British startup Longbow, founded by former Tesla, Polestar, and Lucid executives, has unveiled two ultralight electric sports cars: the Speedster and Roadster. Weighing just 895 kg and 995 kg, respectively, these EVs challenge the industry trend of increasingly heavy battery-powered vehicles.
The Speedster, priced at £84,995, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, while the £64,995 Roadster takes 3.6 seconds. With an estimated range of 275 miles, Longbow aims to revive the spirit of classic British sports cars like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type. Initial production is limited to 150 Speedsters, with Roadster production ramping up afterward, and deliveries expected in 2026.
Longbow’s founders leverage deep EV industry expertise and prioritize cost efficiency by using an aluminum chassis, modular components, and an off-the-shelf 240kW motor. Their goal is to fill a gap in the $16 billion global two-seater sports car market, largely untouched by electrification.
Let’s break this down, chat about why it matters, and dig into the details that could make this a game-changer, or at least a fun ride.
Most EVs today are hefty beasts, think 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) on average, thanks to those chunky battery packs. Tesla’s original Roadster, discontinued in 2012, was a lightweight champ at 1,305 kilograms, but even that feels bulky next to Longbow’s featherweights.
“We’re reviving an icon, the lightweight British sports car,” says Longbow’s CEO and co-founder Daniel Davey, a guy who’s launched EVs at Lucid and claims he once drove the Tesla Roadster that Elon Musk shot into space.
(Yes, that one.) His passion’s clear, and he’s betting big on agility over brute force.
The Longbow Speedster, a sleek, open-top beauty weighing just 895 kilograms (that’s about 1,973 pounds for us non-metric folks). It can zip from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in a blistering 3.5 seconds, with a range of 275 miles.
Starting at £84,995 (roughly $110,000), it’s not exactly pocket change, but it’s a steal compared to some high-end EVs. Only 150 of these will roll off the line, with first deliveries slated for 2026.
Then there’s the Roadster, its slightly heftier sibling at 995 kilograms (2,193 pounds), hitting 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, boasting a 280-mile range, and priced at a more accessible £64,995 (about $84,000).
The Longbow founders (left to right): Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott. Credit: Longbow
The brains behind Longbow are no rookies. Alongside Davey, you’ve got Jenny Keisu, who ran X Shore (think electric boats), and Mark Tapscott, another EV veteran from Tesla, Polestar, and beyond.
A 2023 study from the International Council on Clean Transportation found that EV adoption hinges on performance and cost, but niche markets like sports cars thrive on passion and pedigree. Longbow’s team has both, which could give them a leg up.
Still, history’s littered with failed car startups, think DeLorean or Fisker, so experience isn’t a golden ticket, just a good start.
EVs are heavy because batteries are heavy, about 500 kilograms on average, per a 2024 report from the Electric Vehicle Association. That weight kills agility, which is why your typical electric SUV feels more like a tank than a dancer.
Longbow’s trick? A custom aluminum chassis and off-the-shelf parts like a 240-kilowatt motor, nothing fancy, just smart. By keeping things simple, they’ve slashed weight without gutting range or speed.
Compare that to, say, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, a beast at 2,295 kilograms with a 260-mile range and a $200,000 price tag. Longbow’s Speedster is half the weight, nearly as quick (0-60 in 3.3 seconds for the Taycan), and way cheaper.
The trade-off? It’s not a luxury cruiser, it’s a driver’s car, built for winding roads, not cushy commutes. “Astonishingly, the $16 billion two-seater sports car market, 250,000 vehicles a year, remains almost untouched by electrification,” Davey posted on LinkedIn.
He’s not wrong. Stats from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show sports car sales are niche but steady, and EVs barely crack the list.
So, who’s buying? Longbow’s betting on folks who’d snap up a Lotus Elise or Porsche Boxster but want electric vibes. It’s a smart play, most automakers are chasing SUVs and trucks, leaving sports cars in the dust.
A 2024 survey by AutoTrader UK found 68% of sports car buyers prioritize “driving feel” over tech bells and whistles, and 22% are open to EVs if the price is right. Longbow’s £64,995 Roadster fits that sweet spot, undercutting rivals like the £86,000 MG Cyberster (1,985 kilograms, 316 miles).
But here’s the rub: it’s a tiny pond. Mazda’s MX-5, a gas-powered lightweight champ, sold just 9,000 units globally in 2023. Can Longbow carve out a slice? They’re starting small, 150 Speedsters, before ramping up with the Roadster. Smart, but risky.
Longbow’s already taking pre-orders, with a prototype due later this year. If they pull it off, they could spark a mini-revolution, proof that EVs can be fun, not just functional.
Imagine a world where electric sports cars zip around like their gas-guzzling ancestors, only quieter and greener. But if production stumbles or buyers balk at the range (275 miles is decent, not dazzling), it’s back to the drawing board.
What do you think, ready to trade your keys for a Longbow?
Let’s keep an eye on this one.
