Summary
- Founded by veterans from Tesla and Lucid, the British startup Longbow has introduced the “Speedster,” an ultra-lightweight electric vehicle that achieved a production-ready prototype in just six months
- The Speedster establishes a new “Featherweight Electric Vehicle” category with a target weight of just 1,970 pounds, delivering a 275-mile range and a 3.5-second sprint to 62 mph by utilizing a bespoke aluminum chassis and efficient, off-the-shelf components
- Hand-built in the UK and limited to only 150 examples, the Speedster is priced at approximately $111,500, with a more affordable, non-limited “Roadster” model slated to follow as the brand aims for a global expansion into the high-volume sports car market
In a market dominated by heavy, battery-laden behemoths, the British startup Longbow is staging a defiant uprising against automotive bloat. Emerging from London’s Brixton district, the brand recently debuted its first production-ready vehicle: the Longbow Speedster. This all-electric sports car isn’t just a concept; it’s a living “Featherweight Electric Vehicle” (FEV) that honors the “add lightness” philosophy of legendary engineers like Colin Chapman.
Tipping the scales at a remarkable 1,970 pounds (895 kg), the Speedster is roughly 1,200 pounds lighter than a modern combustion-engine Lotus Emira. Despite its skeletal mass, it promises a respectable 275-mile WLTP range and a blistering 0–62 mph sprint of just 3.5 seconds. As cofounder Daniel Davey puts it, “Unlike others, we’re not about delivering mannequins that aren’t alive. This car is very much alive.” The secret to its agility lies in a bespoke aluminum chassis and a pragmatic approach to parts: rather than wasting years developing proprietary components, Longbow utilizes high-quality, off-the-shelf motors and batteries.
The team behind Longbow carries serious industry weight, including alumni from Tesla, Lucid, and Lotus. This pedigree has allowed them to move from design sketch to a functional demonstrator in just six months—a third of the time typical of major manufacturers. Limited to just 150 hand-built examples priced at £84,995 (~$111,500), the Speedster will be followed by a more accessible, high-volume hard-top called the Roadster. For those tired of the “black mass of batteries,” Longbow is proof that the electric future can still be agile, balanced, and exhilarating.
