Tesla Roadster (second generation) explained

Tesla Roadster
Manufacturer:Tesla, Inc.
Designer:Franz von Holzhausen
Class:Sports car (S)
Body Style:2-door coupe
Layout:Tri-motor, all-wheel drive
Motor:Three electric motors (one front, two rear)
Battery:200 kWh
Electric Range:1000km (1,000miles)
Predecessor:Tesla Roadster (first generation)

The Tesla Roadster is an upcoming battery electric four-seater sports car to be built by Tesla, Inc. The company said it will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds.[1] [2] The Roadster is the successor to Tesla's first production car, the 2008 Roadster.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that the Roadster should ship in 2025.[3] 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."

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 Elise chassis, would return to production by 2014.[4] The new Roadster was first teased in 2014.[5] At the time, it was also referred to as the Tesla Model R.[6]

In 2015, Musk suggested a new Roadster, capable of faster acceleration.[7] [8] [9] A tweet by Musk in December 2016 reconfirmed a second Roadster was in the works, but still "some years away".[10] [11] The second Roadster was designed by Franz von Holzhausen.[12]

A prototype of the Roadster was shown in a surprise moment at the end of the Tesla Semi event on November 16, 2017, with an announced availability in the year 2020 at the starting price of US$200,000.[13] [14] 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."[15] 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.[15] [16] [17] [18] Additional information followed after the teaser, such as the various world-record speeds Tesla said it will break.[19] [20] [21] [22]

In June 2018, Musk revealed a potential feature called "SpaceX option package" for the Roadster.[23] 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.[24] [25] [26] Working pressure would be 10000psi.[27]

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.[28]

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.[29]

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".[30] In September 2021, Musk said that production would be delayed until 2023.[31] Musk further confirmed the 2023 target at the 2021 shareholder's meeting in October,[32] which was then changed to 2024 at the May 2023 shareholder's meeting.[33] In February 2024, the production date was changed to 2025.[34]

Pre-order marketing

Pre-orders of the Roadster began in 2017, with a $50,000 deposit required.[15] 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.[35] [36]

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.[15] [37] 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.[38]

Design

The second-generation Tesla Roadster is a 2+2 coupé[39] 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.[15]

The Roadster has three electric motors: one in the front and two in the rear,[15] allowing for all-wheel drive, and torque vectoring during cornering. The vehicle will have a 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 620-1NaN-1 range on a single charge at highway speeds. Tesla said the torque at the wheels was 10000abbr=onNaNabbr=on. The rear wheels are larger than the front wheels.[40]

Performance

Musk made the following statements regarding the prototype Roadster's acceleration:

Its stated 0to time will be 8.88 seconds, with a top speed above 250mph.[44] [45] If the production Roadster achieves these performance numbers, it will outperform the supercars of 2019. 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". 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– in less than 1 second, without specifying if the "SpaceX package" would be an option or not.[46] [47]

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."[48] Morsy's analysis directly contradicts Musk, who had stated earlier in the year "this is what we are achieving in the prototype".

Venkat Viswanathan, a mechanical engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University,[49] told Jalopnik that the 1.9 second figure for 0– seemed reasonable given the estimated battery weight of 833kg (1,836lb). He added that the feasibility of the acceleration claim assumed suitable tires would be available for the required traction.[50]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Acceleration times:
    • 1.9s: standing start 0–, without rollout allowance.
    • 1.9s: rolling start ~6–, with 1-foot rollout allowance
  2. 1144241444435238913. 2.1 sec 0–60 mph is base model before adding rocket thruster option. June 27, 2019. Elon. Musk. elonmusk. Elon Musk.
  3. .
  4. News: Tesla Roadster to return in 2014 . Jaime . Keene . October 31, 2011 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117124448/https://www.theverge.com/2011/10/31/2527364/tesla-roadster-resume-production-available-2014 . November 17, 2017.
  5. News: Tesla Roadster next-gen: Elon Musk considers target under 2-second for 'Maximum Plaid'. Fred . Lambert . June 13, 2017 . electrek. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117175503/https://electrek.co/2017/06/13/tesla-roadster-next-gen-elon-musk-maximum-plaid/. November 17, 2017 .
  6. Web site: By 2020, Tesla Could Be Selling 5 Electric Models Simultaneously . Eric Loveday . September 3, 2014 . Inside EVs . March 15, 2019 . April 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190404224603/https://insideevs.com/2020-tesla-selling-5-electric-models-simultaneously/ . live .
  7. Web site: Three Dog Day . Elon . Musk . . July 17, 2015 . August 30, 2015 . August 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150824204142/http://www.teslamotors.com/blog/three-dog-day . live .
  8. News: Tesla Motors Will Launch All-New 'Maximum Plaid' Roadster Within Four Years . Brandon . Hill . HotHardware . July 18, 2015 . August 31, 2015 . June 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200622074445/https://hothardware.com/news/tesla-launching-all-new-maximum-plaid-roadster-within-four-years . dead .
  9. News: Tesla will launch a new roadster in 4 years (with nod to 'Spaceballs') . Chris . Perkins . Mashable . July 18, 2015 . August 31, 2015 . September 6, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150906002005/http://mashable.com/2015/07/17/new-tesla-roadster/ . live .
  10. News: New Tesla Roadster Planned, Says Elon Musk . Jonathon . Klein . . US . December 28, 2016 . June 2, 2017 . May 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170527082131/http://www.motortrend.com/news/elon-musk-confirms-new-roadster/ . live .
  11. elonmusk . 812440156531662848 . @jelleprins Some years away, but yes . Elon . Musk . December 23, 2016 . June 1, 2017.
  12. News: Tesla Roadster Sounds Incredible But Will It Be That Good? . Mark . Vaughn . November 17, 2017 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117175637/http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/tesla-roadster-sounds-incredible-it . November 17, 2017.
  13. Web site: Tesla unveils the new Roadster. Darrell. Etherington. November 17, 2017 . TechCrunch.
  14. Web site: For $200,000, Tesla will sell you the 'world's fastest' consumer car . Hamza . Shaban . November 17, 2017 . . November 20, 2017 . November 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171120235134/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/11/17/for-200000-tesla-will-sell-you-the-worlds-fastest-consumer-car/ . live .
  15. Web site: Tesla Roadster: nine things we know about the 'smackdown to gasoline cars'. Samuel. Gibbs. November 17, 2017 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117132834/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/17/tesla-roadster-electric-supercar-elon-musk-fast. November 17, 2017 .
  16. News: Tesla unveils new Roadster. Maclean. Andrew. November 17, 2017 . Drive . November 18, 2017 . en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171119165455/https://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/tesla-unveils-new-roadster-116378 . November 19, 2017.
  17. Web site: Surprise! Tesla Announces New Roadster Amid Electric Truck Reveal . NewsFactor . en . November 18, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171119165455/https://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=106686 . November 19, 2017 .
  18. Web site: All-new Tesla Roadster STEALS The SEMI's Show – Musk Plants A Flag In The Ground To END ICE Vehicles For Good . AutoSpies Auto News . en. November 18, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118073628/http://www.autospies.com/news/All-new-Tesla-Roadster-STEALS-The-SEMI-s-Show-Musk-Plants-A-Flag-In-The-Ground-To-END-ICE-Vehicles-For-Good-94795/. November 18, 2017.
  19. News: Tesla's insanely fast Model S just got faster, ludicrously faster . Jon . Jivan . July 17, 2015. electrek . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117174943/https://electrek.co/2015/07/17/teslas-insanely-fast-model-s-just-got-faster-ludicrously-faster/. November 17, 2017 .
  20. News: It's official: Tesla is launching a new Roadster in four years. Ziegler. Chris. July 17, 2015. The Verge. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117175500/https://www.theverge.com/2015/7/17/8994649/new-tesla-roadster-four-years. November 17, 2017 .
  21. News: 2019 Tesla Roadster: Elon Musk hints at two second 0–60 target . James . Brodie . June 16, 2017 . Auto Express . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170922054030/http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/99251/2019-tesla-roadster-elon-musk-hints-at-two-second-0-60-target. September 22, 2017 .
  22. News: Tesla's next Roadster will be one of the quickest cars in the world . Ronan . Glon. December 28, 2016 . Digital Trends . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621140720/https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/2019-tesla-roadster-performance-specs-news-range/. June 21, 2017 .
  23. News: SpaceX option package for 2020 Tesla Roadster could add more performance . Jonathon . Ramsey . Auto Blog . US . June 9, 2018 . July 14, 2018 . July 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180713201815/https://www.autoblog.com/2018/06/09/tesla-roadster-spacex-option-package-performance/ . live .
  24. News: Elon Musk is serious about adding thrusters to the new Tesla Roadster, the option will replace the back seats . Fred . Lambert . June 10, 2018 . Electrek . June 12, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612015701/https://electrek.co/2018/06/10/tesla-roadster-elon-musk-thruster-backseat/ . live .
  25. News: Elon Musk Says Tesla's Next Roadster Will Feature Actual SpaceX Rocket Thrusters . David Z. . Morris . Fortune Magazine . June 10, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . June 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180611165930/http://fortune.com/2018/06/10/musk-tesla-roadster-spacex-rocket-thrusters/ . live .
  26. News: Elon Musk is 100 percent serious about Roadster thrusters . Andrew . Krok . CNET . Roadshow . June 11, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612125709/https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-thrusters-very-serious/ . live .
  27. Elon. Musk. Elon Musk. Joe Rogan. Elon Musk. The Joe Rogan Experience. September 7, 2018. September 8, 2018. 1169. offset: 1.14:46–1.15:25. 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. September 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180908120030/http://podcasts.joerogan.net/podcasts/elon-musk. live.
  28. News: Tesla's next-gen Roadster unleashes Jay Leno's inner child in 'Jay Leno's Garage' segment. Steve. Hanley. CleanTechnica. October 23, 2019. October 23, 2019. October 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191024051558/https://cleantechnica.com/2018/08/20/new-tesla-roadster-featured-on-jay-lenos-garage-august-23/. live.
  29. News: Elon Musk hints at Tesla Roadster production in California within 12–18 months . Fred . Lambert . July 22, 2020 . Electrek . July 23, 2020 . July 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200723032254/https://electrek.co/2020/07/22/tesla-roadster-elon-musk-production-california-12-18-months/ . live .
  30. Web site: Porter. Jon. 2021-01-29. Tesla Roadster production delayed to 2022. 2021-01-29. The Verge. en. January 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129125027/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/29/22255902/tesla-roadster-production-2022-elon-musk-ceo-tweet. live.
  31. Web site: 2021-09-01 . Elon Musk: Tesla Roadster Delayed (Again), This Time to 2023 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210903004810/https://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-roadster-delayed-again-2023-elon-musk-twitter/ . September 3, 2021 . 2021-09-03 . MotorTrend . en.
  32. Web site: 2021 Shareholder Meeting. 2021-10-11. Tesla. en.
  33. Web site: Merano . Maria . 2023-05-17 . Elon Musk sets expectations for next-gen Tesla Roadster production . 2023-05-17 . TESLARATI . en-US.
  34. Web site: Fitzgerald . Jack . February 28, 2024 . Tesla Roadster Can Hit 60 MPH under 1 Second, Coming Next Year, Claims Musk . March 1, 2024 . Car and Driver.
  35. News: Tesla Is Offering People A Free Next Generation Roadster (If You Sell 50 Cars For Them) . Justin T. . Westbrook. July 12, 2017 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171117174844/https://jalopnik.com/tesla-is-offering-people-a-free-next-generation-roadste-1796866266. November 17, 2017 .
  36. News: Tesla updates its referral program to include solar panels, new prizes, removing $1,000 credit on cars. Fred . Lambert. September 28, 2017. electrek. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117175442/https://electrek.co/2017/09/28/tesla-referral-program-solar-panels-1000-credit-cars/. November 17, 2017 .
  37. Web site: Roadster Tesla . Tesla . US . https://web.archive.org/web/20200510115946/https://www.tesla.com/roadster . 2020-05-10.
  38. Web site: Roadster Tesla . Tesla . US . https://web.archive.org/web/20221017115946/https://www.tesla.com/roadster . 2022-10-17.
  39. News: The New Tesla Roadster Isn't Actually A Roadster . Tom . McParland . Jalopnik . US . November 17, 2017 . March 23, 2019 . November 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108194733/https://jalopnik.com/the-new-tesla-roadster-isn-t-actually-a-roadster-1820545274 . live .
  40. News: Tesla's Next-Gen Roadster: A (speculative) technical look at the car that will "smack down" gasoline powered cars. November 20, 2017. November 22, 2017. Electrek. Jameson. Dow. 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).. November 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171126075102/https://electrek.co/2017/11/20/teslas-next-gen-roadster-technical-analysis/. live.
  41. elonmusk . Musk . Elon . 1395474465794838528 . 0 to 100 km/h in 1.1 . May 20, 2021 . August 17, 2021.
  42. elonmusk . Musk . Elon . 1144241444435238913 . 2.1 sec 0–60 mph is base model before adding rocket thruster option . June 27, 2019.
  43. Web site: Roadster . Tesla . US . 2023-01-22.
  44. News: Tracy . David . Here's What A Battery Researcher Told Us About The Tesla Roadster's Crazy Performance Claims . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171118090127/https://jalopnik.com/heres-what-a-battery-researcher-told-us-about-the-tesla-1820558723 . November 18, 2017 . November 18, 2017 . . en-US.
  45. News: November 17, 2017 . Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Semi, Roadster in 'Smackdown to Gasoline Cars' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171119075700/https://nerdist.com/elon-musk-tesla-semi-roadster/ . November 19, 2017 . November 18, 2017 . Nerdist . en.
  46. 1762716007913652650 . elonmusk . Tonight, we radically increased the design goals for the new Tesla Roadster. There will never be another car like this, if you could even call it a car. . Elon . Musk . February 28, 2024 . June 17, 2024.
  47. 1762718427775410295 . elonmusk . 0-60mph < 1 sec And that is the least interesting part . Elon . Musk . February 28, 2024 . June 17, 2024.
  48. News: Tesla's Newest Promises Break the Laws of Batteries . Tom . Randall . John . Lippert . Bloomberg . November 24, 2017 . June 12, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162559/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-24/tesla-s-newest-promises-break-the-laws-of-batteries . live .
  49. Web site: Venkat Viswanathan . Carnegie Mellon University . June 12, 2018 . June 12, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162245/https://www.meche.engineering.cmu.edu/faculty/viswanathan.html . live .
  50. Web site: Here's What A Battery Researcher Told Us About The Tesla Roadster's Crazy Performance Claims . David . Tracy . Jalopnik . November 17, 2017 . June 12, 2018 . November 18, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171118090127/https://jalopnik.com/heres-what-a-battery-researcher-told-us-about-the-tesla-1820558723 . live .

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