Longbow Introduces Britain’s First Featherweight Electric Sportscars – Speedster & Roadster
Longbow, the pioneering British electric sportscar manufacturer, has officially unveiled the world’s first Featherweight Electric Vehicle (FEV). By creating a new category in the automotive world, Longbow re-energises the iconic British tradition of lightweight sportscars, offering a pure, exhilarating driving experience through its first two models: Speedster and Roadster.
With its motto, ‘Celeritas Levitas’ or ‘the speed of lightness’, Longbow rallies enthusiasts around the core principles of beauty, lightweight construction, impeccable engineering, and meticulous hand finishing. The Speedster and Roadster embody the spirit of revered British icons like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type, yet share an all-electric drivetrain and a bespoke platform that keeps their weight under 995kg. By doing so, Longbow establishes an entirely new vehicle segment: the Featherweight Electric Vehicle (FEV).
Longbow’s founders draw upon vast experience in the automotive, technology, and finance sectors. Daniel and Mark have been integral to the electric vehicle revolution since the original Tesla Roadster, guiding challenger brands like Lucid Motors and BYD to success. Jenny brings extensive commercial and investment expertise, having led the electric marine industry at X Shore, and leverages a background in startups, scaleups, private equity, business law, and strategic investment.
Developing the Longbow Speedster and Roadster meant following one unifying philosophy: simplify, focus on beauty and engagement, then relentlessly reduce weight to deliver sheer automotive intoxication. Speedster and Roadster defy conventional notions of BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles). They are light, nimble, balanced, and engineered for a uniquely engaging driving experience.
Their exterior design pays homage to classic shapes while remaining timeless, and the interior showcases handcrafted elements that evoke the pure pleasure of driving. Inspired by a rich motoring heritage, Speedster and Roadster feature a tactile cockpit that feels nostalgic and enduring.
Both models ride on a bespoke Longbow aluminium chassis that optimises stiffness and minimises mass, offering thrilling agility and responsiveness. This lightweight design allows for smaller motors and batteries, creating the first genuinely modern electric sportscar for enthusiasts. With an impressive power-to-weight ratio, Speedster and Roadster combine featherweight engineering with a modern electric heart to offer agile performance.
The open-topped Speedster weighs only 895kg and accelerates to 62mph in 3.5 seconds. It offers a 275-mile (WLTP) range priced from £84,995 (incl VAT) and is limited to 150 hand-built examples. Buyers can also reserve the Luminary 1st Edition or Autograph Edition, which is limited to 10 and 25 units, respectively.
Arriving after the Speedster, the closed-cockpit Roadster weighs 995kg and reaches 62mph in 3.6 seconds. Priced from £64,995 (incl VAT), the Roadster is available for reservation now, with 50 Luminary 1st Edition and 100 Autograph Edition examples up for grabs.
All Longbow models are designed, engineered, and hand built in the UK, granting Longbow access to exceptional engineering capabilities in powertrain development, system integration, NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness), and chassis dynamics. High-performance component suppliers and renowned motorsport teams, including those in Formula 1 and Formula E, are located nearby, reinforcing Britain’s reputation for automotive excellence.
Longbow benefits from a robust global supply chain for proven electric vehicle components. This enables the brand to incorporate a state-of-the-art powertrain package that optimises weight, performance, efficiency, and range.
Daniel Davey, Co-Founder and CEO at Longbow, reflects on the brand’s mission: “Amidst the e-mobility revolution, we risk losing something essential. Many modern ‘sportscars’ exceed 1,500kg, and BEVs can weigh almost double that. Drivers need a featherweight electric sportscar that remains attainable and accessible – a true enthusiast’s car. That vision inspired Longbow. Our first two models, Speedster and Roadster, represent what a modern driver’s car should be: agile, balanced, electric, and exhilarating. We are reviving an icon – the lightweight British sportscar.”
Longbow is the culmination of years of planning by its founders: Daniel Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott. Since beginning this journey, the team has grown significantly. Today, it benefits from the expertise of engineers with decades of experience in road and motorsport – including Formula E, Lotus, Aston Martin, Ariel, and Tesla.
Co-Founder Mark Tapscott states: “Few places on Earth can hand-build a sports car. Here in the UK, we have a proud history of crafting lightweight vehicles with great commercial and competitive success. Longbow continues that tradition, applying these time-tested principles to develop the finest driver’s cars of the modern era.”
Reservations for these limited-edition vehicles are open now at longbowmotors.com.
