Most electric sports cars are beasts. Heavy, packed with massive battery packs, and loaded with tech to compensate for their weight. Longbow is flipping that idea on its head. Instead of chasing raw power, the British start-up is betting on lightness. The newly unveiled Speedster and Roadster weigh less than 995kg (lighter than a Mazda MX-5). That’s unheard of in the EV world, where even compact models carry the weight of their battery packs. Longbow calls this new breed Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs). It’s easy to dismiss this as another ambitious start-up with big promises. But Longbow’s team isn’t new to this game. Two of its three founders worked on the original Tesla Roadster before taking on leadership roles at Lucid and BYD. They aim to build an electric sports car that drives like a classic British roadster but has zero emissions. With pricing expected to be in the same range as a mid-level Alpine A110, Longbow is placing itself against the upcoming Alpine A110 EV and Caterham’s Project V coupé. Read More Porsche AG Delivers Strong 2024 Financial Results Despite Market Challenges Longbow’s Sports Car Proves EVs Don’t Have to Be Heavy Most electric cars have a trade-off: lightweight and fun or powerful and heavy. Longbow’s founders, Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott, didn’t like that choice. So, they set out to prove you don’t need a two-ton battery pack to make a thrilling EV. The Speedster weighs just 895 kg (1,973 lbs.), while the Roadster comes in at 995 kg (2,194 lbs.). 0-62 mph takes just 3.5 seconds in the Speedster and 3.6 in the Roadster—quick enough to keep things exciting. Longbow claims a 275-mile range, though that’s on the WLTP cycle so that real-world numbers might dip. Looks-wise, it’s a mixed bag. The front end doesn’t break new ground, but the Speedster’s low, wide stance and the Roadster’s sculpted rear give them a bit of character. Inside? No idea. Longbow hasn’t shared interior shots, which usually means it’s not quite ready yet. Instead of designing everything from scratch, Longbow sources motors, batteries, and brakes from established suppliers. That’s nothing new—Caterham, Ariel, and Lotus have done it for years. What matters is how it all comes together, and Longbow promises custom software to fine-tune the experience. For Tapscott, it’s personal. “I used to design and build Lotuses, but realized electrification was the future… this is the car the Chinese won’t let Lotus build," he explained. Meanwhile, Davy keeps it simple: "If you want to sell cars, make it cheap. That’s how you move volume. That's a lesson from both Tesla and Lucid.” Longbow Challenges Porsche and Lotus with No-Frills EV Longbow’s approach to electric sports cars is simple: cut weight, keep the essentials, and let the driver do the work. The car runs on a 240kW (322bhp) motor, powered by 2170 nickel-cadmium cells. A dual-motor version could come later, but Longbow’s real trick is its plug-and-play engineering. Motors, batteries, and even power output can be swapped without tearing the whole car apart—a method that’s worked for Caterham, Ariel, and Lotus for years. There are no carbon fiber tubs here. The chassis is aluminum, covered in lightweight composite panels to keep costs and weight in check. Even the lights and mirrors come off the parts shelf because spending millions on custom components won’t make the car more fun. Longbow’s founders argue EVs don’t need to pretend. As proof, they point to The Dark Knight. The Batpod’s sound was a Tesla Roadster’s electric whine. Read More Jay Leno Gives Us a First Look at $2.1 Million McLaren W1 Alpine, Lotus, and Porsche are all working on electric sports cars, and the first electric 718 Cayman and Boxster will land by 2025. Longbow’s aiming to beat them to market, with a prototype rolling out this summer and customer cars arriving next year. The name 'Longbow' is about precision (just like an archer and their bow). And then there’s the Roadster name, Longbow’s not-so-subtle dig at Tesla. Daniel said, “A lot of customers have put deposits down for a Roadster that they can't get. So we thought we’d be the first electric Roadster to follow the Tesla Roadster.” If those frustrated Tesla buyers want to switch? He has a suggestion: “If people want to get back their $250,000 deposit for a 2020 car and put it into a better car, they’re going to get one sooner. They’re welcome to do it. Our Roadster’s going to be on the ground first.” Longbow’s First EVs Get a Price, but One Won’t Be Around for Long Want a Longbow? You’ll need to move fast. The Speedster is capped at 150 hand-built units, starting at ₤84,995 (~$110k). There are also special editions, with 10 Luminary 1st Editions and 25 Autograph Editions up for grabs. The Roadster, on the other hand, is the everyday version—cheaper and seemingly unlimited. At ₤64,995 (~$84k), it’s priced right against the Alpine A110 and Porsche 718 Cayman S. Longbow says production will be UK-based, but the exact factory location is still a question mark. The Speedster gets built first, with Roadster production kicking off once those 150 cars are delivered. Powertrain details have not been disclosed yet. Longbow is calling it "state-of-the-art," promising the right balance of weight, performance, efficiency, and range. Source: Longbow Motors
