Looking for a performance EV that offers lightweight driving fun and you’re also sick of waiting for the Tesla Roadster to make its appearance on the market (can you believe it’s still not on sale?) If that sounds like you, EV startup Longbow is prepared to offer you an alternative with the company confirming it will be building two EV sports cars, the Speedster and the Roadster with the first models expected to make their debut in the UK in 2026.
Longbow promises they will be lightweight and eager to please
So what exactly is a “featherweight electric vehicle” especially in a segment where bulky battery packs and their associated EV motors often cause the curb weight of a vehicle to go up very quickly? According to Longbow, the answer comes in the form of its pair of vehicles with the company saying that both of them will have a curb weight of just under 2,200 lbs. That’s still heavier than lightweights like the Lotus Elise but it’s very good for an EV and is noticeably lighter than other performance vehicles.
The Roadster is (perhaps ironically) not a traditional roadster with the model getting a fixed roof. Instead, the Speedster is the one that chops its top with that model being even lighter at 1,973 lbs. A lightweight aluminum in-house developed chassis will be the underpinning for both models with the two also getting compact electric motors and battery packs that will allow them to make the sprint to 60 mph in less than four seconds. Range for the duo is estimated to be 275 miles using the WLTP scale with the light curb weight contributing to this since the car will have less excess mass to move around than other EVs. The cars also have considerable experience behind their development with the company being founded by former execs from Lucid and Tesla.
How much for one of these Longbows?
Pricing will start at ₤84,995 for the Speedster and ₤64,995 for the Roadster. That’s approximately $85,000 to $110,000 with current exchange rates and while the pair will not be inexpensive, they will be potent alternatives to other EVs on the market which are more expensive. All of them will be hand-built in the UK with all 150 expected to go on sale in that country in 2026.
It’s not known if Longbow will expand availability to other markets but don’t expect the U.S. to be included. Longbow would have to comply with strict safety regulations in our market and with the company hand-building them all, we don’t expect them to invest the capital needed to rework these vehicles into offerings that would be road-legal in the U.S.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.