The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a celebration of all things fast, and for the past few years, that means more and more electric vehicles. From electric crop sowers to classic Ferrari’s sporting Tesla powertrains, let’s take a look at some of the highlights from this year’s edition.
NEOM McLaren’s Extreme E race car
Okay so you can’t buy it, but it was our first chance of seeing an Extreme E car in the flesh, and it did not disappoint. It was somewhat overshadowed by the fact McLaren had their ‘triple crown’ winning cars also on the stand, but still mighty impressive.
ORA Funky Cat
A car that divides opinions, there’s no denying the ORA Funky Cat’s quirkiness. Smaller than most EVs on the market, it’s got some stiff competition in the Fiat 500, the Kia Niro, or the VW ID 3. The Funky Cat has a claimed range of around 193 miles, and a relatively affordable price of just under £32,000. If you want to learn more, read our review of the ORA Funky Cat.
HiPhi Y
Thought gullwing doors were dead? Think again. Chinese brand HiPhi is bringing them back in their own style. To access the rear seats, the frameless doors open normally, but then the half-gullwing style part of the roof opens up, allowing you complete access to the back. Whether it’s just a novelty or not, time will tell, but with a claimed range of 500 miles, there may be more to the Y than just its looks.
Alpine A110 Eternité
A personal highlight from the show, the electric version of the classic A110 hasn’t lost any of the flair it’s renowned for – just maybe the blue paint. It uses the batteries from a Mégane E-Tech but with its own casing design, and is packed with features like ‘Overtake’ and a double clutch solution to avoid a break in torque when changing gears.
Electric classic cars: Ferrari Testarossa
Stripping out the ICE (internal combustion engine) and surrounding parts and replacing them with a Tesla powertrain is a bold move in any car – let alone a Ferrari Testarossa. But why not bring something classic into the future? I wonder if they do 1992 Peugeot 205s…
Renault 5 Diamant
Looking like something straight out of the Barbie world, the Renault 5 Diamant is a show car concept rather than production, but it didn’t stop us from taking a peek inside. Complete with a marble effect steering wheel and diamante-effect headlights, it’s certainly something you should see in person to appreciate.
Caterham Project V
Caterham’s first electric car, the Project V is an exciting prospect from the brand. “Lightweight and fun to drive,” is the aim of the game, with a 200kW motor mounted in the rear axle, and 55kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It certainly looks the part, so keep an eye out for 2026 when they hope to bring it to market.
NIO ET5
The same NIO from Formula E has made the ET5, which is described as a “mid-size electric sedan”. It was certainly among the smaller EVs at the event and refreshing to see something not so SUV focused. An all-glass roof and frameless windows give it a sleek aesthetic, and the 150kW battery gives an estimated 1,000km range, which if accurate, is very impressive.
Jaguar I-PACE R-Dynamic HSE Black
Jaguar is well-known for using their success in Formula E and the learnings from the track to help develop their road cars, even the SUVs. The I-PACE R-Dynamic, uses track-honed regenerative braking, alongside materials and lubricants used in their Formula E race cars. Granted, it costs a hefty amount but it is a luxurious model.
Polestar 3
Making its debut at Goodwood, the Polestar 3 is a rather striking SUV – a first from the brand. It has some stiff competition in the market, but with an estimated 300 miles of range and 517 hp that’ll certainly be enticing if you’ve got deep enough pockets.
