James May Reviews An All-Electric MGB Roadster In The Grand Tour Style We Miss
It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to watch an all-new car review by either Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, or James May on The Grand Tour. With the Amazon show taking a different form with only special-type episodes, we’re unlikely going to see another review from our favourite trio on TV. But this doesn’t mean they won’t be publishing reviews to their site, DriveTribe.
James May is the most recent of the three to get behind the wheel on the company’s YouTube channel, as he reviews the all-electric RBW EV Roadster. Watch the video below:
The RWB is based on the original MGB, with its body panels made from the original tooling. But unlike the original car which had a pretty gutless 1.8-litre four-cylinder, this car is powered by six Hyperdrive Lithium-ion batteries and a single motor that sits at the rear of the car, maintaining a 50:50 weight balance.
May seems happy that RBW EV has chosen an MGB to convert, as there seems to be a neverending supply of these classic cars on the road, unlike other rarer classics. And upon driving the car, he seems even more impressed by the car, insisting that if someone wants an MGB, this EV is probably the way to do it. Of course, this comes at a price, or to be more specific, a £90,000 pricetag.
“The [RBW’s] MGB is quite a nice looking car so they’re part of the history of art and design and people want to celebrate that and that’s fine, so why not electrify them to make them more usable,” James says.
He continues: “A lot of people think they want the Ferrari Daytona but that’s because they haven’t driven one and don’t realise it’s a complete tractor.”
James went on to say of the MG: “This is not a rare car, there are millions of MGs.
“I think the MGB is a nice looking car and they’d only just gone out of production then, because I’m so old.”
Plus, May, who enjoys owning more modern cars like his Tesla Model S and Toyota Mirai, is even more impressed by the fact he’s not waiting for the inevitable breaking down of the MGB saying:
“It’s going to work, it’s electric, there’s nothing to go wrong.
It’s more reliable than a Scalextric car presumably.”
The motor doesn’t give you gallons of power to play with. 60mph comes in at 8.9 seconds, which is almost four seconds faster than the standard engined car, top speed sits at 80mph, which is 25mph off the original, and it has a range of 160 miles. Thankfully, it only takes 8 hours to recharge fully.
Is it worth the 90 grand? Well, James looks suitably impressed, but I think I’d have to drive one to give you my full opinion.
