Longbow, a new British electric vehicle startup founded by former Tesla engineers, has unveiled a “featherweight” roadster designed to challenge the industry’s trend of heavy EVs and potentially launch before Tesla’s much-delayed next-generation model.
The company’s debut vehicle, the Longbow Speedster, weighs just 895 kilograms (1,973 pounds). This makes it significantly lighter than most electric cars, which often exceed 1,800 kg (3,968 pounds), including models from Tesla.
The Speedster is projected to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (0 to 62 mph) in 3.5 seconds. Its design philosophy, dubbed “Featherweight Electric Vehicle” (FEV), draws inspiration from Colin Chapman’s famed principle to “simplify and add lightness.”
Longbow aims to fill a market gap, especially as the highly anticipated second-generation Tesla Roadster is not expected until at least 2027.
The startup was co-founded by Daniel Davy, who serves as CEO, and Mark Tapscott, both former Tesla engineers. They are supported by an experienced advisory board that includes former McLaren head Mike Flewitt, ex-Lotus Europe director Dan Balmer, and Michael van der Sande, who held top roles at Lucid Europe, JLR, and Alpine.
Longbow has already presented a dynamic prototype, the Aesthetic Dynamic Demonstrator, in London. The company emphasizes that its lightweight approach counters the complexities often introduced by heavier vehicles.
The Speedster is built on an exclusive aluminum chassis, features a compact electric motor, and utilizes a “module-to-chassis” battery design to maximize rigidity while minimizing weight. The company describes it as a “spiritual successor” to classic lightweight sports cars like the Lotus Elise.
Daniel Davy stated that the Speedster “seems to have touched a chord among enthusiasts.” He added that the creation is “the purest demonstration of our speed and lightweight philosophy.”
The production model is expected to offer a range of 442 kilometers (275 miles) per charge under the WLTP testing cycle.
The roofless Speedster version will start at approximately $107,900 (84,995 British pounds). A closed-coupe variant is expected to be priced around $79,600 (73,700 euros).
First deliveries of the Longbow Speedster are anticipated in 2026.