EV maker Longbow is taking two sleek new models to market – and analysts say the competition might be taking note.
That’s because Longbow’s latest entries have more going for them than your average electric car.
This UK-based startup is supported by a strong pedigree, including ex-employees from EV leaders like BYD, Tesla and Lucid.
And Longbow hopes to leverage this talent in order to “capture driving enjoyment” with two new exciting electric sports cars – the Speedster and the Roadster.
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Longbow calls them FEVs – a nod to one of their most defining features. The “F” stands for featherweight, and instead of your typically-overweight electric, the automaker is breaking the mold: the Speedster weighs reportedly less than 2,000 lbs, and the Roadster comes in at 2,200. For comparison, the heaviest EV in the industry – the GMC Hummer – weighs around 9,000 lbs.
Car and Driver says the two models use an aluminum chassis and composite panels to cut weight. A long, flat profile looks dynamic and ready to sprint from zero to 62 in just 3.5 seconds.
The two-seaters are both rear-wheel drive, and a recent feature by TopGear explained that many of the components — including batteries, motors, and brakes – would be sourced from other companies, possibly the nearby high-performance component suppliers that service area Formula 1 and Formula E teams.
Car and Driver adds, however, that “certain elements such as the lights and mirrors will be parts-bin pieces to keep costs down.”
Speaking of cost, the Speedster is set to be a hand-built, limited run for $110,000 US, while the Roadster comes in at a more approachable price of $84,000 and will be produced at higher volumes.
Despite being feature-rich, the Roadster, specifically, is getting a lot of attention for one other reason.
Observers note that the Roadster name is a not-so-subtle dig at competitor Tesla. In fact, Top Gear went so far as to say it was “deliberately named to annoy Elon Musk.”
That’s because Tesla has yet to release its own “Roadster” model, which it’s been teasing for eight years.
For Longbow, it took a mere two: the company was founded in 2023.
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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.009 --> 00:03.950
Ev maker Longbow is taking two sleek new models
to market,
00:04.159 --> 00:07.030
and analysts say the competition might be
taking note.
00:07.199 --> 00:11.199
That's because Longbow's latest entries have
more going for them than your average electric
00:11.199 --> 00:14.199
car.
This UK-based startup is supported by a strong
00:14.199 --> 00:18.120
pedigree, including ex-employees from EV
leaders like BYD,
00:18.440 --> 00:22.040
Tesla, and Lucid.
And Longbow hopes to leverage this talent in
00:22.040 --> 00:26.870
order to capture driving enjoyment with two new
exciting electric sports cars,
00:27.040 --> 00:28.760
the Speedster and the Roadster.
00:29.190 --> 00:33.659
Longbow calls them FEVs, a nod to one of their
most defining features.
00:33.830 --> 00:37.830
The F stands for featherweight, and instead of
your typically overweight electric,
00:38.069 --> 00:40.180
the automaker is breaking the mold.
00:40.430 --> 00:46.500
The Speedster weighs reportedly less than 2000
pounds, and the roadster comes in at 2200.
00:46.720 --> 00:50.459
For comparison, the heaviest EV in the industry,
the GMC Hummer,
00:50.790 --> 00:54.950
weighs in around 9000 pounds.
Car and Driver says the two models use an
00:54.950 --> 00:57.590
aluminum chassis and composite panels to cut
weight.
00:58.119 --> 01:03.819
A long flat profile looks dynamic and ready to
sprint from 0 to 62 in just 3.5 seconds.
01:03.959 --> 01:08.480
The two seaters are both a rear wheel drive,
and a recent feature by Top Gear explained that
01:08.480 --> 01:11.680
many of the components, including batteries,
motors, and brakes,
01:11.839 --> 01:16.510
would be sourced from other companies, possibly
the nearby high performance component suppliers
01:16.720 --> 01:19.480
that service Area Formula One and Formula E
teams.
01:19.722 --> 01:24.203
Car and driver adds, however, that certain
elements such as the lights and mirrors will be
01:24.203 --> 01:27.313
partsin pieces to keep costs down.
Speaking of cost,
01:27.402 --> 01:33.072
the Speedster is set to be a hand-built limited
run for $110,000 US,
01:33.242 --> 01:37.803
while the Roadster comes in at a more
approachable price of $84,000 and will be
01:37.803 --> 01:39.152
produced at higher volumes.
01:39.402 --> 01:43.606
Despite being feature rich, the Roadsters.
Specifically, is getting a lot of attention for
01:43.606 --> 01:47.365
one other reason.
Observers note that the Roadster name is a not
01:47.365 --> 01:49.875
so subtle dig at competitor Tesla.
01:50.166 --> 01:55.206
In fact, Top Gear went so far as to say it was
deliberately named to annoy Elon Musk.
01:55.365 --> 01:58.155
That's because Tesla has yet to release its own
Roadster model,
01:58.286 --> 02:01.445
which it's been teasing for 8 years.
For Longbow,
02:01.456 --> 02:03.036
it took a mere 2.
02:03.246 --> 02:06.365
The company was founded in 2023.
I'm Anna Wells,
02:06.405 --> 02:07.526
and this is Manufacturing now.
