Tesla finished up its Semi reveal by starting up an unexpected Roadster reveal. Just mind-blowing specs for Tesla Roadster 1.9 second 0-to-60; 4.2 second 0-to-100; 250 mph+ top speed; 620 miles hwy range. Coming in 2020, they say. (Click on the image to see whole gallery.) Roadster_Targa_Open by Domenick posted Nov 17, 2017 at 12:39 AM
The new Roadster is a rocket. Here's a 0-to-70 run inside the Roadster from Drag Times. He owns a P100D (and a McLaren 720S), and felt the Roadster was much quicker. "No comparison."
Utterly beautiful. Have to fit a steering wheel air bag at some point. Also noted that it borrowed the uncircumcised clues from the Mission E. Like that its just the base model. Going to add a 4th motor at some point. Is a hard core smack down of gas cars! Looks like it will handle! And with 4 seats and plenty of storage and better than gas car range. And maybe you can charge it with a mega charger for better than mission E or gas equivalent recharge rate. Some Eclipse and Solstice cues T marqee looks great on hood- generally like logo free but This will hit Porsche and all the rest hard. Tesla will now also own the super car mind share spot as well. I didn't see the attack on rail coming so quick as well but that is what it did. Will force rail to buy the new 7 megawat full range and load electric locomotives to compete.
I looks good, but I'm not sure about the front. The splitter area is complicated. However, this thing will fly by practically anything so the back is what most people will see- and I really like the back. As always, just wish it was loud. Has the Tesla Roadster legacy been cemented (or at least concrete poured)? If so, the first roadster is looking a lot more collectible...
I believe the first Roadster is definitely becoming more collectible. At one point you could probably find one for $50,000 or so. Not anymore. Do you think the new Roadster affects (increases) the desirability of the first one?
I do indeed! A revamped roadster turns the original car from a singular specialty into a potential bloodline I think so, but not sure how practical or useful it is in this application. Splitters have become more of a design element than a functioning feature- like extra exhaust tips on 4 cylinder ICE cars
Fastest, quickest car in the world? I think the price is good if it can keep up a hard pace without overheating. Consider the Rimac Concept_one is $1 million-ish.
It's all about production numbers, and we have yet to see it's true speed around a track. It's fast, but how well does it drive?
Yup. Handling dynamics are important, especially now that straight line performance is well and truly handled. I need to learn more about this 200 kWh battery pack. Is it two Model S packs? (Doubt it, since that would be way too heavy) Is it a different chemistry? What's the deal? Handling and heat management are the two important factors to consider now.
Found another Roadster ride-along video with some interesting information coming from the driver who, he says, races cars for a living. Regarding that 1.9 second 0-to-60 time? "That figure's conservative. It's faster than that." Brakes, on the concept, he says, are Brembos the same dimension as LaFerrari's. He also mentions that it can do that kind of acceleration all night long, which gives me hope that cooling is improved over earlier Tesla products.
All night long with short test runs like that is not super impressive, but I will give it the benefit of the doubt
1/4 mile runs would certainly more impressive, for sure. I remember Rimac put the Concept_One up to a bunch of races against a Porsche 918, with no problem, but the German car ran into some difficulties after 10 or so runs. Overheating, if memory serves.
I'm no car collector, but my guess is the effect would be to increase the value of those older cars still in excellent condition as a car collector would want; but once the new version is on sale, the resale value of those with visible signs of wear and tear would be depressed... because anyone could buy a new one. As with any collectible, the value is greater the older the item is, and the fewer which were produced. With the Tesla Roadster, fairly few were made (~2450), but they're not that old. Cars are not considered "antique", at least not by the government, until they're at least 25 years old. The oldest (year 2008) Roadsters have 16 years to go!
Mostly I wanted to have it available for the curious to see. Personally, I like the performance numbers more than the exterior design. It's an interesting shape, considering those numbers, though. They didn't go the exotica route. There are no flying buttresses, no "lambo" doors. No scoops or vents. No active aero bits. Instead, they went for a compact shape with nice taut body work. I'm quite amenable to this approach, though I've seen one person call it the new Mitsubishi Eclipse. (Personally, I'd have made mention of the A80 Supra if I'd wanted to engage in that kind of snarkiness, but I see his point too, 'round the rear.)
Two issues 1) The final steering wheel must be round otherwise too awkward to corner 2) Where are the windshield wipers?. The prototype has a single wiper directly on the glass. Must be hidden