A group of ex-Tesla and Lucid Air engineers have just debuted the world’s first ‘Featherweight Electric Vehicle’ and a “spiritual successor” to the legendary
: the Longbow. The UK independent was established in 2023 by Daniel Davey, previously an engineer at Tesla, Lucid Air, and even China’s BYD, and is chaired by Jenny Keisu, the former CEO of electric speedboat manufacturer X Shore. Mark Tapscott, co-founder of EV start-up Aetha Motors, completes the board. The Longbow two-seater sports car, available in limited edition ‘Speedster and ‘Roadster’ guises, is the first production model from the company.
“The Speed Of Lightness”
In its lightest form, the Longbow is said to weigh less than 895 kilograms (around 1,973 pounds), which undercuts even the nimblest of Mazda Miatas. To attain this figure, Longbow’s engineers have developed a bespoke aluminum platform, one catering to the company’s “relentless” focus on keeping the weight down in a bid to make the cars “striking, light, nimble, balanced and engineered for an unparalleled driving experience.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the company’s Latin motto ‘celeritas levitas’ translates to “the speed of lightness,” just a hop, skip, and a jump away from that most famous of expressions from Lotus Cars founder Colin Chapman, “add lightness.”
Precise performance details are currently being kept under wraps, although the featherweight Longbow does state that its first model – the convertible Speedster – will manage 0-62 MPH in just 3.5 seconds, thanks to its 895kg curb weight. Consequently, the Longbow is being lined up to take on the likes of Alpine’s new fully-electric A110 EV, although the Speedster will be limited at first to just 150 examples. Save that it promises to be a “state-of-the-art” package, drivetrain details are being kept under wraps, as indeed a confirmed battery capacity, although Longbow has estimated a rather impressive 275-mile all-electric range for the two-seater FEV.
“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 sportscar.”
– Daniel Davey, Longbow CEO
Just 150 Speedsters Will Be Available
Much of that potential range could be attributed to the aerodynamic – and, it must be said, quite stunning – Ferrari California-esque bodywork, all done with “with a focus on beauty, lightweight construction, impeccable engineering, and meticulous hand finishing.” Designers have apparently taken ‘heavy’ inspiration from the elegant Jaguar E-Type and the Lotus Elise, for which the Longbow has been called a “spiritual successor.” After the initial 150-example Speedster run, Longbow has also confirmed that a second model – the hard-top Roadster will then enter production. This will bump the curb weight up to 995 kilograms (just under 2,194 pounds) though this is still on par with Porsche’s 718 Cayman S.
The location of the company’s factory has not been revealed, nor indeed has a planned delivery date or the potential for North American imports. UK pricing has been confirmed however, with the Speedster starting from £84,995 (just under $110,000), while the Roadster follow-up will be slightly cheaper at £64,995 (around $84,000 USD). 10 and 25 examples of the ‘Luminary 1st’ and ‘Autograph Edition’ models are also available for an additional £5,000. By the way, if you were wondering where the name ‘Longbow’ and the company’s distinctive logo originated, both pay tribute to Britain’s ‘warrior queen’ Boudica.
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