Who said electric cars have no range? Twins drive 10,000 miles from London to SHANGHAI in a convertible MG battery-powered sports car
There are road trips… and then there’s this.
Twin brothers Hugo and Ross Turner completed a 10,000-mile drive from London to China in a red electric sports car with a range of almost 300 miles per charge.
The 35-year-old identical brothers from Devon began their epic journey at Westminster Bridge in London and reached the finish in Shanghai in May.
They travelled for eight months in a sleek MG Cyberster, across three continents and 28 countries, stopping along the way from Italy to Austria and from Qatar to Cambodia.
The journey, dubbed ‘Charging Into The Future’, was created to celebrate Chinese brand MG’s 100th anniversary in 2024 and was organised in partnership with the British marque.
Hugo and Ross Turner (above) completed a nearly 10,000-mile drive from London (pictured) to China in a British marque MG convertible electric sports car to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary
The 35-year-old identical twin brothers from Devon began their epic journey at Westminster Bridge (pictured) and crossed the finish line in Shanghai in May
The MG Cyberster climbs the Wrynose Pass in the Lake District
The twins raced across three continents and 28 countries. The above image shows them crossing the finish line in Shanghai.
Hugo told MailOnline Travel: ‘We wanted to drive the Cyberster as much as possible, through a spectrum of environments. Mountains, cities, deserts and tropics, we wanted – and did – tackle them all in our two-seater droptop.’
The adventure is one of many the pair have undertaken, inspired by an injury Hugo suffered as a teenager, when he narrowly escaped paralysis after breaking his neck in a diving accident.
Since the near-miss, the two have taken on challenges including rowing across the Atlantic Ocean and trekking across the Greenland polar cap.
Ross said: ‘One thing people want to know is charging the car. For us it was easy because we knew we could always charge the car at an MG dealer. But the reality is that in the UK and Europe the charging network is so established that range really isn’t an issue for a new EV like ours. China seems to have almost exclusively electric vehicles.’ Above – the twins and the MG in Hong Kong
The couple set off in September 2023 and travelled across the UK for three weeks before taking the Eurotunnel (left) and then driving across Europe on their way south to Italy. Right – past the Colosseum in Rome
The twins are pictured here enjoying the sunset in Spain
The MG parked at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
Ross said, “I think [our adventures] ‘It was pointed out to me that we are the kind of people who can take on a challenge of this magnitude.’
Hugo gave more details about the vehicle they used for the epic adventure, adding: ‘It’s a red British convertible that can do 0-60mph in under three seconds. How could we say no to that?
‘MG’s Cyberster offered something unique. Something we knew had never been tried before.’
After visiting so many locations during their trip, the brothers found it difficult to choose the most beautiful spots.
The pair set off in September 2023 and spent three weeks travelling around the UK, before crossing the Channel and spending the rest of the year crisscrossing Europe on a journey south to Bari in Italy.
Exploring the mountain peaks that form the border between France and Spain: epic is the only way to describe the views
After a trip through Europe, the couple took a short break and met again in the car in the new year… this time in the Middle East.
They started in Istanbul and drove through Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia before heading to Southeast Asia, where they took the car to Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam before heading to Shanghai.
‘Epic is the only way to describe the views that await you at every turn in the Pyrenees. [above]’, said Hugo
Ross said his favorite place to drive was the Amalfi Coast (above)
The above image shows the brothers trading in their convertible for an elephant in Thailand
Ross told MailOnline Travel about some of the highlights of their road trip: ‘In Cambodia we were lucky enough to witness the spring equinox over the Angkor Wat temple.
‘It was a truly serene, unique moment to watch the sun rise over the ancient temple, bathed in golden light.’
Hugo added: ‘I will always remember the ride through the Pyrenees [mountain range]where we experienced four seasons in one day. But we kept the roof open the whole way.
‘Exploring the peaks that bordered France and Spain: epic is the only way to describe the views that awaited around every bend in the road. At the summit we parked to watch the sunrise over the mountain range. We stood in that sunlight with snow beneath our feet, looking down at the mountainside covered in clouds.’
What were their favorite countries to drive through? Ross said, “I think it was cruising the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Winding roads overlooking the Mediterranean are the images that come to mind.”
Ross said: ‘You really can’t imagine the amount of preparation that goes into making a trip of this magnitude.’ They are pictured above admiring the skyline of Doha, Qatar.
What did they enjoy most about the trip? Hugo replied: ‘The real privilege was the chance to immerse ourselves in new cultures.’ Above – Dubai
The twins’ MG Cyberster can blast to 60 mph in under three seconds. Above – Cambodia
Were there any areas they struggled with?
Ross said: ‘Driving through the centre of Paris required some concentration, but the traffic in Istanbul is a whole other level. And reading road signs in China, well, that was just not possible.’
What was the most difficult aspect?
Ross commented: ‘You really can’t imagine the amount of preparation that goes into a trip of this magnitude. The logistics involved, the visas, the routes you have to stick to. At every location, MG teams and car clubs were ready to welcome us, and we couldn’t let anyone down.
‘One thing people want to know is charging the car. For us it was easy because we knew we could always charge the car at an MG dealer. But the reality is that in the UK and Europe the charging network is so established that range really isn’t an issue for a new EV like ours.
“China seems to have almost exclusively electric vehicles. Not surprisingly, that is not the case in the Middle East.”
What did they enjoy most about the trip? Hugo replied: ‘The real privilege was the chance to immerse ourselves in new cultures. To feel genuinely welcomed by so many people who want nothing more than to help you experience their home and way of life.’
To see more of Hugo and Ross, visit them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/theturnertwiinsor visit their website here.