The Meyers Manx, the iconic 1960s dune buggy, returns with an electric powertrain under the name Meyers Manx 2.0. The Meyers Manx 2.0 will debut at Monterey Car Week in California, retaining the unique style and character of its predecessor, without the internal combustion engine.
The Meyers Manx was hugely popular in desert racing in the ’60s, although the company disbanded in 1971. Bruce Meyers, the founder, sold the company in 2020 before passing away in 2021, aged 94. The company is now owned by Trousdale Ventures, with Philip Sarofim, founder and CEO.
Meyers Manx 2.0 is an updated and fully electric buggy version. This car is based on the original Manx and will bring a production version soon.
The production version of the Meyers Manx 2.0 is fully assembled from the factory with a design similar to the original Meyers Manx but modernized (and with a very cool retro dashboard). This car was designed by Freeman Thomas, who designed the modern Audi TT and VW New Beetle.
The Meyers Manx 2.0 is no longer mechanically linked to the old Beetle and uses an aluminum monocoque architecture that comes from an as-yet-unnamed supplier.
The company is planning two different battery options namely 20kWh and 40kWh. With these battery packs, the electric vehicles have a range of 150 and 300 miles.
Compared to the Nissan Leaf which has a 40kWh battery it gets a range of 150 miles, but because the Meyers Manx 2.0 is much smaller than a regular electric car, it makes it more efficient.
A set of rear-mounted electric motors delivers up to 202 hp (151 kW / 205 PS) and 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels.
The car can be charged at 6kW on AC power or 60kW DC fast charger. It looks inferior compared to the EVs on the market today, but with a smaller battery pack, the car can still charge fast.
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The 20 kWh version weighs 1,500 pounds (680 kg) while the 40 kWh version weighs 1,650 pounds (748 kg). The latter, which is also the most powerful, can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds.
This electric vehicle has no doors or side windows with a removable roof. There is a cargo area at the back which can be accessed by tilting the roof forward, but it is not lockable. And there’s some space under the hood that can fit a spare tire and tool kit.
Meyer Manx will produce the first 50 buggies by 2023. The company wants to get feedback from early owners to make sure everything is going well. Regular series production will begin in 2024 in the US.
Meyers hasn’t released pricing information, but the company plans to start making reservations next week. The car’s official public debut comes on August 19, and reservations will be open on the company’s website after that debut.
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