Former Tesla Employees Launch New Electric Roadster Designed to Provoke Elon Musk | Carscoops

      Longbow claims to deliver a sub-4.0 second 0-62 mph acceleration and an “unmatched” driving experience for both the Speedster and the Roadster.

      **6 hours ago**

      By Stephen Rivers

      Longbow is a new electric vehicle manufacturer from the UK that plans to introduce two sports cars.

      Named the Speedster and the Roadster, these models emphasize lightweight design above all else.

      Reservations for the Speedster start at $110,000, while the Roadster begins at $84,000.

      Celeritas Levitatis translates to the Speed of Lightness, embodying Longbow's philosophy. This new auto company believes it has found a solution to the problem of heavy cars that populate our roads. “Weight invites complexity, blunts agility, and dulls the senses,” they assert. Addressing these challenges required a fresh approach. The result is two electric sports cars that weigh less than a Mazda MX-5.

      Introducing the Speedster, an open-cockpit, windshield-free joyride, and the Roadster, which features a fixed hardtop despite its name.

      **The Team Behind the Vehicles—and their Tesla Teasing**

      Longbow is more than just a few enthusiasts with ambitious ideas; it was founded by two ex-Tesla engineers, Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott, alongside the former CEO of an electric boat company. Their backgrounds include experience at Lucid Motors, BYD, Formula E, Lotus, Aston Martin, and Ariel, highlighting a collection of expertise in performance and electric vehicles.

      And then there's the brand name itself. Longbow’s Roadster is undoubtedly a dig at Tesla’s long-anticipated—and repeatedly postponed—Roadster, initially set to launch in 2020 after the reveal of a prototype even earlier in 2017. In a conversation with Top Gear, Daniel Davy clarified that the name was intentionally chosen to poke fun at Tesla's ever-delayed Roadster II.

      “A lot of customers have put deposits down for a Roadster they can’t receive,” Davy shared with the magazine. “So we thought we’d be the first electric Roadster to actually follow the Tesla Roadster. If interested parties want to retrieve their $250,000 deposit for a 2020 model and invest in something better, they’ll get it faster with us. They are welcome to do that. Our Roadster is going to hit the market first.”

      **The Specifications: Lightweight, Fast, and Purposeful**

      First up is the Speedster. Without a windshield or roof, this two-seater offers an estimated range of 275 miles (WLTP) and weighs just 1,973 pounds (895 kg), achieving 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. This performance rivals that of many fast supercars and matches that of a Tesla Model Y Performance (although the latter is based on a rollout).

      Once Longbow completes production of the Speedster, anticipated to begin early next year, it will shift focus to the hardtop version known as the Roadster. The Roadster weighs slightly more at 2,193 pounds, resulting in a 0.1 second advantage in acceleration to 60 mph. However, it offers a slightly increased range of 280 miles. While these numbers are impressive, Longbow has yet to disclose details about battery size or motor configuration.

      **A New British Electric Vehicle Contender—Or Just Another Aspirational Venture?**

      The company claims that, in addition to being the “first-ever British electric sports car manufacturer,” it also presents “a new category that revitalizes an iconic automotive archetype with the formal introduction of the world’s first Featherweight Electric Vehicle (FEV).” Furthermore, it proudly states that its Speedster and Roadster provide a distinctive interpretation of the longstanding British legacy of lightweight sports cars, focusing on true road performance with an unparalleled driving experience.

      **Pricing and Availability**

      Reservations are currently open for both models. The Speedster will be priced around $110,000 (₤84,995), inclusive of local UK VAT (tax), while the Roadster is set at $84,000 (₤64,995 with VAT). Longbow has plans for special editions, such as the Luminary 1st Edition and Autograph Edition, limited to just 10 and 25 units respectively. Additionally, they will only produce 150 units of the Speedster, making early reservations advisable for those interested in securing one.

      It’s important to acknowledge that these claims are quite ambitious. Taking them with a healthy dose of skepticism might be prudent, as numerous companies have emerged with enticing car concepts only to fizzle out before producing any vehicles. Hopefully, Longbow has discovered the formula for success and will achieve its goals. Enhancing innovation and increasing the number of high-performance cars is something we can all support.