► MG’s retro-inspired SUV concept at Goodwood
► Previews the company’s emerging design language
► And it has pop-up headlights! Just like an old Ferrari!
MG has had an interesting comeback. The brand built its reputation on sports cars but, since it was bought out by the Chinese automotive conglomerate SAIC in 2006, it’s evolved into a purveyor of sensible, reasonably priced hatchbacks and SUVs.
For MG’s design department, that must be quite dull. Family cars aren’t that interesting to draw – so, occasionally, the company likes to give its designers a bit of freedom. The last time this happened, we got the MG Cyberster. This time round, we’ve got the Cyber X SUV.
MG hasn’t yet confirmed whether the Cyber X will make it past the concept stage, but there’s a certainly chance some of its design elements will appear on an upcoming production car.
The brand has hinted it has plans to expand its range of ‘Cyber’ badged vehicles – and a fashion-conscious, retro-styled SUV makes a lot of sense right now. That business plan is working wonders for Renault.
MG hasn’t announced what platform the Cyber X is built on but, given it shares its badging with the Cyberster sports car, there’s a chance it’ll use a reworked and jacked-up version of that car’s chassis. If that’s the case (and it makes it off the show stand and into factories), it could be offered with the Cyberster’s 496bhp twin-motor powertrain.
The Cyber X appeared on MG’s Goodwood Festival of Speed stand alongside the Tesla-rivalling IM5 and IM6, as well as Cyberster Black. The MG EX4 – a high-performance version of the MG 4 hatchback that pays homage to the legendary Metro 6R4 rally car – also made an appearance at the event.
It does, in a strangely conformist sort of way. There’s a lot of nostalgia sloshing around the car industry right now, which is motivating a huge push towards retro design. Just look at cars like the Renault 4, Kia EV9, Hyundai Santa Fe and Ineos Grenadier.
To my eye, the boxy lines of this MG concept seem to mash together elements of the old Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender, with a dash of the Mercedes G-Wagen thrown in for good measure. But MG’s design department has chucked in a further nod to the past.
It has pop-up headlights like a Lamborghini Diablo. I’ll say it again for the folk sleeping at the back. MG has revived the pop-up headlight. They might be utterly miniscule and they might look completely out of place on this tall-riding SUV, but I welcome their return.
We’ll update this page once we’ve chatted to company’s executives and gathered more intel on the car. Stay tuned for more information.
Luke is the Deputy Editor of our sister site Parkers, but he spends plenty of time writing news, reviews and features for CAR. He's been a motoring journalist since 2018, learning his craft on the Auto Express news desk before joining the Parkers/CAR team in 2022. When he isn't yoked to his laptop, he's tearing his hair out over his classic Mini restoration project or pinballing around the country attending heavy metal gigs.
By Luke Wilkinson
Deputy Editor of Parkers. Unhealthy obsession with classic Minis and old Alfas. Impenetrable Cumbrian accent