The first-generation Tesla Roadster was based on the underpinnings of the Lotus Elise. The Roadster earned the distinction of being the first highway-legal production all-electric vehicle. But for me, the Roadster is the vehicle that crank-started the electric car revolution.
Elon Musk took the wraps off the next-generation Tesla Roadster with much aplomb. Here are the reasons why the 2020 Tesla Roadster is the most anticipated electric car to date.
It’s got the looks
The previous-generation Tesla Roadster is not an ugly car to begin with, but it was still based on a familiar body style. Elon Musk wants the new Roadster to have an all-original design, and I must say Tesla nailed it in terms of sporty looks and desirability.
Just look at it. If the production model stays true to the luscious curves of the prototype model, then you have a supercar that won’t look out of place when parked beside a Bugatti Veyron, McLaren 720S, or even a Porsche 911.
And if you look closely, you’ll see (or not see) the new Roadster has no side mirrors and no door handles. At this point, we’re guessing Tesla will give the new Roadster cameras instead of conventional side mirrors. As for the door handles, the production model won’t have those. Instead, the doors open by gliding your finger on a sensor near the base of the B-pillar.
The Tesla Roadster offers record-breaking performance
No Tesla vehicle is complete without insane performance numbers. As it turns out, the Tesla Roadster is no different.
The new car is expected to achieve a 0 to 60 mph time of 1.9-seconds and 0 to 100 mph in 4.2-seconds. The new Tesla Roadster has a top speed of 250 mph. It can scoot the quarter mile in 8.8-seconds. This is what 10,000 Nm of torque can do.
Yes, the Tesla Roadster reputably produces 10,000 Newton-meters or a bewildering 7,375 pound-feet of torque. Those are insane numbers and are unmatched in the world of exotic hyper supercars.
Those numbers are comparable to the Pininfarina Battista with 1,900-horsepower and 0 to 60 mph in less than two seconds. But there’s a catch: the Battista costs upwards of $2.6 million while the Tesla Roadster is only $200,000.
It has the longest range in an electric car
But the new Tesla Roadster (or Roadster v2.0) is not only seriously quick. It comes with a large 200 kWh battery pack for a maximum range of 620-miles (997 kilometers). This beats any production electric car at the moment.
It’s an all-wheel-drive hyper-sports car
The new Tesla Roadster is equipped with three electric motors, with one in the front and two in the rear. This means all-weather traction and grip in a low-slung electric sports car. This all-wheel-drive setup also ensures superior handling and better high-speed stability.
It has a removable roof
The Tesla Roadster is pretty much similar to the Porsche 918. It has a removable glass roof to turn the Roadster coupe into a marvelous convertible. The removable glass roof stores neatly in the trunk of the Tesla Roadster so you can bring it anywhere as needed.
It has four proper seats
We seriously doubt if the Tesla Roadster has enough room for two adults in the tight rear quarters. But it’s good to know the car will come with four proper seats. We’ll have to wait for the production model Roadster to discern if the rear cabin is cozy enough for longer journeys.
It can be ordered with the Space X Package
Elon Musk owns both Tesla and rocket maker Space X. So it’s only fitting to offer the new Tesla roadster with the Space X Package.
This means Musk will outfit the new Roadster with cold gas thrusters straight from the comic book realm. The technology is there, so we doubt this is merely a marketing ploy. You can expect nothing but crazy in the new version of the Roadster.
Without a doubt, the new Roadster is the most highly-anticipated Tesla electric vehicle barring the Tesla pickup truck. You can reserve your 2020 Tesla Roadster for $50,000 with initial deliveries beginning in 2020.