Combining nostalgia with modern excitement, the Cyberster combines performance and practicality to make it fun for both workday commutes and weekend getaways.

JSW MG Motor India’s electric Cyberster has made a splash in the high-performance electric vehicle segment by topping the Indian sports car charts in 2025. In just six months, sales of the model crossed 500 units, a remarkable feat that also propelled the brand’s premium channel MG SELECT to the second position in the Indian luxury electric vehicle segment. Riding this wave of enthusiasm, the company recently introduced a striking new color, Iris Teal, designed to accentuate the car’s flowing lines and boldly sculpted styling. This led me to check out the new shading options.

On a warm, sunny afternoon, I walked into MG SELECT in Chennai to check out the new Iris Cyan color of the MG Cyberster – the color that everyone was talking about. Before I could explain why I was there, two ladies from the showroom team greeted me with a smile and immediately offered me a menu of hot and cold drinks – cappuccino, Americano, etc. – almost like walking into a boutique hotel rather than a car dealership. This little gesture sets the tone. The place feels less like a typical showroom and more like a curated experience for people who like attention to detail. In many ways, MG SELECT appears to be redefining the face of premium car retail in India, balancing everyday practicality with a sense of luxury.

When people approach the MG Cyberster for the first time, they may not think they are looking at a brand new car. For many car enthusiasts, it feels more like encountering an old name from another era—one they’ve heard in stories or seen in classic photos. Cyberster carries on this tradition without shouting about it. Inspired by the iconic MG Roadster of the 1960s, it brings these memories into the new century, now incorporating power, sharp styling and modern technology.

The first thing that struck me as I walked around the car was how unmistakably modern it looked. The new shade adds a touch of glamor and quietly stands out with its unique, attractive color. Designed by Marco Fainello, whose past work includes designing cars for Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari team, the Cyberster is a masterclass in turning aerodynamics into art. The trunk features a flowing ‘Kammback’ design that replaces the rear spoiler, with clean yet sporty lines, and a deep piano black finish that runs seamlessly across the entire surface, giving the car a unified, sculpted appearance. With an aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.269 Cd, it feels like it’s cutting through the air even when stationary.

Then came the moment everyone was talking about: the door. The Cyberster is the only car in India to feature fully electric scissor doors that open in a dramatic way that makes people stop and stare. Whether triggered by the key fob or internal button, they rise quietly and gracefully. You can even adjust the angle and height – you won’t realize how addictive it is until you start using it. But there’s also practicality: a built-in manual override for emergencies.

Walking inside, the mood changes from excitement to pure concentration. The cabin feels like a cockpit – three digital screens arc across the driver’s field of view, with clear navigation, car statistics and 360-degree cameras popping up effortlessly. The high-end trim features vegan leather and Dinamica suede seats that feel softer than expected in a sports car and feature memory functions and lumbar support, making daily driving surprisingly comfortable.

The convertible top adds an extra layer of glamor. Even at speeds up to 45 km/h, it folds up quickly in just 12 seconds. Despite being a soft top, it’s fully waterproof, courtesy of premium stitching developed for heavy rains – which helps cope with India’s unpredictable weather. More practical is the 360-litre boot, whose capacity remains the same whether the roof is up or down, thanks to its dedicated storage panels.

But at its heart, Cyberster is still an electric sports car. Beneath the stylish casing is a dual-motor unit that delivers 510 hp and 725 Nm of torque. Power is distributed rearward in a 60:40 ratio, providing the right balance for spirited driving. A 50:50 weight distribution keeps the vehicle stable under hard braking or cornering, and the Pirelli P Zero tires with asymmetrical tread patterns (245 wide at the front, 275 wide at the rear) control the road with confidence, improving braking performance and enhancing handling and control. Although the ground clearance is only 116mm, the short wheelbase helps it crawl over speed bumps without scratching.

On the open road, Sport mode sharpens things up, while Super Sport on the steering wheel unlocks launch control for instant surges of power. There’s also a neat feature: the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). Every time you slow down, it charges the battery, converting motion into electricity. It adds more range, saves brake pads and feels like it came straight out of a race car. At the other end of the driving spectrum, one-pedal drive makes crawling through traffic a breeze.

Charging is equally easy: a full charge takes about 8 to 9 hours with a 7.4 kW home charger, while a 140 kW DC fast charger can charge the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just 35-40 minutes. The battery itself is backed by a 15-year warranty and has built-in features to optimize charging cycles and maintain long-term health. In addition to the mandatory safety features, the sports car also comes with Level 2 ADAS, real-time driver monitoring and a full suite of braking and stability systems.

A BOSE 8-speaker sound system, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and dozens of ambient lighting combinations make the cabin feel more premium than a traditional roadster.

After spending some time with the Cyberster – opening the doors, exploring the cockpit, switching modes and testing its comfort – it’s clear that the JSW MG isn’t just reviving an old name. It redefines the definition of a modern two-seat sports electric vehicle.