MG previews two future EV models at Goodwood Festival of Speed

MG, founded in 1924, was a popular brand in the early part of the 20^th century, with its golden years between 1955 and 1968. After that, the chaos in the British auto industry impacted all British companies, with some fading into history.

Looking back, it’s hard to find a single reason for the decline of MG but the creation of British Leyland was one cause, and poor management with lack of significant investment in new models saw MG having to close down.

With BMW’s acquisition of the Rover Group, the MG brand followed to German ownership for a while and then ended up with the Nanjing Automobile Group, a Chinese manufacturer. In 2007, Nanjing merged with the huge SAIC Motor Corporation, which saw value in the brand and provided financial backing to move forward and expand.

Under SAIC, MG has grown and become a successful brand, drawing on the advanced technologies which the Chinese auto industry has developed. It continues to grow, offering customers value and technology without sacrificing heritage. More importantly, it has made a successful transition to electrification, with new EV and hybrid electric models in showrooms and more on the way.

At the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the automaker showcased two concept cars which give a preview of EV models to come. The concept cars look back at the brand’s historic design language while establishing a trajectory for its upcoming production models.

The first of the two displays is the MG GO!, a concept that previews an upcoming B-segment hatchback scheduled for production in 2027. Styled entirely at the MG Design Centre in London, the compact hatchback borrows proportions and design cues from mid-20^th century models, specifically the MGB GT (shown on the right in the picture below).

Rather than a strictly nostalgic exercise, the design team aimed to balance retro elements with modern styling requirements to create a distinctive silhouette for the competitive compact electric vehicle market.

The styling of the GO! relies on a minimal number of character lines, drawing inspiration from past sporting models like the Metro Turbo, ZR, and EX4 to give the everyday hatchback a more expressive personality.

Alongside the compact hatchback, MG is also presenting the Cyber Concept, an exploration of a future D-segment performance SUV. Positioned as a flagship design study, the Cyber Concept takes its inspiration from the EX181 land speed record car.

The exterior features sculpted surfaces and athletic proportions, attempting to blend the space and utility of a large family vehicle with the profile and driving engagement usually associated with lower-slung sportscars.

According to Jozef Kaban, Vice President of Global Design, the Cyber Concept is intended to give a high-performance, large-proportioned SUV a more dynamic identity, moving away from standard utility vehicle shapes.

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