Automotive

Tesla reveals insanely fast next-gen Roadster

Tesla reveals insanely fast next-gen Roadster
Tesla says the new Roadster will go into production in 2020
Tesla says the new Roadster will go into production in 2020
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The new Telsa Roadster electric convertible will be a four-seater
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The new Telsa Roadster electric convertible will be a four-seater
The base model Tesla Roadster electric sportscar will make 0-60 mph in jus 1.9 seconds
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The base model Tesla Roadster electric sportscar will make 0-60 mph in jus 1.9 seconds
The new Roadster will have 620 miles of highway range. "The point of doing this is just to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars," Musk quipped
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The new Roadster will have 620 miles of highway range. "The point of doing this is just to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars," Musk quipped
Tesla says the new Roadster will go into production in 2020
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Tesla says the new Roadster will go into production in 2020
The 2020 Tesla Roadster will do the quarter mile in under 9 seconds
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The 2020 Tesla Roadster will do the quarter mile in under 9 seconds
The Tesla Roadster is a four-seater convertible capable of a top speed over 250 mph
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The Tesla Roadster is a four-seater convertible capable of a top speed over 250 mph
The all-wheel drive Tesla Roadster will be capable of a ludicrous 10,000 Nm of torque
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The all-wheel drive Tesla Roadster will be capable of a ludicrous 10,000 Nm of torque
View gallery - 7 images

At at Tesla launch event last night, a surprise popped out of its upcoming electric semi-truck as Elon Musk announced the resurrection of the car that started it all – the Tesla Roadster. Based on prototype performance, the next generation Roadster is on track to zoom from 0-60 mph in under 2 seconds, have a top speed of 250+ mph and a single charge range of 620 miles.

Tesla's Roadster first broke cover in July 2006, and was rolled out two years later. The electric sportscar was rated by the EPA as being good for 244 miles (393 km) per charge, it could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0-97 km/h) in under 4 seconds and had a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).

During the reveal, Musk said that the new "base model" Roadster will go from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds and rock the quarter mile in 8.9 seconds (the official specs state 8.8 seconds). He was a little cagey about the top speed, but reckoned it to be above 250 mph.

The 2020 Tesla Roadster will do the quarter mile in under 9 seconds
The 2020 Tesla Roadster will do the quarter mile in under 9 seconds

The new model will have a 200 kWh battery pack for 620 miles of range, which he said would get drivers from LA to San Francisco and back – at highway speeds – on a single charge. "The point of doing this is just to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars," Musk quipped.

There will be three motors, two at the rear and one at the front, and the new all-wheel drive Roadster will be capable of a ludicrous 10,000 Nm of torque. It'll be a four seater too, but Musk admitted that "giant people" simply wouldn't fit in the rear. The removable glass roof can be stored in the trunk during open air driving.

The second generation Roadster is due for release in 2020, and the base model price is going to be US$200,000. Details of non-standard configurations will follow at some point before the first production model hits the highway.

Source: Tesla

Roadster

View gallery - 7 images
25 comments
25 comments
aki009
That's an awesome car.
But I wish Musk would not stretch the truth when he says that he's building it now. If it's delivered in 2020, it sounds more like he'll be building it in 2 years. (And if we apply the by-now common Tesla delivery delay, it'll be more like 2021.)
In the meantime he wants a $50k or $250k deposit. That's Ferrari level pricing from a company that isn't Ferrari.
While I have the Roadster, I won't be jumping on this one quite as readily. I might've if he was talking next year, and I'd been tempted if it were 2019. But 2020? Come on.
Bob
Sounds more hype than fact. How about 620 mile range in a family car?
bhtooefr
aki009: To be entirely fair, he's advertising Bugatti or Koenigsegg-beating performance for less than a Ferrari 488.
JimFox
aki009-- which Ferrari [or any other ICE] will compete against this?? Assuming the performance is as claimed... plus, it's better looking than a Ferrari. $250k DEPOSIT is $50k OVER the asking price- for goodness' sake, get the facts straight! Assuming it won't be on sale by 2020 is mere speculation.
RobertEhresman
Love it! Might need to tuck away 4 or 5 bitcoins for a rainy day.....
Vernon Miles Kerr
Back in the 70s while wielding my slot car controller, how many times did I wish real cars would perform like that. Now it's a reality, but I have a couple of issues with this one. Assuming that all the hype is true, I don't see the aerodynamics to hold the car down while approaching 250 mph. Also that amount of "ludicrous" power has another inherit danger: idiots like me who turn into some kind of insane daredevil at the wheel of a sports car. I reluctantly got rid of my Toyota MR2 Spyder because I couldn't control those urges. Fortunately I didn't hurt myself or other drivers before I hung it up.
Aaron Turpen
Doing some quick math, this car will be pulling about 1.5 Gs to sprint that fast. And it would require a very specialized surface and perfect tires.
Mark Uzick
At some point "investors" will tire of giving money to a company that's destined to only greater and greater losses - that's when the music stops. Getting expensive cool cars way below actual cost is a bargain for wealthy people, but if Tesla goes bankrupt before the delivery date can you get your deposit back?
Gizmowiz
The age of gasoline sports cars is about to end in a crashing heap.
Daishi
Those specs are pretty impressive. I know there are people in the world that wouldn't bat an eye buying one for 300k+. Hopefully they are charging enough for them to make a profit on them. Nothing stops them from making a lower cost sports car later on for people that don't need specs anywhere close to those.
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