Tesla 2nd-generation Roadster guide: a serious upgrade to the original
Imagine that it’s 2008. You just saw Step Brothers and you’re driving home in your brand new Tesla Roadster, blasting “Low” by Flo Rida and T-Pain as you turn heads at every light. Look at you in your sporty new electric vehicle; who knew they could be so cool!
The original Tesla Roadster captured people’s imaginations and offered consumers a glimpse into an all-electric future led by a fairly new US automaker called Tesla. Over a decade later, the same company sits as the most valuable automaker in the world by market cap.
As a nod to its past powered by its insanely speedy future, Tesla has reimagined its original Roadster with an upcoming 2nd-generation version. Here’s everything we know so far.
Table of contents
History of the new Tesla Roadster
In 2011, nearing the end of the production cycle of the original Tesla Roadster, CEO Elon Musk already began speaking to plans for a revamped version built from the ground up by Tesla.
By 2014, the US automaker was already teasing the new Roadster, and by 2016 it had been confirmed as in the works.
During a Tesla Semi event in November 2017, the 2nd-generation Roadster was unveiled as it drove out the back of the Semi.
While the original delivery was scheduled for 2020, Musk shared during a quarterly results call that production would begin at the Fremont factory in California over the following 12 to 18 months.
By early 2021, Roadster delivery was once again delayed to 2022. Not to be outdone, Tesla once again delayed its second generation Roadster, this time to 2023 alongside a big “if.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk explained that this new 2023 deadline will also depend whether 2022 will prove not to have too much drama:
2021 has been the year of super crazy supply chain shortages, so it wouldn’t matter if we had 17 new products, as none would ship. Assuming 2022 is not mega drama, new Roadster should ship in 2023.
You can view the 2017 unveiling in its entirety here:
Performance specs
So far, the new Tesla Roadster comes in one single trim, although Musk shared that these specs were only the base model when Tesla unveiled the EV in 2017.
The upcoming version of the new Roadster will utilize a tri motor powertrain, and could quite possibly feature new motor technology Musk has recently teased. These motors will offer 10,000 Nm of torque.
It’s currently being advertised with a range of 620 miles. This number will be one to keep an eye on as the 2nd-generation Roadster inches closer to production, because Tesla’s highest achieved range so far has been 405 miles on the refreshed Model S Long Range.
Tesla previously promised 520+ miles of range on the short lived Model S Plaid+, but that trim was nixed because according to Musk, Tesla determined drivers don’t need more than 400 miles of range.
All but likely range aside, the new Tesla Roadster has the makings of a speed demon, quite possibly the fastest production car ever. With an advertised top speed of more than 250 mph, this EV was initially announced to travel 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds and 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds.
However, Musk shared an update this past May teasing “SpaceX Mode” with cold air thrusters and the potential to go 0-60 mph in… 1.1 seconds. We have seen zero evidence so far, but that would be an insurmountable feat of speed if it was in fact true.
It’ll be interesting to see where that 0-60 time officially lands because the Model S Plaid is currently cooking at a 0-60 mph time of 1.99 seconds. So I suppose we can expect the new Roadster’s time to land somewhere between 1.90-1.98?
Other features
Per the initial debut presentation, the Roadster is actually a four seater despite its compact supercar frame. Musk was pretty honest from the get-go, however, explaining that two small people or one larger person can probably fit back there.
The new Roadster will also double as a convertible, with a removable glass roof that can be stored in the EV’s trunk.
How much does the new 2nd-generation Tesla Roadster weigh?
Unfortunately, Tesla has not shared those granular specs on the new Roadster yet, so we don’t know how much this EV will weigh yet.
The first-generation Roadster weighed 2,723 lbs. but this new version should weigh significantly more. With a similar body type to the Model S along with a tri motor powertrain like the Plaid, we’d expect the gen. 2 Roadster to weigh in somewhere between 4,400 and 4,700 lbs.
Check out how the other current Teslas stack up on the scale here.
How much does the new Tesla Roadster cost?
The new Tesla Roadster will debut as the automaker’s most expensive EV to date. It begins at a base price of $200,000.
Right now there is no customization configurator available for potential customers, so we do not yet know what sort of customizable options or add-ons will be available to up that base price even further.
Founder’s Edition Roadster
For an extra $50,000, customers can purchase the Founder’s Edition Tesla Roadster. We’re not sure what’s different about this model, but with only 1,000 listed as being produced, it should instantly become a collector’s item.
How does that stack up against the other Tesla models? Check out our Tesla pricing guide here.
When is the new Tesla Roadster scheduled to arrive?
When the 2nd-generation Roadster was initially unveiled in 2017, Tesla listed 2020 as the release timeline. We all know how that year went.
Musk has said that Tesla is working on designing an upgraded production version of the original EV unveiled, but the public has not seen it yet.
In January 2021, Tesla shared that the new Roadster had been delayed to 2022 for a start of production.
Most recently, Tesla again came forth and revealed that the Roadster 2.0 has now been delayed to 2023, and will only hit that target if Tesla does not face any major issues due to the current supply chain shortage. As the situation sits right now, that’s a big “if.”
2nd-generation Roadster FAQ
The new Tesla Roadster will be a larger, faster, and more technologically advanced version of its predecessor.
If it actually delivers the 620-mile range, that will blow away the 244-mile estimate range on the original.
Since the first-generation Tesla could only hit a top speed of 125 mph, the new version promises to far surpass that and potentially become the fastest production vehicle on the planet, not just for EVs.
No. Although the Tesla Cybertruck has now been delayed until 2022, it appears much closer to reaching volume production. Especially after Giga Texas is complete. Elon Musk has previous mentioned a focus on the Cybertruck when speaking to the delays of the Roadster, so it’s safe to say Cybertruck holds priority in its release date.
Great question. We’re not sure, but we’d guess probably not at this point. Tesla hasn’t mentioned any sort of free unlimited Supercharging for new customers since 2020.
You never know though, because for $200k+, it’s not the most unreasonable ask.
We don’t see why not. All of Tesla’s other EVs are available for lease. However, we cannot say for certain until more details about the Roadster come to light.
Either way, you’re going to want to do your homework with our guide to determine if a Tesla lease is the best option vs. buying. Especially on a vehicle as expensive (and potentially as coveted) as the new Roadster.
The Founder’s Edition is definitely going to be a no.
