The Meyers Manx dune buggy from the 1960s is back in the electric era, proving that what was once old is now new again. The small recreational vehicle previously had a shortened chassis that was taken from the Volkswagen Beetle, but this new model has no connections to the VW brand. Therefore, it has nothing to do with that awesome ID. Concept for a buggy from 2019. Freeman Thomas, who also wrote the original version, is the designer of the new electric vehicle and its one-piece body shell.
Trousdale Ventures is the manufacturer of the zero-emissions buggy, which is officially known as the Meyers Manx 2.0 Electric. In 2020, a few months before founder Bruce Meyers, then 94, passed away, it bought the Meyers Manx business from him. It’s not clear if that body is fibreglass like the original.
With 20 and 40 kWh batteries, the electric buggy will have a range of 150 and 300 miles (241 and 483 kilometres, respectively). The cutesy vehicle will be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about four and a half seconds thanks to a pair of electric motors mounted at the back. Depending on the battery size, it will weigh between 1,500 and 1,650 pounds (680 and 750 kilogrammes), making it one of the lightest EVs available.
The Meyers Manx 2.0 Electric will produce 202 horsepower overall and up to 240 pound-feet (325 Newton-meters) of instant torque with the larger battery installed. Heading to The Quail Motorsports Gathering event, the electric buggy will be offered in 50 units for the 2023 model year before availability will be expanded from 2024.
Each will have electric parking brakes, windshield wipers, regenerative braking, disc brakes at the front and rear axles, and electric power steering. Even over-the-air updates will be supported because the company wants to improve the EV based on input from early adopters.
Reservations will be accepted later this month, but pricing information has not yet been released.
Source:Â Meyers Manx
