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 $74,000 while the even simpler Restorer NEV is available from $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. So, what do you get for your $74,000?
Read: Meyers Manx Buggy From The ’60s Returns In EV Form With A 300-Mile Range
For starters, it is underpinned by an aluminum monocoque chassis and will be offered with 20 kWh and 40 kWh battery options, providing 150 miles (241 km) and 300 miles (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 240 lb-ft (325 Nm) of torque. The company says the car can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in as little as 4.5 seconds.
Meyes Manx 2.0
Meyers Manx 2.0
Headline figures of 202 hp and 240 lb-ft may not seem all that impressive. However, the 20 kWh version weighs just 1,500 lbs (680 kg) while the 40 kWh version is a mere 1,650 lbs (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 $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.
