When Tesla debuted the new Roadster in 2017, Elon Musk said it would arrive by 2020. Now, it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for the lightning-quick electric convertible.
In an interview with Joe Rogan, Musk said he wants to accomplish several milestones before introducing the Roadster. These include ramping up Model Y production, getting the Gigafactory Berlin built, expanding Gigafactory Shanghai, and importantly, starting production on the Semi. A week ago, we reported that Tesla had pushed the first Semi deliveries to 2021.
Musk also thinks Cybertruck production should start before the Roadster. The last we heard, Tesla will start building the new pickup truck around late 2021.
If all goes according to this latest plan, we may not see the Tesla Roadster until 2022. Fortunately, it looks like it will be worth the wait. The Tesla Roadster’s “Plaid” powertrain is expected to make much more power than the Raven powertrain that’s in the Model S and X, which produces 690 hp and 824 lb-ft of torque by our estimation. Tesla also claims a top speed of more than 250 mph. The car will rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, and that’s just the base model. Equally impressive if it becomes a reality, Tesla claims a range of 620 miles.
“Roadster is kind of like dessert,” Musk said in the interview. “So we got to get the meat and potatoes and greens and stuff.”
Whenever it arrives, the Tesla Roadster will cost a pretty penny. The base model is expected to go for $200,000. Founders Series models, limited to the first 1,000 reservations, will cost $250,000. Unlike the original Roadster that launched Tesla into the EV game, the new model has a 2+2 configuration with seating for four people.
If you’re looking for juicy Tesla details, you’ll find them in the last nine minutes of the video above.
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