Longbow Speedster / Roadster
The British lightweight sports car is back
Three Britons have launched Longbow, a fully electric sports car manufacturer, with the aim of reviving the lightweight British sports car that was once popular around the world. Pictured is the Longbow Roadster.
Longbow, a fully electric sports car manufacturer founded in the UK by former staff from Tesla and Lucid, has unveiled two commercially available electric sports cars, the Speedster and the Roadster, based on the concept of Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs).
Longbow was founded by Daniel Davey, Mark Tapscott, and Jenny Case, three people with careers in the automotive, technology, and finance sectors. Davey and Tapscott worked on the original Tesla Roadster project and have also held senior positions at Lucid Motors and BYD, contributing to their commercial success.
Co-founder and CEO of Longbow, Daniel Davey, had this to say about the two FEVs:
“In the electric mobility revolution, we’ve lost something important. Many modern ‘sports cars’ weigh more than 1500 kg, and BEVs are almost twice that weight. We need a more driver-focused, feather-light, fully electric sports car.”
“We saw a demand for an affordable, accessible sports car for people who love to drive, which is why we launched the Longbow. Our first two cars, the Speedster and Roadster, represent what a modern driver’s car should be. We are reviving an icon: the lightweight British sports car.”
Achieving “ultra-lightweight” not found in conventional BEVs
Longbow developed a lightweight, high-rigidity aluminum chassis based on technology cultivated by Tesla and other companies. They also succeeded in reducing the weight of the electric powertrain, achieving a weight reduction of 895 kg for the Speedster and 995 kg for the closed Roadster.
Longbow, a British design and development company, has added a modern interpretation to the tradition of lightweight sports cars that shine brightly in British automotive history, such as the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type. Combining a specially developed platform with a fully electric drivetrain, both body types have achieved a vehicle weight of less than 1,000 kg.
The development of the Speedster and Roadster was based on a unique philosophy: combining an exterior with simple beauty and unique appeal with an extremely lightweight chassis. The exterior design combines timeless lines with a nostalgic feel, while the interior evokes the nostalgia and warmth of a handmade product.
The vehicle is fitted with an ultra-lightweight motor and battery unit mounted on a custom-made aluminium chassis designed to reduce weight and achieve maximum rigidity, achieving an excellent power-to-weight ratio and providing agile handling performance unimaginable in conventional BEVs.
The Speedster weighs 895 kg, can accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds, and has a range of 275 miles (442 km). Pre-orders are now open, with prices starting at 84,995 euros. Only 150 will be handcrafted, with a limited edition of 10 called the Luminary 1st Edition and a limited edition of 25 called the Autograph Edition.
The closed-cockpit roadster, currently in development, will weigh 995 kg and accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.6 seconds. Pricing will start at 64,995 euros. Only 50 “Luminary First Edition” and 100 “Autograph Edition” models will be available.
