Tesla unexpectedly took the wraps off the second-generation Roadster at its California event on Thursday, and it looks phenomenal.
CEO Elon Musk claims it’s the fastest production car in the world, but the new vehicle won’t hit the roads until 2020. During the show, where Tesla also unveiled its long-awaited electric semi truck, Musk outlined pricing and specifications for the upcoming car.
It’s an impressive bit of engineering. Tesla’s new Roadster accelerates at a rate of 0-60 miles per hour in 1.9 seconds, which Musk claims is a world record. Three motors provide 10,000 Newton meters (7,375 foot-pounds of force) of torque in an all-wheel drive configuration, and the car is capable of reaching a top speed of above 250 miles per hour. This doesn’t sacrifice range, though: the car has a 200kWh battery pack, capable of running for 620 miles.
Like most of its vehicles, Tesla has gone for a staggered pricing structure. At the lowest end, the Roadster starts at $200,000. You don’t have to pay this upfront, though: The company is taking $50,000 reservations, and if its other vehicles are anything to go by, it will likely offer financing options for gradual payments.
The new Roadster.
It’s unclear how much optional extras will cost. Tesla only revealed options pricing for the $35,000 Model 3 when it entered production this summer, revealing that a long-range boost would push the price up a further $9,000, and a range of premium extras would cost $5,000.
Musk did reveal a special $250,000 Founders Series edition. This model, which requires an upfront deposit equivalent to the full price, is limited to the first 1,000 customers.
There many be more to come in the future, though. While the initial offerings pack a powerful punch, Musk hinted at more options prior to launch.
“This is the base model!” Musk said. “We’re gonna talk about things beyond base maybe next year sometime.”
