Meyers Manx EV dune buggy the new $190k electrified king of cool

September 11, 2024 Iain Curry 8732 Views 2.0 ev, manx 2.0, manx ev, meyers manx ev

US brand Meyers Manx has unveiled an electric version of its legendary dune buggy at this year’s Goodwood Revival in the UK.

This pre-production ‘2.0 EV’ version heralds “the unveiling of the future of the iconic brand,” suggesting buyers should soon be able to get their hands on their own open-top funster.

The epitome of freedom, fun and sexy, this modern, emissions-free reworking of the Sixties classic is the coolest EV we’ve seen since the Tamiya Wild One dune buggy.

Damn cool videos are on Meyers’ website here – where you’re able to reserve one for a US$1000 deposit. It says prices start from – gulp – US$125,000, or roughly $190,000 in our money, for the finished article.

Still totally worth it.

Meyers Manx 2.0 EV Pre-production dune buggy

No word, sadly, on if they’ll be available in markets outside the US, and the Goodwood car was a left-hooker rather than our preferred right-hand-drive.

Manx’s website says 200km range is standard, while at Goodwood it was reported a 40kWh battery could offer up to 480km between charges.

Either way, you’ll no doubt drain through battery reserves jumpin’ dunes or enjoying sandy circle work in a way Steve McQueen would be proud.

Back in 2022 we were promised these Meyers Manx EVs would hit 100km/h in under five seconds, thanks to 150kW/325Nm delivered by two rear-mount motors – one over each wheel.

2023 Meyers Manx 2.0 Electric — Meyers Manx 2.0 Electric

Optimistic promises of just a 750kg kerb weight is ludicrously light in EV land, but that’s thanks to an all-aluminium monocoque, barely-there interior and diminutive 3.1-metre length.

Expect independent rear suspension, disc brakes front and rear, regen braking, 6kW onboard charging and DC fast charging up to 60kW.

We were also promised in 2022 they’d be on sale by now, but these days what EV from startups/revived names isn’t delayed or canned completely?

For the sake of just how wonderful an electric beach buggy would be – and how knee-tremblingly beautiful this new version appears – let’s hope signs stay positive that these pricey toys are coming to a sand dune near you soon.

Iain Curry

A motoring writer and photographer for two decades, Iain started in print magazines in London as editor of Performance BMW and features writer for BMW Car, GT Porsche and 4Drive magazines. His love of motor sport and high performance petrol cars was rudely interrupted in 2011 when he was one of the first journalists to drive BMW's 1 Series ActiveE EV, and has been testing hybrids, PHEVs and EVs for Australian newspapers ever since. Based near Noosa in Queensland, his weekly newspaper articles cover new vehicle reviews and consumer advice, while his photography is regularly seen on the pages of glossy magazines.