Tesla 2nd-generation Roadster guide: a serious upgrade to the original
- by Electrek
- Aug 11, 2021
- 0 Comments
- 0 Likes Flag 0 Of 5
History of the new Tesla Roadster
In 2011, nearing the end of the production cycle of the original Tesla Roadster, CEO Elon Musk already began speaking to plans for a revamped version built from the ground up by Tesla.
By 2014, the US automaker was already teasing the new Roadster, and by 2016 it had been confirmed as in the works.
During a Tesla Semi event in November 2017, the 2nd-generation Roadster was unveiled as it drove out the back of the Semi.
While the original delivery was scheduled for 2020, Musk shared during a quarterly results call that production would begin at the Fremont factory in California over the following 12 to 18 months.
By early 2021, Roadster delivery was once again delayed to 2022. Not to be outdone, Tesla once again delayed its second generation Roadster, this time to 2023 alongside a big “if.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that this new 2023 deadline will also depend whether 2022 will prove not to have too much drama:
2021 has been the year of super crazy supply chain shortages, so it wouldn’t matter if we had 17 new products, as none would ship. Assuming 2022 is not mega drama, new Roadster should ship in 2023.
You can view the 2017 unveiling in its entirety here:
Performance specs
So far, the new Tesla Roadster comes in one single trim, although Musk shared that these specs were only the base model when Tesla unveiled the EV in 2017.
The upcoming version of the new Roadster will utilize a tri motor powertrain, and could quite possibly feature new motor technology Musk has recently teased. These motors will offer 10,000 Nm of torque.
It’s currently being advertised with a range of 620 miles. This number will be one to keep an eye on as the 2nd-generation Roadster inches closer to production, because Tesla’s highest achieved range so far has been 405 miles on the refreshed Model S Long Range.
Tesla previously promised 520+ miles of range on the short lived Model S Plaid+, but that trim was nixed because according to Musk, Tesla determined drivers don’t need more than 400 miles of range.
All but likely range aside, the new Tesla Roadster has the makings of a speed demon, quite possibly the fastest production car ever. With an advertised top speed of more than 250 mph, this EV was initially announced to travel 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds and 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds.
However, Musk shared an update this past May teasing “SpaceX Mode” with cold air thrusters and the potential to go 0-60 mph in… 1.1 seconds. We have seen zero evidence so far, but that would be an insurmountable feat of speed if it was in fact true.
It’ll be interesting to see where that 0-60 time officially lands because the Model S Plaid is currently cooking at a 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds. So I suppose we can expect the new Roadster’s time to land somewhere between 1.90-1.98?
Other features
Per the initial debut presentation, the Roadster is actually a four seater despite its compact supercar frame. Musk was pretty honest from the get-go, however, explaining that two small people or one larger person can probably fit back there.
The new Roadster will also double as a convertible, with a removable glass roof that can be stored in the EV’s trunk.
How much does the new 2nd-generation Tesla Roadster weigh?
Unfortunately, Tesla has not shared those granular specs on the new Roadster yet, so we don’t know how much this EV will weigh yet.
The first-generation Roadster weighed 2,723 lbs. but this new version should weigh significantly more. With a similar body type to the Model S along with a tri motor powertrain like the Plaid, we’d expect the gen. 2 Roadster to weigh in somewhere between 4,400 and 4,700 lbs.
Please first to comment
Related Post
Stay Connected
Tweets by elonmuskTo get the latest tweets please make sure you are logged in on X on this browser.
Sponsored
Popular Post
Tesla: Buy This Dip, Energy Growth And Margin Recovery Are Vastly Underappreciated
28 ViewsJul 29 ,2024