Longbow launches ‘featherlight’ sub-tonne £65k electric sports cars

A new British EV brand led by former Tesla and Lucid bosses is aiming to launch a new line of super-light electric sports cars.

Longbow has announced plans for an electric coupe and roadster which it says will both weigh under one tonne and offer sub-four-second 0-62mph times.

Labelled ‘Featherweight Electric Vehicles’, the Longbow Speedster and Roadster will be built in the UK on bespoke architecture and aim to recreate the appeal of cars like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type.

The sleek two-seaters use a shared aluminium chassis which its makers say allows them to be ‘light, nimble, balanced, and engineered for an unparalleled driving experience’. The added bonus of a lighter construction is that the motors and batteries can be smaller and lighter as well while still delivering sports car performance.

Longbow hasn’t revealed any details of the powertrain but claims it is ‘state-of-the-art’ and it will deliver up to 275 miles of range while allowing a 0-62mph time of just 3.5 seconds for the 875kg Roadster.

In a confusing reversal of the usual naming approach, Longbow says the Roadster will be a hard-top two-seater, while the 995kg Speedster will be its open-top mode with a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds.

Both cars will be limited runs, with just 150 of each hand-built model sold. Prices will start from £64,995 for the Roadster and £84,995 for the Speedster, with a number of even more limited special editions on offer.

Longbow’s trio of founders – Daniel Davey, Mark Tapscott: and Jenny Keisu – have worked for EV specialists Tesla, Lucid and BYD as well as in the electric marine sector.

Revealing the new brand, Daniel Davey said: “Amidst the e-mobility revolution, we have lost something important. Many modern ‘sportscars’ tip the scales at 1,500kg and BEVs can reach almost double that.

“There is a need for a more driver-oriented, featherweight, electric sportscar – one that is attainable and accessible, for those who love driving and the places it takes them. That is why we have created Longbow.

“Our first two cars, Speedster and Roadster embody everything a modern driver’s car should be: agile, balanced, electric, and exhilarating. We are reviving an icon, the lightweight British sports car.”