Dang. I don’t remember this many people jumping into the business of making cars before electric vehicles became a thing. With the simplicity of the electric platform, the barrier to entry is lower than ever. Like, when phone and computer makers are launching EVs, you know it’s open season.
Granted, the people behind the new EV brand Longbow, Britain’s first electric sports car manufacturer, are not green in the business of EVs. They were former Tesla and Lucid execs, so they do know a thing or two about this electrifying business.
Longbow Motors wants to shake things up with a brand-new category: Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEV). These guys are on a mission of reviving the lightweight sports car tradition with two hand-built machines—the Speedster and the Roadster—proving that EVs can be minimalistic and exciting too.
The Speedster is an open-top thrill machine, weighing just 895 kg (1,973 lbs), rocketing from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.5 seconds, and offering a 275-mile range (WLTP). Only 150 units will be made, starting at £84,995 (about $108,000).
The Roadster, its closed-cockpit sibling, is a touch heavier at 995 kg (2,194 lbs) but still manages a 3.6-second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h). It starts at £64,995 (about US$83,000), with limited Luminary and Autograph Editions for those wanting something extra special.
Both feature a bespoke aluminum chassis, a state-of-the-art powertrain, and the kind of engineering finesse you’d expect from a team with Formula E, Lotus, Aston Martin, and Tesla experience.
Reservations are now open, and with production capped, these featherweight EVs won’t last long. If you’ve been waiting for a truly light, agile, and exhilarating electric sports car, Longbow might just be your answer.
Images: Longbow Motors.
