RE-IMAGINED CLASSICS
We examine two fresh takes on established brands – the MG Cyberster, ahead of its release later this year and the Makkina TR25 – while also asking how their heritage might further inspire sports cars of the future
The classic car world was treated last year to what many of us had spent years, decades even, pleading for – confirmation of a brand-new MG sports car finally entering production.
More than 40 years on from the MGB’s demise and 13 since the last TF left Longbridge, we learned that MG’s new two-seater roadster would be arriving later this year.
Around the same time we were also treated to a concept car from a British design consultancy by way of celebrating its 25th anniversary, inspired by none other than the Triumph TR2. Although the Makkina TR25’s production future is far less certain than that of the Cyberster it nonetheless resulted in the marque’s sports car line being brought into sharp focus once again, thereby re-introducing relevance to
the public that had previously been sorely missing.
As the news broke, we couldn’t help but wonder what else might be in store for both British sports car marques – and what these hypothetical machines might look like. To that end, the Academy of Art University, based in San Francisco (academyart.edu) suggested challenging some of its industrial design students to re-imagine yesterday’s classics as tomorrow’s sports cars. And it’s fair to say that we were blown away by the results.
To offer some much-needed context behind the Cyberster and Makkina TR25 we also enlisted the help of Keith Adams who, as well as being a CCW contributor is also the editor of new car reviews website Parkers.co.uk, so is well-placed to offer his expert verdict on all of these new designs.
MG CYBERSTER
Suggestions of an all-new MG sports car changed from rumour to reality in April 2021 when the marque announced that the Cyberster would be making its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Developed by MG’s Advanced Design Centre in London, what we saw was a riot of curves littered with LEDs, but which nonetheless drew styling cues from the MGB, with designers singling out its round headlights and slim grille.
Things were even more futuristic inside with a so-called ‘digital fibre’ interior featuring separate cockpits for driver and passenger, plus ‘Zero Gravity’ seats with floating head restraints.
The MG Cyberster’s pre-production design was then shown in London two years later. As you might expect, some of the original concept’s styling cues were muted slightly, though the overall shape remained the same, exceptions being the deleted rear end spoiler and revised Kamm back. We also received confirmation of the car’s scissor doors. The Cyberster would
