Q&A How to redesign an iconic model

Studio boss gives us the lowdown on Cyberster

“The windscreen position was key to the proportions we were trying to achieve”

“Putting the tech being developed for our EVs into an open-top sports car felt like a interesting combination”

CARL Gotham, the head of SAIC’s advanced design studio in London, tells us about designing the Cyberster and the expectations surrounding a new two-seat roadster for a company that made its name building iconic sports cars.

Q

How did the Cyberster project come about?

A

It’s an obvious sort of thing: a sports car for MG. We’ve wanted to do it for a long time, but timing in a growing business was part of the challenge. We started this project in a serious way in 2018, when I took over as director of the UK design team. Putting the technology being developed for our EVs, such as the EV4, into an open-top sports car felt like a really interesting combination.

Q What’s the key element that draws a clear line between past MGs and the new Cyberster?

A The two lines on the lower grille that then translate up and over the bonnet, with the MG logo at its centre, are our clear nod to the iconic design motif that has been used across MGs since the very beginning. It’s something we use in all MG products, but probably makes the most sense in this application.

Q What were the challenges of changing the concept to production?

A The biggest challenge, as with any project like this, was to keep the essence and the spirit of the original idea. Compared with a traditional roadster,

“MG doesn’t have a linear history, but at the core of it is the open-top sports car”

which is always generally quite compact, it’s not quite easy to match that, so we’ve got a car that’s a little bit bigger and more grand. It’s not a petite car, but if you look at an MGB, the proportions are still relevant, and quite elegant.

Q As a British designer, do you feel the pressure in reimagining the MG Roadster?

A There are going to be big expectations on this car. Everyone will have an opinion, but I don’t think there’s one answer to this question. MG, as a brand, doesn’t have a linear history, but at the core of it is the open-top sports car, and ensuring that it remains accessible to more people.

Q What were the challenges of trying to fit a two-seat roadster onto a pre-ordained technical package? And at the other extreme, were there any opportunities?

A The windscreen position was key to the proportions we were trying to achieve. There is freedom and flexibility with an electric car. There’s a ground line that we want to keep low, and then the battery line. To get the seat as low as possible and keep the hip-point low.

Q What element are you most proud of?

A The front end and the front wing. We’ve got an elongated front surface with a crease and character line. With the face, we’re trying to make it a little more open and friendly rather than a super-aggressive sports car.