Tesla's Next-Gen Roadster Drives Upside Down, Briefly Flies and Hits 60 mph in Under a Second at Demo
At an event in Waco, Texas, Tesla showed its next-generation Roadster electric supercar driving upside down, briefly flying and reaching 60 mph (about 97 km/h) in under a second. The company gave no price or other commercial details.
Electric carmaker Tesla demonstrated its next-generation Roadster sports car at an event in Waco, Texas, in the United States. In the presentation, led by company chief executive Elon Musk, the electric supercar drove upside down, briefly became airborne and accelerated from zero to 60 mph (about 97 km/h) in under a second. Production of the model has still not been confirmed, so it remains unclear what caveats it would carry if it reaches the market.
The event lasted less than 30 minutes and felt more like a stunt show than a product launch. There was no mention of price, trim levels or other standard details.
A long road to the demonstration
Tesla first unveiled a prototype Roadster in 2017, after the presentation of its Semi truck. The promised specifications were 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, a top speed above 250 mph, a 200 kWh battery with up to 620 miles of range, and a starting price of $200,000. Musk said deliveries would begin in 2020.
Early buyers paid $50,000 deposits, or $250,000 for the limited Founders Series, effectively interest-free loans for the company's expansion. Production deadlines slipped as Tesla prioritized mass-market vehicles such as the Model Y while also dealing with the complicated Cybertruck.
From time to time Musk reminded people of the Roadster and raised the promises. This led to the "SpaceX package" with cold-gas thrusters, which would give the car hover ability and a 0-60 mph time of under one second.
Musk has also played down the model's importance, calling it a "small potato situation" that will not "move the needle in a major way financially." He has described it as a joint engineering project between Tesla and the space company SpaceX, and questioned whether it is "even a car anymore." Some analysts believe the Roadster's re-release could be setting the stage for a rumored Tesla-SpaceX merger.
Rivals have moved ahead
Tesla's delay has let other manufacturers pull ahead. Rimac has set performance records with the Nevera, Porsche has refined electric performance with the Taycan, and Chinese makers including BYD are producing track-ready supercars at a fraction of the cost.
