Revived and Electrified: The MGB Returns with V8 and Electric Options
Roll out the red carpet and sound the trumpets, folks! We're in for a kingly celebration, as I’m about to write about a car powered by – brace yourselves – a V8 or electricity! And if that’s not regal enough, it’s a resurrection of the MGB. It’s like automotive Lazarus!
Frontline Cars, bless their mechanical hearts, are gracing us with not one, but two restomod MGBs, both showing off in their alluring GT, hardtop form. Meet the LE60, a hot rod harboring a V8, and its sibling, the MG Bee, a svelte, all-electric version weighing merely 2,614 lbs (1,186 kg), still maintaining its manual transmission like a champ.
I know, that’s a tad heavier than the original, but come on, it’s lighter than the Abarth 500e which tips the scales at a whopping 3,108 lbs (1,410 kg). Plus, whether you’re feeling electric or a bit vroom-vroom, Frontline Cars gifts you a perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Balancing act, anyone?
Now, let’s talk power, my friends. The LE60, bless its roaring heart, sources its vigor from a Rover V8, offering a bountiful 375 hp (280 kW/380 PS) and 297 lb-ft (403 Nm) of torque. That’s nearly four times more than the engine it’s replacing! And, oh boy, it can dart to 60 mph (96 km/h) in four seconds flat. Speed demons, rejoice!
In comparison, our electric pal, the MG Bee, is more of a Sunday cruiser. Don’t be fooled, it still packs a punch with 114 hp (85 kW/115 PS) and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) of torque, clocking a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 8.8 seconds. Slower than its V8 sibling, sure, but still quicker than the original MGB could ever dream of!
What sets the Bee apart in the electric buzz is its unique motor, offering torque akin to an internal combustion engine. That means, you still get to play with a five-speed manual transmission! Yes, you can be lazy and stick it in third, but where’s the fun in that when you can shift through gears and exploit the full 9,000 RPM of the electric motor’s torque curve?
The Bee houses a 40 kWh battery, offering a range up to 140 miles (225 km), and can be recharged in five hours using a domestic 7 kW charger. That’s enough for a joyride and a coffee break!
Whether you’re feeling the spark with the electric or lusting over the V8, the MGB will be meticulously restored. Frontline Cars will be working their magic on the body work and pampering the interior with leather and high-quality materials.
Eager to get your hands on one? Deliveries of the Bee and the LE60 are set to buzz in 2024. But be quick, there will only be 30 examples of the V8-powered hot rod. For the fortunate ones already owning an MGB, restoration services are available!
Yours truly,
Captain Electro
