Longbow Speedster: Ultra-Light Electric Sports Car from Former Tesla Engineers
The automotive world has just gained a new player in the electric performance segment — the Longbow Speedster, a battery-powered two-seater designed by former Tesla engineers Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott. This remarkable vehicle has officially debuted in London as a working prototype, confirming that the new brand’s mission is not to build just another fast EV, but to reinvent lightweight sports cars for the electric era.
The Birth of the Featherweight Electric Vehicle
The creators introduced an entirely new category called the Featherweight Electric Vehicle (FEV), referring to an ultra-light battery-powered sports car that prioritizes simplicity, efficiency, and driver engagement. The Longbow Speedster weighs only 895 kilograms, including its battery pack — a figure nearly impossible for modern electric vehicles.
Despite its minimalist build, the car promises a driving range of over 440 kilometers per charge, an exceptional figure given its small size and weight. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, placing it in the same performance range as the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 or the Tesla Roadster prototype.
Engineering Philosophy and Chassis Design
The Longbow Speedster uses a fully aluminum chassis of original design, with the battery pack structurally integratedinto the body. This not only reduces weight but also increases torsional rigidity, giving the car the sharp, responsive handling of traditional lightweight sports machines.
The design philosophy follows the classic principle of Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus: “Simplify, then add lightness.” The car’s styling and proportions take inspiration from the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type, combining British elegance with modern aerodynamic simplicity. The open-cockpit layout enhances the feeling of connection with the road, while its low center of gravity ensures stable, dynamic cornering.
Performance and Technical Highlights
While the final specifications of the powertrain remain under wraps, Longbow engineers confirmed several key details:
Acceleration (0–100 km/h): 3.5 seconds
Range: Over 440 km per charge
Battery: Lightweight structural pack, integrated into chassis
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive (confirmed for the first production model)
Weight: 895 kg
Chassis: Aluminum monocoque frame
Body: Carbon-fiber composite panels
Charging: 800V fast-charging capability (under testing)
The focus is clearly not on sheer power, but on delivering an authentic driver experience — quick, agile, and precise, much like a modern electric reincarnation of the Lotus Elise.
Pricing and Market Launch
The Longbow Speedster will start at £84,995 (approximately AED 390,000), targeting collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate lightweight engineering and exclusive design. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, with production limited to a small number of hand-built units per year.
A closed-roof version, named Longbow Roadster, is already under development and will be priced £20,000 lower, suggesting a starting point near £65,000. This model may serve as a more practical everyday version while retaining the brand’s core focus on minimal weight and mechanical purity.
Team and Vision
The Longbow project is backed not only by ex-Tesla engineers but also by industry veterans from Lucid Motors and Alpine. The advisory board includes Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren Automotive, and Dan Balmer, former head of Lotus Europe. This mix of talent from performance and EV sectors gives Longbow a unique edge in creating a sports car that blends analog character with electric innovation.
According to co-founder Daniel Davy, “The future of performance cars doesn’t have to mean heavier and more complex vehicles. We believe in efficiency through lightness — and that’s what Longbow stands for.”
Future Plans
Following the Speedster and Roadster, the brand plans to expand its FEV lineup with track-focused variants and a potential hybrid-assisted racing prototype. The company also hinted at collaborations with custom engine builders such as Runge Cars, who are developing an eight-cylinder boxer engine for future retro-inspired sports projects.
The Longbow Speedster represents a counterpoint to today’s overpowered, overweight electric cars. Instead of chasing higher battery capacity and horsepower, it brings back the pure driving joy of classic sports cars — responsive steering, lightweight agility, and minimal driver aids.
For enthusiasts, it could become what the original Lotus Elise was for the 1990s — a revolutionary sports car proving that less can truly be more, even in the electric age.
