Pricing details have just been announced for the modern-day reimagining of the original Meyers Manx dune buddy, now powered purely by electricity. Unfortunately, it isn’t cheap, with the small company announcing the Manx 2.0 will start at US$ 74,000 while the even simpler Restorer NEV is available from US$ 49,000. The original Meyers Manx was based on the VW Beetle and introduced way back in 1964. The firm was purchased from founder Meyers Manx in 2020 and the new owners believe that the electric Manx 2.0 serves as the perfect successor to the original.
For starters, it is underpinned by an
aluminum monocoque chassis and will be offered with 20 kWh and 40 kWh battery
options, providing 241 km and 483 km of range
respectively. Whether or not those figures are actually achievable is another
question entirely. Regardless, we know that the larger battery drives two
electric motors at the rear axle with a combined 202 hp and 325 Nm of torque. The company says the car can hit 96 km/h in as little as
4.5 seconds.
Headline figures of 202 hp and 240 lb-ft
may not seem all that impressive. However, the 20 kWh version weighs just 680 kg while the 40 kWh version is a mere 748 kg. As such,
both should feel very agile and be plenty of fun to drive.
The second model introduced by Meyers Manx
is the Restorer NEV. Much like the original, it has a longer wheelbase than the
Manx 2.0 and has a four-seat configuration. It is expected to receive the same
twin-motor setup as the Manx 2.0 and will also be underpinned by an aluminum
monocoque and rock independent wishbone suspension at all four corners. It will
start at US$ 49,000 and the company says that in addition to being well-suited to
private use, it could also be perfect for hotel shuttles and fleets in sunny
climates.
