Tesla Roadster
Overview
Tesla Roadster is a two-seat high-performance electric sports car produced and announced by the American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. The first-generation model launched in 2008 was the world's first electric vehicle to apply lithium-ion batteries in large quantities to a mass-produced car, proving that electric vehicles could possess driving performance and brand value beyond being eco-friendly. In 2017, the second-generation Roadster was unveiled, becoming a hot topic in the auto industry with target performance of 0-100 km/h acceleration in 1.9 seconds and a maximum range of about 1,000 km.
Key details
First-generation Roadster (2008–2012)
The first-generation Roadster was developed based on the lightweight sports car 'Elise' platform of British Lotus. A prototype was unveiled in 2006, and full-scale mass production began in 2008. It was equipped with a battery pack combining about 6,831 18650 cylindrical lithium-ion cells, and the early model's EPA-rated range was about 393 km, reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in about 3.9 seconds. In 2010, the 'Roadster Sport' with improved output and range was added, and in 2011, various battery options such as 40 kWh and 60 kWh were offered. After the launch of Model S, the lineup was reorganized, and production ended in January 2012; cumulative production reached about 2,450 units.
Second-generation Roadster (2017– )
The second-generation Roadster, surprise-unveiled at the end of Tesla's Semi presentation in November 2017, is the highest-performance vehicle Tesla has announced for production. It was announced with targets of 0-60 mph (about 96 km/h) in 1.9 seconds, 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds, 1/4 mile in 8.8 seconds, a top speed of over 400 km/h, and a range of about 1,000 km (620 miles), using a tri-motor AWD drivetrain with three electric motors and a battery of about 200 kWh capacity. Wheel torque was advertised as reaching 10,000 Nm. Pricing was set at $200,000 for the base model and $250,000 for the Founders Series, with reservation deposits of $50,000 for the regular model and $250,000 for the Founders Series. The SpaceX option package was also mentioned as a specification applying cold gas thrusters to assist acceleration, cornering, and braking performance.
Design and technical characteristics
The Roadster is a model symbolizing the evolution of Tesla's battery and drive technology. The first generation used 18650 cells, and Tesla later evolved to 2170 cells and 4680 cells. The second-generation Roadster features a carbon-fiber-based lightweight body, a 2+2 seating configuration, and a large glass roof. In addition, the Roadster is evaluated as having played a decisive role in Tesla building its brand image in the high-performance electric vehicle market.
Latest trends
As of 2024–2025, the second-generation Roadster has still not been mass-produced. Elon Musk mentioned the launch timing several times, but the schedule continued to be delayed, and even after suggesting the possibility of a '2025 launch' in early 2024, specific mass production plans were not confirmed. Musk also mentioned at shareholder meetings and elsewhere that the Roadster could demonstrate something close to flight, but this is not content confirmed as official product specifications. Many of those who reserved in 2017 have been in a waiting state for over eight years, and some have requested refunds of their deposits. Tesla appears to have pushed Roadster development down the priority list while concentrating resources on its main lineup such as Cybertruck, the refreshed Model 3 (Highland), Model Y, and autonomous driving software. Nevertheless, the Roadster remains a symbolic benchmark for electric vehicle performance, and the first-generation model is traded as a classic electric car commanding a premium in the collector market due to its scarcity.
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