New MG EXE181 concept is a wild tribute to a land speed record holder

This is the new MG EXE181 concept. It’s a homage to the ‘Roaring Raindrop’, the car that shared the EXE181 name and took a land speed record back in 1957 with a certain Sir Stirling Moss at the helm. 

Set to be revealed at the Beijing Motor Show, the EXE181 marks the 100th anniversary of the MG brand. Technical details are slim on the car, although we’re told it’ll feature an incredibly low drag coefficient of 0.18 and be able to sprint from 0-62mph in 1.9 seconds. MG claims the new EXE181 “demonstrates MG's pursuit and exploration of speed in the electric era”.

The sleek design is clearly influenced by the 50’s MG EXE181, with a teardrop side profile, central driving position and a fin that runs down the middle to the rear. There’s a set of air scoops below the nose of the EXE181 and the bodywork drapes over the wheels to lessen air resistance. The rear utilises a massive light bar that extends all the way around the rear wheels and one image depicts the EXE181 during a braking phase, using a set of parachutes to slow down. 

The cockpit is a simple design with a four-point harness and a cocooning bucket seat. In front of the driver is a yoke-style steering wheel with a digitised central section and the canopy pops up to allow entry to the car like in a fighter-jet. 

It’s not clear if the MG EXE181 will attempt a land speed record like its namesake. The original car set a Class F record (cars with engines between 1.1 and 1.5 litre) in 1957 with Sir Stirling Moss reaching 245mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Two years later another Formula One legend, America’s Phil Hill, topped out at 255mph. As it stands, the fastest ever road-going electric car is the 258mph Rimac Nevera with the ‘Little Giant’ Streamliner setting the record for EV in 2021 with a run of 353mph. 

The 1957 EXE181 now resides at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. 

Click here for our list of the fastest electric cars in the world...