The Tesla Roadster reveal event went off without a hitch, despite the automotive acrobatics on display.
Prototypes of the car, which Elon Musk said will be in production in 2028, were shown climbing a 60-foot wall and hanging upside down using vacuum technology, and jumping over other vehicles with cold gas thrusters.
The thrusters also aid in acceleration, and a Roadster was demonstrated sprinting from 0-60 mph in .81 seconds, which Tesla said is equivalent to .67 seconds when subtracting the one-foot rollout typically used for acceleration timing. The Roadster is still more than a year away from production, however, and it did not clarify any of the demo cars’ specifications, including weight.
After the event, it did release projected 0-60 times and a few other specs for the full lineup of three trims that will be offered, however.
The base two-seat Performance model, which is propelled purely by electric motors, is listed at <1.6 seconds, while a Thrust model that adds rear thrusters but can’t fly, can do it in <.9 secs.
The top-of-the-line single-seat Rocket – which has the full thruster package that allows it to leave the ground, but is “Not approved for public road use” – is formally rated at <.59 secs.
Tesla also said the range will be greater than 300 miles per charge, which is less than half the original 2017 Roadster concept’s claimed 620 miles, and that the Rocket model will be able to go faster than 230 mph. During the presentation, Elon Musk told Tesla’s top engineer that he wants it to do Mach .5, or 380 mph, by the time production begins.
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For reference, the quickest production car ever sold is the the $2.5 million all-electric Rimac Nevera R, which has a 2,107 hp all-wheel drivetrain and can do 0-60 mph in 1.66 seconds.
Pricing for the Roadsters hasn’t been announced, but reservations are being accepted with a $50,000 deposit.
