Lightweight and electric vehicles rarely go together, but a British startup aims to change that.
The company, Longbow, revealed the first details on Wednesday about the Speedster and Roadster—two electric sports cars currently in development.
Drawing inspiration from iconic British sports cars like the Jaguar E-Type and Lotus Elise, these two-seaters are targeted for launch in 2026. Longbow says each will weigh less than 2,200 pounds, promising a driving experience unlike any other regular production EV.
The Speedster offers a pure open-top design, while the Roadster features an enclosed cabin. Both models ride on a bespoke aluminum chassis optimized for low weight and high stiffness. Because the chassis itself saves significant weight, other components—including motors and batteries—can also be lighter, according to the company.
Longbow Roadster
Full specifications remain under wraps, but Longbow says the Speedster, launching first, should deliver 0-62 mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds with 275 miles of range on the WLTP cycle used overseas. A lower range estimate would result from the stricter EPA cycle. The Roadster quotes 3.6 seconds and 280 miles.
Longbow's founders have previously worked for leading EV companies including Tesla, Lucid, and BYD, while the company's U.K. headquarters position it close to engineering firms and suppliers associated with Formula E and Formula 1. Longbow plans to manufacture in the U.K., with the Speedster limited to just 150 units. The Roadster will see higher production volumes, though exact numbers remain undisclosed. The first examples of both cars will be special Luminary 1st Edition and Autograph Edition models.
Reservations are open with the Speedster starting at 84,995 British pounds (approximately $110,200) and the Roadster at 64,995 British pounds ($84,300).
Longbow has not confirmed which markets, besides the U.K., will receive its sports cars.