MGB reborn as an electric supercar

Meet the 21st century MGB that could be crowd-funded into production.

Apparently that’s the idea of the MG Cyberster, the much-previewed two-seat roadster concept that’s inching ever-closer to its April 19 reveal at the Shanghai Auto Show.

The MG Cyberster has been created at least in part to help celebrate the upcoming anniversary of MG in 2024.

Now owned by Chinese auto giant SAIC, this is a very different offering to the likes of the MGB, a sports car icon built in the UK from 1962 to 1980 (and then again in small numbers from 1992 to 1995).

Nope, this is a space-age battery-electric vehicle stuffed full of SAIC tech and boasting a claimed 800km range and the ability to accelerate to 100km/h in a supercar-rivalling three seconds.

The Cyberster also comes with Level 3 autonomous driving capability and the ability to upgrade over the air.

Of course, this is all theoretical at the moment as the Cyberster doesn’t actually exist.

To make the transition into production MG is calling on fans to crowd-fund its creation and then help shape the final product via a process it calls crowd-creating.

It's all part of a new business called MG Cyber, which aims to develop products for “young hearted consumers”.

“MG Cyberster presents the four major design philosophies of the Cyber product line: high-energy romantic design aesthetics, determined mechanical performance, leading smart technology and super-sensing gaming cockpit,” an MG press release states.

The target of the crowd-funding is RMB 50 million ($A10 million). Investing ‘Dream Gold’, as MG calls it, will entitle crowd-funders to have input into six major reviews including pre-concept, interior and exterior design, product dynamics and static experience.

All users participating in the crowd-funding can also be part of the six major evaluation gateways, including a supercar comparison driving experience, national test drive experience and design clinic.

"On the basis of the concept model, users can contribute ideas in terms of interior and exterior colour and trim, HMI interface style, intelligent cockpit and control scenarios, and participate in the 'interconnected ecological co-creation' and so on," said MG.

When the product is launched, all users participating in the crowd-funding program can get exclusive co-created models and enjoy customised tax rates and policies in their car loan.

At this stage, the Cyberster and its unique development program does not seemed destined for Australia.

However, SAIC’s new R Auto ES33 is a real chance to come here, where it's likely to be sold locally as an MG.