2017-11-17 09:00
Tesla has delivered a major surprise at the launch of its new Semi Truck, by unveiling a new, unannounced version of its electric Roadster sports car.
It’s a next-generation model of Tesla’s first ever car, the original Lotus Elise-based Roadster. The second-generation Roadster has been conceived to “give a hardcore smack down to gasoline cars,” according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
• Tesla’s electric Semi Truck revealed
The new ‘base model’ Roadster will take a record-breaking 1.9 seconds to get from 0-60mph. 0-100mph is completed in 4.2 seconds, quicker than a BMW M4 coupe gets from 0-62mph. A standing quarter mile will be completed in 8.9 seconds, becoming the first production car to do the quarter mile in less than nine seconds. Musk hinted at a version “beyond base model” in the pipeline, possibly for next year.
Power comes from a 200kWh battery pack and three electric motors. Two motors power each of the rear wheels, while a single motor powers the front wheels, making it four-wheel-drive. The new Roadster produces 10,000Nm of torque and has a range of 1,000km (620 miles). Musk didn’t announce the official top speed but said it’s around the 250mph mark.
Musk revealed that it’s a four-seat 2+2 convertible, giving the audience a closer inspection after the press conference. Although he conceded that “giant people” couldn’t fit in the back, he did however boast about the Roadster’s plentiful storage despite its supercar credentials.
The second-generation Roadster will begin production in 2020, with reservations being taken now. The standard Roadster will start out at $45,000 (£34,000) with a Founders Series model - limited to just 1,000 examples - costing $250,000 (£189,000).
Has the new Tesla Roadster caught you by surprise? Let us know what you think of it in the comments...
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