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Longbow: A British Revolution in Electric Sports Cars with McLaren, Alpine, and Tesla Expertise

Cartea
Cartea
2025-08-12
contents

The British startup Longbow has confidently entered the electric sports car market with an ambitious project aiming to launch lightweight, high-performance electric sports cars by 2027. The company attracted major industry experts such as Mike Flewitt, former CEO of McLaren; Michael van der Sande, former director at Alpine; Dan Palmer, former CEO of Lotus Europe; and founder Daniel Devy, with experience from Lucid and Tesla. This expertise boosts 

Longbow’s chances to compete with Tesla, which has not yet set a precise launch date for its upcoming Roadster model.

British Longbow develops lightweight electric sports cars with McLaren, Alpine, and Tesla experts to compete against Tesla Roadster.

Company Vision and Launch Plans

  • Longbow plans to manufacture two similarly designed sports models, each built on the company’s proprietary aluminum electric platform.

  • The first model, Speedster, is a lightweight two-seater sports car without a windshield, targeting a curb weight of 895 kg (1,973 lbs), capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

  • The second model, the much-anticipated Roadster, aims to compete directly with Tesla's Roadster, featuring a removable roof, an expected lower price (around $84,000), and slightly slower acceleration by 0.1 seconds compared to the Speedster.

  • Production is planned to begin in 2027 in the United Kingdom.

Key Expert Contributors and Stakeholders

  • Mike Flewitt: Former CEO of McLaren, known for rejecting SUV manufacturing; sees Longbow as a return to the core values of lightweight, fun-to-drive sports cars.

  • Michael van der Sande: Ex-Alpine and Lucid executive, with vast experience in luxury sports vehicles.

  • Dan Palmer: Former CEO of Lotus Europe; brings high-level technical and artistic vision.

  • Daniel Devy: Founder with engineering leadership experience in Tesla and Lucid.

Technical Highlights and Features of Longbow Electric Sports Cars

British Longbow develops lightweight electric sports cars with McLaren, Alpine, and Tesla experts to compete against Tesla Roadster.



Feature

Speedster

Roadster

Seating Capacity

Two seats

Two seats

Windshield

None (open cockpit)

Removable roof

Target Weight

895 kg (1,973 lbs)

Approximately 100 kg heavier than Speedster

0-60 mph Acceleration

3.5 seconds

3.6 seconds

Drivetrain

Rear-wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive

Expected Price

Around $110,000

Around $84,000

Materials Used

Aluminum and advanced weight-saving tech

Aluminum and advanced weight-saving tech


Design Advantages and Focus on Lightness and Driver Experience

  • Longbow emphasizes the principle of lightweight design, a feature that has been diminishing in modern sports car manufacturing, focusing on providing an enthusiastic and engaging driving experience.

  • The compact design makes these cars ideal both for urban driving and sports handling, while adhering to top electric technology standards.

  • The company aims to deliver modern technology while preserving the classic essence of a sports car that respects the direct connection between driver and machine.


How Longbow Cars Differ from the Tesla Roadster?

Aspect

Longbow Roadster

Tesla Roadster (Upcoming)

Expected Price

$84,000

Around $250,000

Weight

Significantly lighter

Much heavier

Design and Focus

Lightweight with sports driving emphasis

Focus on raw performance and luxury

Launch Timeline

Targeted for 2027

Not precisely defined

Car Type

Electric sports coupe with removable roof

High-performance electric coupe


Outlook for Longbow and Competition with Tesla

British Longbow develops lightweight electric sports cars with McLaren, Alpine, and Tesla experts to compete against Tesla Roadster.

  • The collaboration of top industry experts reflects a desire to redefine the concept of lightweight electric sports cars, moving away from the growing heaviness in the sector.

  • Longbow aims to challenge Tesla in the electric sports car market, exploiting Tesla's delay in releasing its new Roadster model.

  • Founders emphasize a well-planned approach that balances cutting-edge technology with the core traits of attractive sports cars, such as lightweight and driver immersion.

Longbow presents a new and exciting British outlook in the field of electric sports cars, blending global automotive expertise with sleek British design. By producing powerful, lightweight electric vehicles with amazing acceleration and high performance, Longbow seeks to revive the pure pleasure of electric sports car driving, offering a strong alternative to the Tesla Roadster.

Supported by a team with remarkable experience in sports car manufacturing, this initiative ranks among the most promising in the luxury electric vehicle segment for the coming years.

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