Tesla’s next-generation Roadster made its long-awaited debut last week, and while the demonstration was jaw-dropping, the reveal left plenty of questions unanswered.
Ahead of the reveal, Top Gear, Hagerty and MotorTrend were given access to the prototype, interviewing Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen and VP of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy.
Performance: Two motors, rear-wheel drive and up to 1,500 hp
Unlike the now-discontinued Plaid, the Roadster uses just two electric motors, both mounted at the rear axle. The combined output exceeds one megawatt, although reported horsepower figures differ. Hagerty quoted 1,341 hp, Top Gear reported approximately 1,350 bhp for the Performance model, while Moravy told Top Gear and MotorTrend the powertrain produces around 1,500 hp.
Torque figures also vary, with Moravy citing more than 1,400 Nm to Hagerty and 1,348 Nm to MotorTrend.
Top speed remains similarly unsettled. Moravy told Top Gear the current car is capable of 214 mph (344 km/h), while von Holzhausen suggested approximately 220 mph (354 km/h) for the base version. Tesla’s reveal-night specifications exceed 230 mph (370 km/h), while a 330 mph (531 km/h) version remains a development target.
Musk has since raised expectations further, suggesting the Roadster could eventually reach approximately 400 mph (644 km/h).
Battery and charging: Custom 4680 cells and over 500 kW
The Roadster uses specially developed 4680 battery cells featuring a high-power chemistry, aluminum casings and double-sided cooling.
Tesla has not finalized a publicly confirmed battery capacity. MotorTrend reported that it exceeds 100 kWh, while Moravy suggested a driving range of approximately 310 to 320 miles (499 to 515 km), well below the originally planned 620 miles (1,000 km) from 2017.
Moravy described charging rates exceeding 500 kW using Tesla’s fourth-generation Superchargers, with the interviews revealing a target of 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 10 minutes, an impressive feat if it is achieved in the consumer version.
Chassis and interior: Active aerodynamics and lightweight construction
Tesla is targeting a weight below 1,700 kg (3,750 lbs), using carbon fibre, aluminum, magnesium and titanium throughout the vehicle.
One of the Roadster’s most unusual features is its four-fan suction system. Each fan is expected to produce approximately 20 kW and works with independently controlled skirts beneath the car to generate downforce even when stationary.
Moravy claims the system by itself could sustain more than 2 g of cornering force at speeds below 80 km/h.
Inside, the Roadster has two seats rather than the 2+2 layout of the original concept. The seats are largely fixed into the structure, with adjustable pedals and steering controls replacing conventional powered seat adjustment.
Von Holzhausen also told MotorTrend that “this will do a limited version of FSD,” even though the cameras and hardware are there, pointing to the Roadster’s extreme windshield and its focus on being a performance driving car.
Thrusters: SpaceX technology and three increasingly extreme configurations
Tesla’s website currently lists three Roadster configurations: Performance, Thrust and Rocket.
However, Moravy and von Holzhausen described four versions during their interviews, including a less powerful base Roadster. That entry-level version has not been confirmed for production.
The Thrust configuration adds a 200-litre carbon-fibre pressure vessel capable of holding up to 10,000 psi, supplying four rear-mounted cold-gas thrusters.
Moravy described more than 80,000 newtons of thrust, comparable to the output of a fighter jet engine.
The gas supply remains an important unanswered question. Musk suggested during the reveal that the car could replenish its own compressed-air supply, while Moravy described a system requiring externally supplied high-pressure nitrogen.
According to Tesla it will take as much as six hours to refill the Roadster’s complete 600-litre system. Tesla hopes to reduce the process to approximately 30 minutes.
The Rocket configuration adds another 400-litre pressure vessel and six additional thrusters, turning the Roadster into a single-seater capable of flight.
Tesla’s Canadian website advertises acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under one second for Thrust, while its U.S. website also says 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under one second. On reveal night, Tesla listed less than 0.9 seconds to 60 mph for Thrust and less than 0.59 seconds for Rocket.
Moravy separately told Hagerty about a 0.55-second acceleration figure using rollout.
Tesla says the Rocket is not approved for public roads. Moravy indicated the Thrust model is intended to be road-certified, although its thrusters would not be usable on public roads.
Production and timing: Giga Texas in 2028
The Roadster was first revealed in 2017 with a planned production start a few years later. Now nearly a decade later, production of the new next-generation Roadster is still a few years away. Tesla is targeting 2028 production at Giga Texas, where Moravy says the Roadster will have its own dedicated building, called Roadster Factory Texas.
Pricing remains unconfirmed, and Tesla is still determining how invitations will work for the most extreme configurations.
Related Articles:
- Tesla Roadster finally revealed with thrusters, sub-one-second acceleration and ability to fly…actually
- Tesla’s Roadster Can Actually Fly – Here’s How
- Tesla Roadster’s Fan Suction System Generates Enough Downforce to Hold It Upside Down
- Tesla confirms next-generation Roadster will be built at Giga Texas – but when?
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