MG Cyber X concept unveiled with pop-up headlights
The MG Cyber X concept was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show, and likely previews a production model for next year.
Although the boxy Land Rover-inspired concept shares little externally with the slinky Cyberster, it will likely be the second production model in MG's 'Cyber' line of vehicles aimed at enthusiasts.
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Jozef Kaban, head of design for parent company SAIC, told Autocar 'MG is the brand which is able to handle two characters, because they will have one thing in common: the joy in connecting people and in being fun to have'.
Instead of the relatively generic shapes of the brand's existing crossovers – such as the ZS and HS – the Cyber X has a squared-off design seemingly inspired by the likes of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Land Rover Defender.
Reportedly measuring 4.3 metres long, the Cyber X is about the same size as the ZS, but shorter than the 4.5m than the S5 that will replace it. It is also more compact than the 4.5m three-door Defender 90, 5m five-door Defender 110, and 4.9m LandCruiser Prado.
It's unclear what level of off-road capability the Cyber X will have, but the car is thought to ride on MG's new E3 plug-in hybrid and EV platform that incorporates cell-to-body design, where the battery pack is a structural member of the body. This, in theory, leads to better rigidity and space utilisation.
Mr Kaban said the Cyber X, if it went into production, wouldn't replace any of MG's other crossover offerings, but rather stand alongside them.
He went on to say the speed of car development in China means the Cyber X could quickly be turned into a production-ready vehicle in short order.
SAIC's chief designer, who previously held similar titles at Volkswagen and BMW, said the new 'digital world' meant some distinctive automotive design elements have been lost. The Cyber X concept is partially a design exercise to bring some of those styling tropes back, and he likened the Cyber X's pop-up lights to those of the Ferrari Testarossa.
Given pedestrian impact regulations played a large role in killing off pop-up headlights, it will be interesting to see if they are retained for the production car.
While the concept car on display at the Shanghai motor show has a blacked out windows obscuring the interior, MG says the cabin technology were developed by mobile phone make Oppo.
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