MG has released the first official photographs of its Cyberster concept car which will be making its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month.

The Cyberster - developed by the team at the MG Advanced Design Centre in London - is a two-door, two-seater sports car recalling the brand's tradition, drawing a number of styling cues from the classic MGB Roadster.

The car also brings in new high-tech features including an interactive gaming cockpit and 5G connectivity.

The Cyberster's intelligent all-electric architecture will enable an approximate EV range of 500 miles and deliver 0-62mph acceleration of less than three seconds, while the body is designed to enhance aerodynamic performance with a classically shaped MG grille serving as an air duct to ensure airflow over the car's chassis.

It features classic round MG headlights, coupled with a slim grille design, along with interactive ‘Magic Eye' headlights that open when switched on.

Other details of the MG Cyberster are a 'laser belt' LED strip down the side of the car and the outline of the door, which follows the direction of the LED strip.

In profile it has a distinct two-stage shoulder line, with a flattened ‘kamm tail' rear, accentuated by unusual ‘hacker blade' alloy wheels.

The tail lamps are of LED construction and are integrated flat into the rear of the car, projecting a digital image that echoes MG's British heritage.

The "digital fibre" interior design theme adopts a driver-centric layout, with a separated cockpit for driver and passenger and a large-sized LED instrument cluster with a second central screen.

The screen ahead of the driver presents all of the key vehicle information in a modern nut minimalist style, while the central display houses its more interactive features.

Its ‘Zero Gravity' seats have floating head restraints, while the door panels and red leather handles reflect the ‘laser belt' that runs down the car's exterior.

Carl Gotham, director of SAIC Design Advanced London, said: "The Cyberster is a bold statement that looks strongly into MG's future, touching on our heritage but more importantly building on our technology and advanced design.

"Cyberster is a hugely exciting concept for us."

More information on the Cyberster will be revealed when the model is shown at the Shanghai Motor Show which runs from April 21-28.

MG currently offers three plug-in models in the UK - the established MG ZS EV, the MG5 EV and MG HS Plug-in.

The marque's last mainstream two-seaters were the MG TF and MGF when the brand was part of the Rover Group in the early 2000s before the company was acquired by Chinese owners SAIC.

The company dates back to 1924 and it made its name with some classic sports cars including the MGB, the MGC and Midget of the 1960s, 70s and 80s and the likes of the earlier TF, C and D-Type models which date back to the 1940s.