Skip to main content

Tesla Roadster: everything we know so far

Teslas are already known for being sleek and fast, but there’s an even sleeker and even faster model on the way as Tesla is reviving the beloved Tesla Roadster. The original Tesla Roadster was the company’s first car and was essentially a Tesla powertrain in the body of a Lotus Elise. But the new Roadster is its own thing — and it’s been designed from the ground up.

The new car was first announced as a concept all the way back in 2017, and was originally set to be available starting in 2020. That, obviously, didn’t happen, but we haven’t forgotten about what’s set to be the coolest Tesla yet.

Recommended Videos

Tesla Roadster design

The new Tesla Roadster is set to be the most stylish Tesla yet, at least based on the concepts we’ve seen so far. It’ll have an aerodynamic two-door coupe design and a low center of gravity, giving it a sporty and modern look. The car will come with four seats, allowing for more passengers than the original Roadster’s two-seater setup, however, we’re not expecting the rear two seats to be particularly roomy. The car will also have more aggressive styling than the previous model and 19-inch wheels.

Tesla Roadster
Tesla

The interior design of the 2023 Tesla Roadster will also get a number of tweaks compared to previous Teslas. It’ll feature an all-new dashboard and center console, as well as improved materials and comforts like heated seats and a panoramic roof. Unlike some previous Teslas, the Roadster will seemingly offer a display built into the center console, rather than a floating display. Like some of Tesla’s other cars, the Roadster may get a yoke instead of a traditional steering wheel, though that may also come as an option. Of course, all of this remains subject to change — and given the fact that it has now been six years since the Roadster was announced, with no actual release in sight, it would be shocking if some design aspects didn’t change.

Tesla Roadster performance

Performance-wise, the Tesla Roadster will be a beast. It’s set to have an impressive zero-to-60 time of 1.9 seconds from its three electric motors and a top speed of 250 mph, though that’ll likely be limited for safety reasons. The car will also have a range of 620 miles on a single charge, making it the longest-range electric vehicle in production, if it were to be released now.

Tesla Roadster
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The final piece of the puzzle is Autopilot, Tesla’s semiautonomous driving system. The company hasn’t officially announced whether or not it’ll be available on the Roadster, but it’s likely that it will be included in some form. On most Tesla models, basic Autopilot is included by default, essentially offering a version of an adaptive cruise control. Users then have to pay for more advanced self-driving systems, like Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving (which doesn’t really fully drive itself yet).

Tesla Roadster price and release date

While the Tesla Roadster was originally announced in 2017 with a planned release date of 2020, that window has come and gone. At some point, we were expecting a 2023 release, however that’s not going to happen either. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to when the Tesla Roadster finally launches to the public, especially considering the fact that Tesla seems more focused on Cybertruck production right now. Hopefully, Tesla makes good on the promise of the Roadster before announcing and launching more models.

Tesla says that the base price for the Roadster will be $200,000, with prices ranging up from there. There will also be a so-called Founder’s Edition, which will cost $250,000. We don’t yet know exactly what the difference between the two will be.

Of course, by the time the Roadster does eventually come out, other electric cars may have taken its place as the fastest or the one with the longest range as plenty of other companies have committed to releasing their own high-performance electric cars. But the Tesla Roadster will likely still be one of the most impressive EVs out there, and a great option for those who want speed and range without having to sacrifice style.

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Watch 902 Teslas perform a funky light show in Finland
watch 902 teslas perform a funky light show in finland tesla

Yes, Tesla light shows are a thing, and there's a video to prove it.

Organized by the Tesla Club Finland and taking place at a racetrack in Espoo, west of Helsinki, the show used 902 Teslas to entertain thousands of spectators with a dazzling display of light and color set to various music tracks.

Read more
The Tesla Supercharger network is expanding again
Teslas parked using the Tesla Superchargers.

EV owners worried about getting stranded before their next charge may breathe a bit easier now: The Tesla Supercharger network has resumed its expansion over the last three months, after massive layoffs at Tesla had led to a slide in new stalls earlier this year.Tesla opened 2,800 new Supercharger stalls globally during the three-month period ending September 30, an increase of 23% from the year earlier, according to the company’s official Tesla Charging account on X (formerly Twitter).Tesla also delivered 1.4 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy during the third quarter, which translates to 27% year-over-year growth. The Tesla Charging account said the amount of energy delivered enabled Tesla owners to save over 150 million gallons of gasoline, offsetting more than 3 billion pounds of CO2.According to the website Supercharge.info, which relies on user contributions to track the opening of new stalls, there were 2,677 Supercharger stations in North America at the end of September, 125 more than at the end of the third quarter.The additions of new stalls, however, comes in the wake of a 31% slide in the second quarter, after a massive round of firings at the company removed 500 employees from the Supercharger team in April.The third-quarter expansion should still go some ways to appease the concerns of Tesla and non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) owners, as EV manufacturers are lining up in droves to be able to use the Supercharger network.In September, General Motors electric vehicles made by Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac joined the growing list of vehicles to have adopted Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). The network already allows access, via adapters, to EVs made by Ford, Rivian, Honda and Volvo. The likes of Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo and Jaguar have also signed agreements to start allowing access in 2025.
The Tesla map of Superchargers across the U.S. reveals they are concentrated in major cities and across East-West transit corridors.According to Tesla, a Supercharger can add up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.

Read more
Tesla has to fix another issue with the Cybertruck
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla is fixing an issue with the rearview mirror on 27,000 Cybertrucks.

A recall report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that affected vehicles include those manufactured between November 13, 2023, and September 14, 2024, suggesting that pretty much all of the Cybertrucks on the road require the fix.

Read more