US electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is preparing to unveil the second generation of its electric sports car, the Roadster, on October 1. The company announced the project nine years ago and initially planned to launch it six years ago. Tesla shared a teaser message on its social media accounts, accompanied by a mysterious image and a link to its website, which features a new logo inspired by science fiction.
The teaser image suggests that the new Roadster will have a sporty rear design with a large rear wing and a light bar that spans the width of the car. The design appears to have four elements that resemble thrust outlets. Some versions of the new Roadster may include a limited-edition model with cold gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX. This technology generates thrust by releasing high-pressure gas through a nozzle without combustion.
The new Roadster will not be based on the Tesla Model S Plaid, as initially planned. Instead, it will be a fully carbon fiber supercar focused on performance, similar to electric supercars like the Rimac Nevera and Lotus Evija. The current Model S Plaid has a three-motor powertrain producing 1,006 horsepower, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in under two seconds, with a top speed of 200 mph and a range of over 520 miles.
Tesla has not disclosed the final specifications of the new Roadster, but it may feature four motors like the Rimac Nevera. The company previously announced that the new Roadster would have a range of up to 620 miles thanks to a large 200 kWh battery. However, this information is no longer available on Tesla's website. The company claims that the new design can store more electricity while maintaining the same dimensions.
The new Roadster will have a removable glass roof panel that can be stored in the trunk, rather than a traditional retractable hardtop or soft-top design. It is unclear if the production version will retain this design feature or adopt advanced technologies like rocket propulsion. Tesla began accepting reservations for the new Roadster in 2017, with a base price of $200,000 and a $50,000 deposit.
A special "Founders Series" edition of the Roadster will be limited to 1,000 units, priced at $250,000, requiring customers to pay the full amount upfront. However, due to inflation and engineering costs, the final price of the new Roadster may exceed the initial estimates. The company aims to deliver the new Roadster with advanced performance capabilities and a unique design.
The unveiling of the new Roadster marks a significant milestone for Tesla, which has been working on the project for nearly a decade. The company's focus on electric performance vehicles has driven innovation in the industry, and the new Roadster is expected to set new standards for electric sports cars. With its advanced design and technology, the new Roadster is poised to make a significant impact in the automotive market.
Key points
- The new Tesla Roadster is set to be unveiled on October 1, after a six-year delay.
- The new Roadster will have a sporty rear design and may feature advanced technologies like rocket propulsion.
- The final price of the new Roadster may exceed initial estimates due to inflation and engineering costs.
