British firm Longbow reveals 'featherweight' electric sports cars with 275-mile range
“Spiritual successors” to the E-Type and Elise
A new UK-based electric sports car manufacturer has revealed “featherweight” electric sports cars designed to be “spiritual successors” to British petrol-powered icons such as the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-type.
Longbow, founded in 2023 by a trio of automotive executives with experience at the likes of Tesla, Lucid Motors and BYD, describes itself as the first ever lightweight electric sports car maker in Britain, and has used knowledge gained at those EV pioneers to inform its new Speedster and Roadster models.
The company says that, as with the E-type and Elise, Longbow models focus on style, on-road performance and low kerb weight. Both cars are expected to tip the scales at less than 1,000kg, thanks to their bespoke underpinnings and drivetrain technology.
Two of the three founders, Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott, worked on the Tesla Roadster project. Davey moved to Europe to establish Silicon Valley firms here before returning to Tesla for the launch of the Model 3 saloon. Tapscott spent time in key roles at Lucid and BYD.
The third founder, Jenny Keisu, started her career as a business lawyer and has an extensive background from the private equity industry. She was also CEO of X Shore, which was at the forefront of electric transformation in the boating industry.
The Longbow team also includes engineers who have worked in electric single-seater racing series Formula E, as well as at manufacturers including Lotus, Aston Martin, Ariel and Tesla.
Such experience has led the founders to the Longbow motto ‘Celeritas Levitas,’ Latin for the speed of lightness, in the hope that the Lotus-esque attitude will appeal to car enthusiasts. Longbow “relentlessly” pursued lightness, it says, for maximum driver enjoyment.
“Amidst the e-mobility revolution, we have lost something important,” said Davey, co-founder and CEO. “Many modern ‘sports cars’ tip the scales at 1,500kg and BEVs can reach almost double that. There is a need for a more driver-oriented, featherweight, electric sports car — one that is attainable and accessible, for those who love driving and the places it takes them. That is why we have created Longbow.”
‘Nostalgic’ designs
Externally, the designs are intended to be nostalgic and beautiful, with much the same style across the two cars, albeit with very different rooflines. Where the Speedster adopts the classic racer look, with the long nose and high fairings behind the two head restraints, the Roadster gets a double-bubble roof that converts the Speedster shape into a more conventional coupe style.
Inside, meanwhile, the two cars will have hand-made fixtures and fittings expected to suit the craftsmanship of the vehicles, all of which will be hand built in the UK, albeit with components sourced from the global supply chain.
Under the skin, Longbow says the cars will be based on a bespoke chassis that is engineered for minimum weight and maximum stiffness, with a focus on responsiveness and feel. That chassis will house more compact electric motors and batteries, although Longbow hasn’t said exactly how powerful the cars will be or the batteries’ energy capacity.
Under a tonne, rapid acceleration
However, the firm says the Speedster will weigh 895kg and manages the 0-62mph sprint in 3.5 seconds, while also offering a range of 275 miles on the WLTP official efficiency test. For the Roadster, the weight increases to 995kg, causing the 0-62mph time to be extended to 3.6 seconds.
“Our first two cars, Speedster and Roadster embody everything a modern driver’s car should be: agile, balanced, electric and exhilarating,” said Davey. “We are reviving an icon, the lightweight British sports car.”
Just 150 Speedster models will be produced, including 10 Luminary 1st Edition examples and 25 Autograph Edition models. Full pricing and specifications have not been announced, but reservations are being taken and Longbow claims a starting price of £84,995.
The Roadster, however, will be much cheaper, starting at £64,995, and customers can choose to reserve one of the 50 Luminary 1st Edition models that will be offered at launch, or one of 100 Autograph Edition examples.
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