After nearly nine years of waiting, Tesla has finally unveiled its next-generation Roadster electric car. At an October 15th unveiling in Texas, Elon Musk showed off what only recently seemed like science fiction: a car that can take off from the ground, flip in the air, and land safely. The ambitious project was also supported by space technology company SpaceX.
The new Tesla Roadster features a futuristic design inspired by the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft. The car has two seats, integrated into the body, electronically controlled steering and active aerodynamics. The rear wing automatically changes position to provide optimal downforce or reduce air resistance at high speeds.
„The Tesla Roadster will be offered in three trim levels: Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. The base model is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 1.6 seconds, the Thrust in 0.9 seconds, and the top-of-the-line Rocket in just 0.59 seconds. The 0-60-mph time was reported at launch, but this has not yet been independently verified. The claimed top speed is in excess of 230 mph.
The most impressive innovation is a compressed air jet system developed in conjunction with SpaceX, which allows the car to briefly lift off the ground. The most advanced version uses 10 jet nozzles, and two high-pressure tanks hold about 600 liters of compressed air, weighing about 250 kg. The system does not use conventional rocket fuel, and the car will be able to replenish its air reserves independently.
No less interesting technology is hidden under the car. Special fans create a downforce that, according to the manufacturer, can reach 2G and allows the car to remain pressed to the surface even when driving on its wheels upwards. During the presentation, the Roadster also performed a mid-air flip and flew over other Tesla cars. These tricks were demonstrated without a driver in the cabin.
Although the technical capabilities are impressive, some parameters are still not disclosed. Tesla declares a range of more than 480 km on a single charge, but the exact battery capacity and charging power have not yet been announced. Interestingly, the prototype presented in 2017 was promised a range of about 1000 km, so the new model looks much more modest in this regard.
„The Tesla Roadster is available for pre-order now, but final pricing has not yet been announced. The Performance version requires a $50,000 deposit, while the more advanced Thrust version requires a $250,000 deposit. Meanwhile, the single-seat Rocket model, which can perform flight maneuvers, will be available by invitation only. This version is not approved for use on public roads.
The production of the next-generation Tesla Roadster is scheduled to begin in 2028, although the car was originally scheduled to be released in 2020. During this period, the project has been postponed several times, so the new deadline should be viewed with caution. However, the latest presentation showed that Tesla is aiming to create not only one of the fastest electric cars in the world, but also to fundamentally expand the capabilities of a traditional sports car.
