developments that are new to this Yank, I have asked a fellow in Britain what he thinks about today’s MG. Decorum doesn’t allow me to display what he answered.
Source: www.classiccars.com