Originally set to ship in 2020, the release has been delayed multiple times. In early 2024, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the Roadster should unveil at the end of 2024, and ship in 2025,[5] but in October 2024, he said that the Roadster is further delayed.[6] Musk said that higher-performance trim levels will be available beyond the base specifications, including a SpaceX package that would "include ~10 small rocket cold air thrusters arranged seamlessly around the car" which would allow for dramatic improvements in "acceleration, top speed, braking & cornering," and such as a 1.1 second 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) time,[7] and "maybe ... even allow a Tesla to fly".
Overview
History
In 2011, at the end of the production run of the original Tesla Roadster, Musk suggested that a new version of the Roadster, without the Lotus Elisechassis, could return to production by 2014.[8] The new Roadster was first teased in 2014.[9] At the time, it was also referred to as the Tesla Model R.[10]
In 2015, Musk suggested a new Roadster as early as 2019, capable of faster acceleration.[11][12][13] A tweet by Musk in December 2016 said that a second Roadster was in Tesla plans, but still "some years away".[14][15] The second Roadster was designed by Franz von Holzhausen.[16]
A prototype of the Roadster was shown in a surprise moment at the end of the Tesla Semi event on November 16, 2017, during in which a Roadster was driven out of the back of one of the semi-truck trailers to the song "Sabotage,[17] with a tease of availability in the year 2020 at the starting price of US$200,000.[18][19] Musk explained the concept as: "The point of doing this is to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars. Driving a gasoline sports car is going to feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche."[20] Test rides were given at the event for those who immediately paid the first $5,000 of a $50,000 deposit to pre-order the vehicle.[20][21][22][23] Additional information followed after the teaser, such as the various world-record speeds Tesla said it would break.[24][25][26][27]
In June 2018, Musk revealed a potential feature called "SpaceX option package" for the Roadster.[28] This would add around ten cold gas thrusters to the car to improve maneuverability; it would comprise an electric pump to recharge an air tank used to provide compressed air flowing through propelling nozzles to generate a cold jet thrust. The air tanks, based on "composite overwrapped pressure vessel" (COPV) also used in the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, would replace the back seats. The thrusters would be used to improve cornering, acceleration, top speed, and braking.[29][30][31] Working pressure would be 10,000 psi (690 bar).[32]
On the series 4, episode 12 of Jay Leno's Garage broadcast on August 23, 2018, featured Jay Leno inside the Tesla Roadster prototype along with its designer Franz von Holzhausen.[33]
On June 27, 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk Tweeted that a "2.1 sec 0-60 mph was the base model before adding (the SpaceX) rocket thruster option".
During the 2020 second quarter financial results conference call, Musk stated that Tesla plans to tentatively build the Roadster in California and production would be in the next 12 to 18 months.[34]
In January 2021, Musk tweeted that production would be delayed until 2022. He commented that in 2021, the company would finish engineering the Roadster with the goal of having a "candidate design drivable late summer".[35] In September 2021, Musk said that production would be delayed until 2023.[36] Musk further confirmed the 2023 target at the 2021 shareholder's meeting in October,[37] which was then changed to 2024 at the May 2023 shareholder's meeting.[38] In February 2024, the production date was changed to 2025.[39]
In February 2024, Elon Musk posted on X that: the production version of the Roadster would be unveiled in late 2024; deliveries would begin in early 2025; the car would be able accelerate to 60 mph in under 1 second;[40] and steer-by-wire similar to the Cybertruck would be included.[41]
Pre-order marketing
Pre-orders of the Roadster began in 2017, with a $50,000 deposit required.[20] Tesla owners taking part in the referral promotion program began accumulating discounts toward the purchase of a Roadster based on the number of referrals. Those reaching 55 confirmed referrals obtained a 100% rebate toward a future Roadster purchase.[42][43]
Price
The base model was initially listed on Tesla's website at $200,000, but the first 1,000 to be produced, known as the Founder's Series, will be priced at $250,000.[20][44] Full payment would be required to pre-order the latter vehicle. The price was later removed from the website, leaving only the deposit/reservation price of the base model as $50,000.[45]
Design
Second-generation Tesla Roadster interior
The second-generation Tesla Roadster is a 2+2coupé[46] with a removable glass roof. It was designed by Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's chief designer who has been responsible for most Tesla vehicles. The Roadster has a 2+2 seating arrangement, with smaller rear seats for two passengers.[20]
The Roadster has three electric motors: one in the front and two in the rear,[20] allowing for all-wheel drive, and torque vectoring during cornering. The vehicle will have a 200 kWh battery, twice the capacity of the largest battery in an existing Tesla car (the Tesla Model S or Model X), and much larger than the 123 kWh battery of the Tesla Cybertruck. The Roadster will have a 620 miles (1,000 km) range on a single charge at highway speeds. Tesla said the torque at the wheels was 7,400 lb⋅ft (10,000 N⋅m). The rear wheels are larger than the front wheels.[47]
Performance
Second-generation Tesla Roadster (2019)Tesla Roadster seen on the 2020 Tesla Battery Day Event
Musk made the following statements regarding the prototype Roadster's acceleration:
0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 1.1 seconds with a rocket thruster option added (without specifying if this includes a 1-foot rollout).[48]
0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 2.1 seconds for the base model before adding rocket thruster option (without specifying if this includes a 1-foot rollout).[49] Tesla's website later stated 1.9 seconds.[3]
Its stated 0 to 1⁄4 mile (0 to 400 metres) time will be 8.88 seconds, with a top speed above 250 mph (400 km/h).[50][51] If the production Roadster achieves these performance numbers, it will outperform the supercars of 2019, and would set new production car records, none of which had yet done better than 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 2.0 seconds or 9.0 seconds in the 1/4 mile. Referring to the performance, Musk stated, "this is what we are achieving in the prototype"; he also indicated performance may improve in the production model and that the stated numbers refer to the anticipated "base model".[50][51] The updated Model S Plaid released in 2021 set several production car records with performance statistics close to those anticipated by the Roadster.
In February 2024, Musk stated on X that the new design goal for the production Roadster included an acceleration of 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in less than 1 second, without specifying if the "SpaceX package" would be an option or not.[52][53]
Analysis
Research completed in 2017 by Bloomberg L.P. indicates that the estimate as to the range per charge is optimistic, based on comments from Salim Morsy, the electric vehicle analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. In an article titled Tesla's Newest Promises Break the Laws of Batteries, Morsy indicated that the claimed battery capacity would require batteries that would be too large for the Roadster's small frame. "I don't think the car you saw last week had the full 200 kilowatt hours in it. I don't think it's physically possible to do that right now."[54] Morsy's analysis directly contradicts Musk, who had stated earlier in the year "this is what we are achieving in the prototype".[50][51]
Venkat Viswanathan, a mechanical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University,[55] told Jalopnik that the 1.9 second figure for 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) seemed reasonable given the estimated battery weight of 1,836 pounds (833 kg). He added that the feasibility of the acceleration claim assumed suitable tires would be available for the required traction.[56]
^Maclean, Andrew (November 17, 2017). "Tesla unveils new Roadster". Drive. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
^Musk, Elon (September 7, 2018). "Elon Musk"(offset: 1.14:46–1.15:25). The Joe Rogan Experience (Interview). No. 1169. Interviewed by Joe Rogan. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018. The next generation Roadster, … where you put rocket thrusters on it … ultra high compressed air … cold gas thrusters … electric pump … pump it up to like 10,000 psi … could make it fly
^Dow, Jameson (November 20, 2017). "Tesla's Next-Gen Roadster: A (speculative) technical look at the car that will "smack down" gasoline powered cars". Electrek. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017. tires on the prototype are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 325/30ZR21 (104Y) rear and 295/35ZR20 front. These have a "Y" speed rating, which means they have a maximum speed of "over (300kmph)." They are the same tires used on the Porsche 918 Spyder (which has a /340kmph top speed).
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