Longbow, which describes itself as Britain’s first dedicated electric sports car manufacturer, has officially unveiled its debut models, the Speedster and Roadster. Weighing in at under 995kg, both handcrafted machines have been designed to offer the agility and charm of classic British sports cars with the innovation of modern electric powertrains. The brand also claims to have invented a new category, by labelling both models as the world’s first Featherweight Electric Vehicles (FEVs). 

According to Longbow, the Speedster and Roadster are the spiritual successors to legendary British icons like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type, and embody the brands motto, ‘Celeritas Levitas’ – the speed of lightness. Both models share a bespoke aluminium chassis and all-electric drivetrain, engineered to maximise stiffness and minimise weight. 

Longbow’s founders – Daniel Davey, Mark Tapscott and Jenny Keisu – come from the automotive, technology, and finance sectors. Davey and Tapscott worked on the development of the original Tesla Roadster, and have been involved with Lucid Motors and BYD. Keisu worked in the electric marine industry is the former CEO of electric boat brand X Shore.

The Speedster tips the scales at just 895kg and accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, with a WLTP range of 275 miles. Priced from £84,995, only 150 examples will be hand-built, with limited-edition Luminary 1st Edition and Autograph Edition models available for reservation.  

The Roadster, a closed-cockpit counterpart, follows closely behind, weighing 995kg and achieving 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds. Starting at £64,995, it will be offered in similar limited-edition configurations, with production capped to ensure exclusivity.  

Although the brand describes its drivetrain design as ‘state-of-the-art’, it has yet to confirm any specifics relating to battery size, motors and outputs. The location of the Longbow factory is also still under wraps, with the initial announcement only confirming that it plans to access the same high-performance suppliers that works with Formula 1 and Formula E teams in the UK.