When we think of classic British sports cars, legends like the Jaguar E-Type, Lotus Elise or a Triumph immediately come to mind, renowned for their lightness, driving sharpness and pure driving pleasure. They were the automotive equivalent of a hand-stitched English jacket – timeless and elegant. Let’s take a look at the Longbow Speedster & Roadster.
Now they are stepping on stage. Longbow Speedster & Roadster, two new electric sports cars that promise to bring that tradition into the modern age. And guess what? It looks like they're going to succeed.
Light as a feather, fast as lightning
Longbow Motors, a fresh British startup led by two automotive industry veterans Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott, designed the Speedster and Roadster with the category in mind “light electric vehicles”Or as they say – featherweight electric vehicles.
The Speedster, a wild convertible without a roof and even without a windshield (because who needs such luxury?), weighs only 895 kilograms – which is almost the same as Lotus Elise from the third generation. The Roadster, which has a hardtop and at least a little more protection from the capricious British weather, adds about 100 kg and reaches mass 995 kg.
Both the Longbow Speedster & Roadster are powered by a single, but no less fierce, driver electric motor with 240 kW (322 hp), which sends its power directly to the rear wheels. The result? The Speedster accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds, and the Roadster with 3.6 seconds It barely catches up. These are the figures we expect from serious sports cars, not from electric pens that weigh less than many petrol hot-hatch cars.
What about range? Speedster with 275 miles (443 km) according to the WLTP standard, it offers more than enough, and the Roadster squeezes out even more thanks to better aerodynamics 5 miles more (451 km)Of course, the actual range will depend on how hard you press the gas pedal – and let's face it, your foot will be heavy in a car like this.
Aluminum, handmade and… a Chinese touch?
The basis of both models is a specially designed aluminum chassis, which ensures strength and keeps weight to a minimum. The body is made of lightweight composite materials, produced in a sustainable way – because today you can't do without green ethics.
But don't expect Longbow to reinvent the wheel. The company is smart about using existing components, such as lights, mirrors and – yes, even electric motors and batteries They come from China. They are probably verified lithium-ion cells type 2170, which means they've indulged in some pragmatism when it comes to costs. But that's okay - the important thing is that they focus on what matters: driving experience.
The Speedster is a complete purist: no roof, no compromises, just you, the road and the wind in your hairThe Roadster is a bit more “civilized” – thanks to the roof, you can use it even in the rain, which is not a negligible advantage in Great Britain. Both are handmade in Great Britain, which adds a touch of exclusivity to the cars that boutique car enthusiasts so appreciate.
Who is behind Longbow Motors?
Longbow Motors is not a project of two enthusiasts in a garage. Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott have extensive experience in Tesla, Lucid, Polestar and BYDTheir vision? To create a car that is not only fast, but above all connected to the driverTheir guiding principle is “Celeritas Levitas”, which loosely translates to: speed of lightnessAnd if you ask me, that should be the philosophy of every true sports car – regardless of whether it's powered by gasoline or electricity.
By the way, Longbow chose the name Roadster with a bit of a sarcastic provocation – namely in a slight mockery of the Tesla's still unfinished RoadsterCoincidence? I doubt it. But Longbow promises to deliver its cars in 2026 – and for now they are on track.
Price and availability – how much will this British delight cost you?
The Speedster costs £84,995 (around €93,000), while the Roadster is surprisingly less – £64,995 (around €71,000). Why is the roof model cheaper? A good mystery. Perhaps it's a clever marketing move to bring the Roadster closer to a wider range of buyers.
The Speedster will be limited to 150 copies, which makes it more exclusive, while the Roadster will be available in larger numbers. Reservations are already open on the official Longbow Motors website, where you can also view brochures. The first cars are expected to hit the roads in 2026, which means you still have some time to save – or at least dream about it.
Conclusion: Is Longbow the new electric icon?
Longbow Speedster and Roadster are like a breath of fresh air in the world of electric cars, where all too often we see heavy SUVs full of screens that would rather drive themselves than be driven by you. This is about something else. – for the car that wants to be Drive, feel and enjoy.
Although the price is not low, this is a car for those who They value tradition, but are ready to embrace the future.. Personally? The Speedster is closer to my heart – the thought of sitting in such a lightweight electric roadster without a roof is simply too tempting.
Longbow proves that Electric doesn't mean the end of fun behind the wheelIf they keep their promises, we'll see something really special on the roads in 2026. Until then – May the dreams continue!