MG unveils Cyber GTS concept that looks set to be the electric spiritual successor to the MGB GT
- MG's Cyber GTS concept is a homage to 1968 MGC GTS Sebring racing icon
- It hints at a hardtop version of the new Cyberster roadster we tested recently
- Could it become the electric spiritual successor to the MGB GT from next year?
MG looks set to celebrate the classic MGB GT's 60th anniversary next year with a new version for an electric generation.
Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Thursday morning, the Cyber GTS is a hardtop coupe version of its new Cyberster EV roadster. And like the cult B GT launched in 1965, it offers two-plus-two seating and rakish good looks.
MG says the Cyber GTS pays homage to the MGC GTS Sebring - the car that helped cement MG as a British heritage racing brand. But it might not be a concept for too long, with suggestions it could make production very shortly.
MG has unveiled a hardtop Cyber GTS EV concept coupe - could it become the electric spiritual successor to the legendary MGB GT?
Like the MGB GT produced between 1965 and 1974, it has a sloped hardtop roof that dramatically plunges towards the car's tail
MG says the Cyber GTS concept 'explores the further potential for MG creating a new future for a GTS model in the EV era and follows in the footsteps of the Cyberster'.
Essentially a coupe version of the roadster, it shares the same sporty front end and swooping profile lines as its open-top sibling.
However, like the MGB GT produced between 1965 and 1974, it has a sloped hardtop roof that dramatically plunges towards the car's tail.
The MGB GT arrived three years after the MGB roadster, meaning it will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025. Its fastback roof was penned by legendary design house Pininfarina and boasted glorious good looks
The MGB GT is now considered a cult classic. Almost 65,000 MGB GTs were sold in Britain and just over 60,000 elsewhere globally during its 9-year production run
MG big wigs kept hush about whether the Cyber GTS will become a reality but given the marque's plans to celebrate the MGB GT's 60th anniversary next year, we wouldn't be shocked to see a production version in 2025
The rear-wheel drive concept utilises MG's high-performance EV powertrains – a big jump from the B-Series engines used in the MGB GT some 59 years ago
In order to provide enough headroom for two rear occupants, the roof is somewhat higher than that of the Cyberster's convertible hood.
Arrow taillights are also carried over, as are the dramatic scissor doors, which is the show-stopping feature of the open-top model.
The rear-wheel drive concept utilises MG's high-performance EV powertrains – a big jump from the B-Series engine in the MGB GT.
If it does share the sane drivetrains as its drop-top sibling, the coupe will get a choice of a single-motor 335bhp version and range-topping twin-motor variant packing 503bhp.
MG's kept hush about whether the Cyber GTS will actually become a reality, but references to the MGB GT's 60th anniversary next year hint that it is very much in the pipeline and could be on sale from 2025.
Should it make the assembly line, expect pricing to be in-line with that of the Cyberster roadster, starting from £55,000.
The Cyber GTS concept was unveiled at Goodwood's Festival of Speed by Jozef Kaban, Vice President of MG's Global Design Centre (pictured)
Essentially a coupe version of the roadster, it shares the same sporty front end and swooping profile lines
Many of the features from the Cyberster EV roadster have been carried across to the Cyber GTS concept, including the arrow-shaped taillights and its show-stopping scissor doors
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The history of the MGC GTS Sebring
MG says the new Cyber GTS concept pays homage to its MGC GTS Sebring - the car that secured the brand's highest ever factory result.
In 1968, an MGC GTS entered 12 hours of Sebring, North America's number one motorsport event that started in Florida in 1954, and was piloted flawlessly by Andrews Hedges and the fabled Paddy Hopkirk - the man who took victory at the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S.
It stormed home to finish 10th overall and third in the prototype class.
The only cars to pip the MGC to the category post at Sebring were two Porsches – both racing prototypes unrelated to any road-going sports cars.
The MG was nicknamed 'Mable' by its two drivers, with Hedges going on to be 'generally recognised as the Abingdon Works' most successful post-war driver'.
The Cyber GTS is a homage to the MGC GTS Sebring – the car that cemented MG as a British heritage racing brand - only six were ever made
Andrew Hedges (left) is 'generally recognized as the Abingdon Works' most successful post-war driver'. He and Paddy Hopkirk piloted the MGC GTS to finish 10th overall and third in the prototype class at Sebring in 1968
A 1969 MGC GTS Sebring was sold for €140,000 at an auction in Monaco in 2016
Many people consider the MGC GTS Sebring to be one of the most iconic creations to come out of the secretive BMC Competitions Department in the 1960s.
The Abingdon base created one of the most successful motor sport teams Britain has ever witnessed.
Initially aimed at rallying, the Sebring became an endurance champion – and today remains one of the most exclusive icons in the world.
Only six genuine Sebrings were ever made and only two lightweight versions at that. One of these was of course, the Sebring '68 car.
In 2016, one of the six genuine GTS' went on sale in Monaco, selling for a cool €140,000.
MG's 100-year celebration takes centre stage at FOS
Gerry Judah's Festival of Speed Central Feature showcases two soaring MGs in the sky in front of Goodwood House: an MGB and its modern predecessor, the new Cyberster
MG's unveiling of the Cyber GTS at Goodwood is part of the 100-year anniversary of the brand, currently underway at this year's Festival of Speed
MG's unveiling of the Cyber GTS at Goodwood is part of the 100-year anniversary of the brand that will take place across the four-day Festival of Speed weekend in West Sussex.
The Duke of Richmond opened the event by driving his grandfather's MG C-Type race car - which competed at the Brooklands Double 12 in 1931 -, followed by a parade of old and new MGs, past Goodwood House and up the hill climb.
Gerry Judah's Festival of Speed Central Feature showcases two soaring MGs in the sky in front of Goodwood House: a classic MGB and its new-era successor, the Cyberster EV roadster.
