Longbow pairs 900 hp and featherweight design using in-wheel motors

At CES 2026, Longbow unveiled an extreme Speedster prototype built on its Featherweight Electric Vehicle (FEV) platform, emphasizing mass reduction and driving engagement over luxury or range. The open-top Speedster weighs under 900 kilograms (about 2,000 pounds) and features four 17-inch in-wheel motors from Donut Lab, producing a combined 900 horsepower. This results in a one-to-one power-to-weight ratio typically seen in hypercars. Longbow co-founder Mark Tapascott framed the prototype as a proof of concept, critiquing the automotive industry's trend toward heavier, feature-laden vehicles and advocating for a return to lightweight, driver-focused sports cars that improve acceleration, braking, efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. The FEV platform supports multiple motor layouts, including a single rear motor or four in-wheel motors as demonstrated in the prototype. While the CES Speedster showcases the platform’s maximum potential with 900 hp, production vehicles are expected to deliver around 300