British startup Longbow will showcase its Speedster electric sports car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 6-9, marking the vehicle’s first international appearance.
The company gave select audiences a preview of the Speedster in London last October – just six months after announcing the project.
Longbow positions the open-top two-seater as the “spiritual successor to British icons like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type.” The company claims it’s creating an entirely new category called “Featherweight Electric Vehicle” or FEV.
The car weighs 895 kilograms thanks to its custom aluminum chassis.
Production will be limited to 150 units at £84,995 each. According to Longbow, US sports car enthusiasts have already placed “a large percentage of total pre-orders.”
Tesla Roadster Connection
Daniel Davey, Longbow’s co-founder and co-CEO, worked on engineering the original Tesla Roadster from 2008 to 2011. His background gives him confidence the Speedster will succeed in America.
“Lightweight British sports cars have always held a special place in the heart of American ‘gear heads’, from the AC Ace as the foundation for the Shelby Cobra to Tesla’s collaboration with Lotus to build the very first electric sports car, the Tesla Roadster, which I had the pleasure of bringing to customers right here in the US over 15 years ago.”
Davey believes American buyers share British preferences for driver-focused vehicles.
“Even then, it was clear to me that American sports car enthusiasts share the British passion for raw, unfiltered cars that are centred around the driver and the driving experience.”
Co-founder and co-CEO Mark Tapscott highlighted the US market response.
“It has been amazing to see how well Longbow has been received around the world, but the response from the US has been something special. The idea of lighter cars and a more joyful driving experience has really struck a chord. It feels clear that people aren’t simply chasing faster numbers, but seeking better experiences.”
Performance Details
Longbow hasn’t released complete technical specifications yet. Current details include:
- 0-62mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds
- ‘Module-to-chassis’ battery design
- 275-mile range
The company plans to follow the Speedster with a hardtop Roadster starting at £64,995.
Both models will be hand-built in the UK, following traditional British sports car manufacturing methods. After CES, Longbow will tour the Speedster across the United States.
