MG has revealed a dramatic new flagship Cyber Concept at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, giving us a first look at a much bolder design direction for the British-born brand.The concept has made its world debut alongside the smaller MG Go! concept, but while that car previews a compact electric hatchback due in 2027, the Cyber is at the other end of the lineup. MG describes it as a flagship expression of the brand and says it previews a future model in the large SUV, D-segment.That means it isn’t a direct replacement for the Cyberster roadster and it isn’t being pitched as a small sports car either. Instead, MG says the Cyber Concept explores what a future high-performance electric SUV could become, mixing everyday practicality with some of the drama and sense of occasion usually linked to sports cars.Despite its swoopy bodywork, the MG Cyber previews a flagship MG SUV (MG)There’s no confirmation yet on whether a production version will come to the UK, and MG hasn’t released any technical details such as battery size, range, power or performance. What it has done, though, is set out the design thinking behind the car, and that could be just as important. The Cyber is being used to show where MG’s styling is heading next.MG says the concept draws inspiration from two parts of its history: the EX181 land speed record car and the brand’s wider spirit of reinvention. The EX181 link points to a more extreme side of MG’s past, rather than just the familiar roadster story. The new concept is meant to carry that performance thinking into the electric age, but in a car designed for daily use as well as long journeys and more interesting roads.The shape is described as having powerful proportions, a confident stance and carefully sculpted surfaces, with every element shaped to express movement and energy. In plain English, this is MG trying to move away from safe and sensible and towards cars that look more striking, more emotional and more expensive.MG has grown quickly in the UK and Europe with cars such as the ZS, HS and MG4, offering a lot of car for the money. But the Cyberster roadster already showed that MG wants to stretch into more exciting territory, and the Cyber Concept suggests that same thinking could spread across other types of car too.MG’s vice-president of global design, Jozef Kabaň, said: “Great design begins with people, not products. Technology and innovation are essential, but they can be shared. Character cannot. The future of automotive design is about creating cars with a strong identity that people instantly recognise and emotionally connect with. Great design should spark curiosity, excitement and desire. It should make people stop, smile and want to discover more. Our MG concepts express this vision for the future of the brand.MG says the Cyber concept represents “performance without compromise” (MG)“Because great design is never just about the car. It’s about people, their experiences and their dreams. Our role is to inspire them and create products that enrich their journey through life.”MG says the core idea behind Cyber is “performance without compromise”, combining the usefulness expected by modern buyers with genuine driving enjoyment. It’s also intended to show that performance doesn’t have to be tied to one body style. In other words, MG wants its sporty side to work in SUVs as well as roadsters and hatchbacks.