A "halo model" is a showcase vehicle, typically intended to show how far an automotive brand could push the envelope in terms of technology, styling, and performance.

It is a "drool-worthy" vehicle — often pricey and with only a few units released in the market — that a manufacturer develops to draw traffic to showrooms so buyers could dream of owning it even if they eventually end up buying a less expensive, more practical equivalent.

Think of American automobile giant Chevrolet's Camaro; the iconic Audi R8 supercar of Germany; and Nissan's GT-R and Toyota's GR Supra, both legendary race cars of Japan.

For SAIC Motor Philippines Inc., the official local importer and distributor of the Morris Garages brand of vehicles, this was all evident when company president Felix Jiang unveiled two of its upcoming models during the company's "Christmas Revel Ball", a thanksgiving lunch for the motoring media held at the Makati Shangri-La.

During the event, a stunning red soft-top, two-seater convertible with supercar-like scissor doors and a 77-kWh battery pack, caught everyone's attention.

Called the MG Cyberster roadster, Jiang said that being able to put the all-electric car into production isn't only a way of honoring MG's 100-year history. It also shows that it is a brand to reckon with when it comes to technological development. The last time MG had a soft-top roadster in its lineup was 12 years ago, when it launched the MG TF. It's but fitting to welcome an electric roadster in the MG roster, soon.

Early 2024 arrival

The MG Cyberster is set to arrive in the first half of 2024 and is expected to carry a price tag of around P4 million.

While no technical details were revealed, two variants of the MG Cyberster have already been introduced in other markets. Sitting at the base of the range is a rear-wheel drive roadster that produces 335 hp and could reach 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in 4.6 seconds.