Tesla drops a new Roadster at its semi reveal
Elon Musk surprised everyone during the reveal of Tesla’s electric semi, he unveiled just one more thing—a new Tesla Roadster set for the 2020 model year. Now, Tesla doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to meeting deadlines or delivering on all its promises, but boy does this thing look sexy—both in the metal and on paper.
Musk said the Roadster would hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 1.9 seconds. The Roadster will hit 100 mph in only 4.1 seconds and have a top speed north of 250 mph. A quarter-mile run happens in 8.8 seconds. These are performance numbers for “the base model.” This could mean there could be a high-performance version of the Roadster, but we can’t even begin to fathom those types of performance numbers.
The 2020 Tesla Roadster will make 7,376 lb-ft of torque from its three motors—one in the front and two in the rear. This means the Roadster is all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 200-kWh battery, giving the car a range of 620 miles of highway range. Of course, your mileage will vary depending on how heavy your foot is.
The Roadster starts at $200,000. There will be 1,000 Founders Series models at launch, which will start at $250,000. As with any Tesla, you can reserve one right now. A base model needs at $50,000 while a Founders Series requires the full $250,000 to be deposited.
The 2020 Tesla Roadster is certainly impressive, but mainstream automakers are also pushing into electrification. If Tesla cannot hit delivery in 2020, it gives other automakers such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz to bring their EVs to market—whether they are sedans or sports cars.