The Tesla Roadster may have been unveiled in 2017, but looking at the delayed timeline it is on, the wait may as well be eternal. The wait is now going to be extended to 2022, though originally, the Roadster was supposed to hit markets by 2020.
Other than COVID-19 and all the tragedy it is causing to lives and finances, Elon Musk also says that it makes more sense to first get the Cybertruck and the Tesla Semi electric truck out and about, before getting to the Roadster. According to Musk, the Roadster is the desert at Tesla’s electric buffet, so it makes perfect sense to first get the meat, potatoes, greens, and gravy out before you dig into the sweet flavors.
With Coronavirus having put a spanner in the works of the world economy in general, especially affecting the automobile sector, the Roadster's eventual arrival is anyone’s guess. Meanwhile, if you are still stuck on it, here are ten things you may not have known about the much-lauded and almost legendary Tesla Roadster.
10 Its Technology Is Growing By Leaps & Bounds
The Roadster 2008 was already very futuristic; so the Roadster 2022 has to be above and beyond. There’s a glass trunk that can be placed on the roof, and there are tons of cameras and sensors abounding within and on the outside. Driving a Roadster may just be akin to owning a Mach plane in a world that runs on Boeing giants. You are going to be way faster, way more technical and way more environmentally savvy than the rest, so the Roadster is a cut above.
9 Fastest Production Car Ever?
If the Tesla Roadster can do what it promises, a 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, then the Bugattis and Porsches and Ferraris of the world can simply give up now, and retire from the stable. Or the garage. With a 250-mph top speed, the Tesla Roadster is near insane and to top it, Elon Musk claims there will be a special options package available that can take the car even faster, and probably to the moon if Space X has anything to do with it. Do we need a car this fast? Who cares, because, YOLO.
8 The Roadster Will Have Three Electric Motors
As of the latest news in the market, the Tesla Roadster will have three electric motors as part of a plaid tri-motor drivetrain: one motor in the front and two motors at the back that will synchronize for an all-wheel-drive. These three motors will also have double the range of the ones put in the Model S, and so also allow for torque vectoring. The bigger back wheels as opposed to the smaller front wheels also add in further stability, and the Roadster is already sounding like an utter dream.
7 Finally, An Autonomous Driving Car
When you think of a Tesla, you think of the best technology ever. The Roadster will not disappoint in features and tech, though the wait may end up proving too much for car lovers the world over. The Roadster, however, may not need great driving skills from the driver, because it will come with Tesla’s latest autonomous driving technology that has eight cameras for full 360-degree visibility, that extends to a whopping 800 feet. With a forward-facing radar (not kidding) and 12 ultrasonic sensors, it may just be the safest car ever.
6 Not A Four Seater But A 2+2
The Tesla Roadster technically seats four. The back seats aren’t all that big, so it can comfortably seat two children, rather than two more adults. Called a 2+2 seater rather than a four-seater, it follows the seating arrangement also seen in other sports cars like the Porsche 911 and Audi TT Coupe. In all other aspects, it’s very practical. The Roadster also has a digital dashboard in the front, mounted on the center, with hardly any buttons since everything will be controlled by the touchscreen. Easy, peasy.
5 The Range Is Going To Be 620 Miles
Tesla has to surpass what it originally planned for the Roadster, and now, with the 200-kWh battery, the Roadster is likely to have a whopping, unheard of range of 620 miles. While this is not a round trip to the moon, it does make for a round trip to another city or state, on a single charge. However, this is still a claim considering the car is yet to be released and till now, not even the best of EVs has not been able to surpass the 350-mile range.
4 The Roadster May Also Be A Convertible
You can turn the Roadster into a convertible because it will come with a removable glass roof that can be easily stowed in the trunk in a special compartment/storage. How cool is that? On a hot summer day, a glass roof can put a serious dent on the aircon, especially in an EV. So its best to remove it and let the wind ruffle your hair. Also, while the Roadster does not need side view mirrors because of all those cameras, it will still have them due to regulations, only they will be removable, magnetic and add to the aerodynamics of the car.
3 For $200,000 It's Not Crazy Expensive
Yes, as far as Teslas are concerned, the Roadster is the most expensive one at $200,000. But have you looked at its features and that battery range? For $200,000, you never need to spend another dime on gas, only on electricity. And with a 250-mph top speed and a 0-60 mph flash of 1.9 seconds, it stands at par with other hypercars of today, like the Mclaren 720S, that costs more than $300,000 and is certainly not as fast. Forget Ford v Ferrari, the war will be the Tesla Roadster vs. every other hypercar.
2 The Roadster Is Bursting With Features
The powertrain will be an all-wheel-drive, meaning the Roadster will be steady even in inclement weather, making it a practical daily driver. While it’s a sports car, it also boasts a decently sized trunk, enough for two carry-on bags to fit in, making it perfect for a family car as well, as long as the family is small. The door handles, the bane of almost all car owners' lives, aren't really there. Meaning, they are virtual, and the door will open with nothing more than a finger swipe. How awesome will that be?
1 Forget The Concept. The Production Will Blow Minds
The 2008 Tesla Roadster was cool. Snazzy for its time, and ahead of the competition. The 2021/2022 Roadster promises to be something almost out of this world, and if it is even a fraction of all that is promises to be, this may be a game-changer in the automobile world of the future. Yes, it has created quite the storm in the automobile industry of today, but for now, everyone is waiting and watching to see if it delivers on all that it promises. Elon Musk is sure it will...