Thursday 8th October 2020

British firm reanimates the MG B as an EV

RBW EV has created a bespoke platform using a front-mounted battery and rear-mounted motor

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A British company that specialises in the remaking of classis cars with electric powertrains has revealed a pre-production prototype of its next product. The classically styled but electrically powered MG B has a lithium-ion battery pack under the bonnet and drive motor on the rear axle, delivering what creator RBW EV Classic Cars claims is genuine sports car handling and performance.

While the body and styling are true to the original, the underneath is all cutting edge, with hardware supplied by Continental Engineering Services (CES) and that brand’s offshoot, Zytek Automotive. Around the drive stuff the so called EV B gets all independent coil-over suspension and modern brakes, which work with a renegerative system to top-up the battery. RBW has also used what it describes as “the latest generation of hub design and wheel bearing technology” to enable “maintenance free usage”. It’s all brand new.

Better still, the base chassis and drive system created here is said to be compatible with other bodies, including the Austin Healey, Jaguar E-Type and Mini, which is exciting for anyone hoping to conform to ULEZ motoring in something from the previous century. The build appears to be finished to a very high standard, and it will need to be with a starting price of £90,000 excluding taxes. Of course you're getting much more than a rebodied EV; with  a digital instrument cluster, WiFi enabled sat nav and phone connectivity, it’s inevitably more like a modern car dressed in vintage clothes.

If it all sounds like your sort of jam, there is hope of more attainable models in the future, although the first run will be limited to 30 cars. RBW said it’s planning further models, including a fixed head GT version that’ll follow in 2021 along with a second RBW electric recreation. So there’s plenty in the pipeline, which is good news for an innovative engineering company based in the Midlands.

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[VanquishRider]

Pictures of it might be nice? These 2 pictures tell me nothing at all.

[Mr Tidy]

Those pictures say it all - it's an MGB!

Presumably rear drum brakes for authenticity.

They were a mediocre 60s car that BL kept going into the 80s when they were just laughable!

[JerryF]

Take a look at their website: https://rbwevcars.com/rbw-gallery/

Unsure if the link is allowed, but I guess I will soon find out.....

[A1VDY]

Mr Tidy said:

Those pictures say it all - it's an MGB!

Presumably rear drum brakes for authenticity.

They were a mediocre 60s car that BL kept going into the 80s when they were just laughable!

^
This
What really is the point in this?
The car was always a pos in every respect, making it EV just makes it even worse..

[flukey5]

I'd much rather have a re-engined example with fuel injection etc. Maybe swap a MX-5 engine/gearbox in.

I think a lot of the allure of these cars is cruising down b-roads with the engine rumbling away and enjoying the sense of interaction it gives you with the wind in your hair - You know - No power steering, manual gearbox and light weight in the way no modern car really is anymore.

I really don't see the point or allure of this. If all you care about is posing, with no regard for maintenance sure. But batteries won't give you any of the above.

It's not like an MX-5 is high maintenance anyway, and I'm sure an engine swap could out-perform every statistic here while weighing less:

Edited by flukey5 on Thursday 8th October 02:28

[e600]

Top speed 80mph?

[unsprung]

flukey5 said:

I think a lot of the allure of these cars is cruising down b-roads with the engine rumbling away and enjoying the sense of interaction it gives you with the wind in your hair

Absolutely.

Bit of "Champagne" crackle on the overrun.

Transform a seemingly ordinary Sunday afternoon into motoring gold. Push well into the chill of autumn.

[Gareth9702]

The entire charm of the MGB is the antique nature of its mechanicals and instruments. Take those away, and what do you have? An electric go-kart with an MGB body. A real waste of a beautiful classic car.

[A1VDY]

Gareth9702 said:

The entire charm of the MGB is the antique nature of its mechanicals and instruments. Take those away, and what do you have? An electric go-kart with an MGB body. A real waste of a beautiful classic car.

It doesn't have any 'charm' to start with though, nor is it beautiful.
Its an old pig of a car with no redeeming features..

[logomomo]

A1VDY said:

^
This
What really is the point in this?
The car was always a pos in every respect, making it EV just makes it even worse..

Eh? 18 yr production run, over half a million sold and was the worlds best selling sports car in that time tends to signify the mgb was in fact not a pos.

That said, whilst this EV conversion looks lovely and is no doubt an engineering feat, you’d have to really want one for £90k

[ddom]

Dull.

[camel_landy]

A1VDY said:

It doesn't have any 'charm' to start with though, nor is it beautiful.
Its an old pig of a car with no redeeming features..

From the man who drives a Fiat 126...

"Live and let live" I say. You or I may not be the target market but the very fact this exists, shows there is a market for this type of stuff out there.

I also believe stuff like this is good for those of us who own Classic cars, as it helps maintain their values and desirability (imitation, flattery, etc...).

M

Edited by camel_landy on Thursday 8th October 07:31

[Jim the Sunderer]

Genuine sports car performance and handling, eh?

0-60 9 seconds


Getting out-dragged by a Nissan Leaf.

https://rbwevcars.com/models-rbw-roadster-gt/

Edited by Jim the Sunderer on Thursday 8th October 07:34

[DonkeyApple]

A1VDY said:

Mr Tidy said:

Those pictures say it all - it's an MGB!

Presumably rear drum brakes for authenticity.

They were a mediocre 60s car that BL kept going into the 80s when they were just laughable!

^
This
What really is the point in this?
The car was always a pos in every respect, making it EV just makes it even worse..

It seems logical. The only cars on the M40 that you ever see doing a constant 50mph are EVs and MGBs

Does seem a lightly odd choice of visual wrapper. It’s not a shape that has ever really ever attracted the big shopper. £90k to pretend to be a bearded teacher or mid level accountant who couldn’t stretch to an E Type seems a lot when you can get a dead man’s jacket from an Oxfam shop and stitch on some elbow patches and achieve the same look.

[benzinbob]

Oh good, a shiny new toaster

[ZX10R NIN]

So it has better range then the original & all it'll need is a charge to get it going again.

[chickensoup]

Brilliant man-maths
pay £90K for an MGB to save £12.50 per day on ULEZ

[Jader1973]

I suspect these are Heritage shells with all new components, which probably contributes to the silly cost.

The E Type section mentions supplying your own car, no mention of that on the “MGB” section.

[sisu]

e600 said:

Top speed 80mph?

Yeah..
If MG's are your thing, for £69,000 - £88,000 Frontline Motorsports do a MX5 running gear conversion. Restomod 2.5l that does 160mph that stops and goes around corners.

[DonkeyApple]

sisu said:

Yeah..
If MG's are your thing, for £69,000 - £88,000 Frontline Motorsports do a MX5 running gear conversion. Restomod 2.5l that does 160mph that stops and goes around corners.

That seems much more sensible.