World's first 'featherweight' electric sports car has been inducted into The Petersen Automotive Museum
Published on May 05, 2026 at 6:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on May 05, 2026 at 6:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The Petersen Automotive Museum has welcomed a new car into its ranks – the world’s first ‘featherweight’ electric sports car.
This is the beautiful Longbow Speedster, weighing in at just 1,973Ibs.
As a tribute to the British tradition of lightweight sportscars, the Longbow Speedster will go on display this summer.
For as light as this car is, it casts a big shadow in the world of cars.
The world’s first ‘featherweight’ electric sports car has arrived
Developed by Longbow, the Speedster follows in the philosophy of the brand – Speed of Lightness.
As the company’s first offering, it’s clear that the Speedster is intended to make a big splash, despite its lightweight status.
First unveiled back in November 2025, it boasts an open-top and two-tone paint scheme intended to evoke nostalgia for the era of classic sports cars.
This car is to be seen as a spiritual successor to icons such as the Lotus Elise and the Jaguar E-Type.
When it makes its big debut, it’ll be sitting in the lobby of the museum alongside Sergey Brin’s original Tesla Roadster.
Up until this point, it had been touring the US alongside the leadership at Longbow.
“The Petersen is an ideal venue for emerging automotive technology, and we’re proud to welcome the Longbow as part of our commitment to showcasing innovation,” Bryan Stevens, the director of exhibitions at the Petersen Automotive Museum, said.
“We are the home of past and future icons, capturing the imagination of visitors across generations. We are thrilled to make the Longbow Speedster part of this story.”
It was similarly effusive words from Daniel Davey, the co-founder of Longbow.
“We are greatly honored by this opportunity. The Petersen represents so much of the history, vision, and
passion that have driven technical evolution in the automotive industry,” Davey said.
“Now, visitors can glimpse the first true driver’s car of the electric age, the featherweight Longbow Speedster.
“It’s the much-anticipated resurrection of fun and engaging lightweight British sports cars, vehicles long beloved in North America.”
Legendary cars at the Petersen Automotive Museum
The Longbow Speedster will be in good company at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which is home to a lineup of legendary cars.
It’s the place to go if you want to see some of the cars that raced in the Fast and Furious series.
And it also played host to America’s first-ever Aventador, donated by Lamborghini.
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
