The first 'featherweight' Speedster prototype built to carry the E-Type's torch is here

Remember British EV startup Longbow Motors and its "featherweight" Speedster electric EV? We first got word of it earlier this year, and just six months later it’s now unveiled a fully functional prototype.

In the world of car manufacturing that’s astonishingly quick – most OEMs take around 18 months to build a working prototype after the idea has first been penned (that’s what we’re told anyway). And all this from a company that was only founded in 2023.

But Longbow’s founders, Daniel Davey and Mark Tapscott, have plenty of pedigree here, with the likes of Polestar, Lucid, Uber and BYD on their combined CVs.

To jog your memory, the Speedster is the first of two “featherweight electric vehicles” – their words, not ours – planned by Longbow. Thanks to its aluminium chassis, compact electric motor and ‘module-to-chassis’ battery tech it weighs just 895kg.

Longbow claims 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a range of 275 miles, with prices for the limited-edition model starting from £84,995. The first year production run has already been allocated, with deliveries commencing next year.

It’ll be followed by the hard-top Roadster, which weighs in around 100kg heavier – a small price to pay for the extra time you’ll be able to drive it here in Blighty. The bigger talking point here is the price tag, with the Roadster set to start from £64,995.

The carmaker says it sees the duo as spiritual successors to British icons like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type. Sounds like the MG Cyberster had better watch its back…