MG has given us our first look at what could be one of its most important electric cars yet, with the MG Go! concept making its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.Officially, MG is calling it a compact B-segment battery electric hatchback and says it previews a future production model due in 2027. Unofficially, that sounds very much like the baby MG many have been waiting for – the car that could sit below the new MG4 Urban and go after the likes of the Renault 5, Citroën ë-C3 and other small, affordable electric cars heading for UK roads.An MG2, looking very much like the MG Go! concept, is expected to go on sale in 2027 (MG)MG hasn’t confirmed the production car’s name, battery size, range, price or performance yet, but the Go! concept gives a clear steer on the thinking behind it. The aim, says MG, is to bring “genuine aspiration and desirability to the electric mainstream”, with a design that mixes modern EV thinking with a little bit of old-school MG charm.That’s where the MGB GT comes in. MG says the Go! concept has been inspired by some of its most elegant and expressive models from the middle of the 20th century, especially the MGB GT. There are also nods to more recent sporty MGs, including the MG Metro Turbo, MG ZR and MG EX4.Crucially, though, MG is keen to say this isn’t just a retro throwback with a plug. The concept and the future production model have both been designed entirely by the team at the MG Design Centre in London, led by design director Carl Gotham, and the brief was to create something compact, contemporary and emotionally appealing rather than a nostalgic show car.The compact MG2 will take on the Renault 5 when the new small MG arrives next year (MG)The small EV market is getting busier by the month, and while price and range will always be key, the success of cars such as the Renault 5 shows that character is becoming a big part of the story too. MG already has a strong reputation for value, but Go! suggests the brand wants its next small electric car to have a bit more personality as well.MG says the design language is deliberately simple and built around a small number of key elements. The idea is to echo the clarity and charm of classic MGs without overdoing the pastiche. In MG’s words, Go! is intended to feel “intentional yet playful”, with a distinct identity that acknowledges the past while still feeling current.“With MG GO!, we wanted to create something compact and contemporary, but also warm, expressive and immediately likeable, an embodiment of all that we admire about the MG brand,” said Gotham. “It is not about looking back for its own sake, but about capturing some of the clarity, charm and emotional appeal that have always made MG so distinctive, and reinterpreting that in a way that feels relevant today and crucially creating something with strong charisma.”The concept is one of two new MG show cars revealed at Goodwood, the other being the much larger MG Cyber Concept. Together, MG says they show how the brand plans to blend its sporting heritage with new electric technology.The MG2 will be a compact, five-door, all-electric supermini (MG)Goodwood also gives MG the chance to show off some of the cars already on sale or on the way. Its stand includes the MGS9 PHEV, MG4 EV Urban, MG HS Plug-in Hybrid, MG ZS Hybrid+, MG IM5 and MG Cyberster. The MGS9 PHEV, MGS6 EV and MG Cyberster are also making appearances on the famous hill climb.There’s a techy twist too, with MG running a Future Motion Show on its stand, using robots to demonstrate its work in AI, intelligent driving, connectivity, sensors, cameras and LiDAR.