Electrical automotive company Longbow is attempting to create an agile, electric sportscar with minimal weight
Longbow Motors Unveils Two Electric Sports Cars: The Speedster and Roadster
Longbow Motors, a new British electric sports car manufacturer, has made a splash in the automotive industry with its unveiling of two exciting new models: the Speedster and the Roadster. Founded in 2023, the company has brought together a team of former automotive executives from McLaren, Alpine, Lotus, and Tesla, among others [2][3][4].
The Speedster, a rear-wheel drive model, and the Roadster, featuring a fixed roof and windshield, are designed to be featherweight electric vehicles. The Speedster is expected to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, while the Roadster, slightly heavier due to its additional structure, is projected to be slightly slower [2].
Longbow is aiming to challenge competitors like Tesla in the electric sports car market, with a focus on lightweight and driver-obsessed vehicles. The company claims a sub-1,000kg weight for their cars, a relatively low weight for electric vehicles [1][3].
Prototypes for the Longbow cars are due to start testing within a few months. The Speedster will be the first car to come out of the factory, with a limited edition run of 150 cars priced at £84,995. The Roadster will follow, with a starting price of £64,995 for the standard model and special launch editions kicking off production [1].
Reservations for the Longbow Speedster are open now, and the cars can be found on LongbowMotors.com. The company can also be followed on Twitter at @LongbowMotors.
It's worth noting that unlike Morgan and Caterham, two firms that Longbow has similarities with, neither has yet fully embraced electrification. While Morgan has the XP-1 prototype and Caterham has Project V, neither has yet committed to a full electric lineup [5].
Longbow's motto, 'Celeritas Levitas', means 'the speed of lightness'. The company has taken this to heart, with many key components of their cars, such as batteries and motors, being off-the-shelf to limit exposure to single supply chains [6].
The Longbow team has a wealth of experience, with backgrounds at Aston Martin, BYD, Ariel, Lucid, Tesla, and Lotus [7]. The company's founders are Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott.
The Longbow Speedster has an 895kg kerb weight, a 3.5 second sprint to 62mph, and a projected range of 275 miles. The Roadster, while slightly heavier, is expected to offer a similar driving experience [1].
Longbow's new Cyberster, the only true two-seater sports EV on the market, weighs 1,985kg for the all-wheel drive model, making it a significant contrast to Longbow's lightweight offerings [8].
As Longbow moves towards production in 2027, it will be interesting to see how the company fares in the competitive electric sports car market. For now, the Speedster and Roadster are a promising start for this new entrant.
[1] Longbow Motors [2] Autocar [3] Car and Driver [4] Motor1 [5] Electrek [6] Green Car Reports [7] The Drive [8] MG Cyberster
- The Speedster and Roadster, the recent unveilings by Longbow Motors, aim to disrupt the electric sports car market as the company looks to challenge competitors like Tesla and focus on lightweight and driver-oriented vehicles.
- Longbow Motors, the British electric sports car manufacturer founded in 2023, is backed by a team of former executives from prestigious automotive firms such as McLaren, Alpine, Lotus, Tesla, Aston Martin, BYD, Ariel, Lucid, and more.
- The incorporation of off-the-shelf batteries and motors into their cars is part of Longbow's efforts to limit exposure to single supply chains and maintain the 'the speed of lightness' motto.
- While traditional firms like Morgan and Caterham have yet to fully embrace electrification, Longbow Motors foray into electric-vehicles, specifically the Speedster and Roadster, is creating ripples within the automotive industry with their promises of featherweight designs and exhilarating driving experiences.
