The British startup is betting that performance and emotion do not have to be weighed down by batteries.
A Featherweight Approach to Electric Performance
In a segment increasingly defined by size and mass, British startup Longbow is pushing back with a radically different philosophy. Founded by veterans from Tesla, Lucid and Lotus, the company has unveiled the Speedster, a production ready electric sports car that prioritizes lightness above all else. Developed in just six months, the Speedster introduces what Longbow calls a new Featherweight Electric Vehicle category.
Weighing just 1,970 pounds, the Speedster is roughly 1,200 pounds lighter than many modern sports cars. Despite its minimal mass, it delivers a claimed 275 mile WLTP range and accelerates from zero to sixty two miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds. The car’s agility comes from a bespoke aluminum chassis and a pragmatic engineering strategy that favors high quality off the shelf motors and battery components over costly proprietary systems.
Designed to Feel Alive
Longbow’s cofounders describe the Speedster as a response to what they see as an increasingly sterile electric vehicle landscape. Rather than building a silent, over insulated machine, the team focused on feedback, balance and engagement. The lightweight structure allows the suspension and powertrain to work more efficiently, resulting in a car designed to feel responsive and emotionally engaging on the road.
This philosophy draws inspiration from classic British sports cars and the add lightness mantra popularized by engineers like Colin Chapman. The Speedster aims to translate that ethos into the electric era without sacrificing modern performance expectations.
Limited Production With Bigger Plans Ahead
Each Longbow Speedster will be hand built in the United Kingdom, with production capped at just 150 examples. Pricing is set at approximately $111,500, positioning the car as a low volume enthusiast offering. Following the Speedster, Longbow plans to introduce a more accessible hard top Roadster that will be produced in higher numbers as the brand looks toward global expansion.
For drivers who believe electric cars can still be visceral and rewarding, the Speedster presents a compelling alternative to the industry’s increasingly heavy norm.
