2023 Tesla Roadster: All You Need To Know
Tesla Brings Back the Roadster
For any car enthusiast, the evolution of the all-electric vehicle has been fascinating to watch. Starting as a means of producing environmentally-friendly vehicles, the all-electric vehicle has evolved into minivans, trucks and even sports cars. Yes, the utilization of all-electric vehicles by sports car enthusiasts has seen a major increase over the years, focusing on not only an increased speed but luxury as well.
One company that has taken this to the heart is none other than Tesla. Electric has been the company’s bread and butter for years now, and one of the most highly anticipated vehicles that the company has been teasing to fans is the Tesla Roadster.
The Roadster was actually Tesla’s first vehicle, originally produced from 2008 until 2012. Tesla introduced an updated second-generation Roadster in 2017 and promised a 2020 release. However, delays have forced production to slow down, and the most recent announcement slated its release for 2023. In the meantime, Tesla has sent a Roadster into space!
So why are fans so eager to get their hands on this vehicle? Let’s take a look at the upcoming Tesla Roadster and find out.
Price and Trims
Due to the many delays that the vehicle has faced, the only price available at this time is the pre-order, down payment. Buyers hoping to get their Roadster reserved at this time should be willing to put down $50,000, with a $5,000 up-front charge and payments to follow.
Rumors have swirled about the base model starting at $200,000 and a Founder Series model selling for around $250,000. However, nothing concrete has been announced by Tesla yet.
Interior Design and Quality
The Roadster’s building materials and interior design features have yet to be released. However, one of the truly fantastic features of the Roadster is going to be its four-seat capabilities.
The back seats of the vehicle will not be friendly for tall or bigger people. However, being a sports car that can seat four will make it a big selling point for buyers hoping to take this vehicle for a road trip in the future with friends or family.
Interior Features
Tesla hasn’t released too much info about interior features. You can expect the interior to be a similar minimalist design to other Tesla vehicles, while the car’s removable glass ceiling will be an added bonus for those looking to enjoy the convertible. The glass ceiling would be able to be stored inside the trunk of the vehicle.
Similar to the Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y, there will likely be a large touch screen tablet that controls most of the vehicle’s functions.
Seats
As stated above, the big reveal thus far is the fact that the Roadster will seat four. First shown off by Elon Musk in 2017, the front seats are definitely the most spacious and feature a minimalist appearance.
Yet, while there is a backseat in the vehicle, the space for those seats seems to be smaller in stature. While the car is still in development these can obviously change, but for now, this is the vehicle’s seat specifications.
Cargo Space
While no specific measurements have been announced, Elon Musk said at the presentation for the Tesla Roadster in 2017 was that the vehicle’s trunk and cargo space would be large enough for travelers to fit luggage for trips. With the additional space for the removable glass ceiling, the design for the vehicle’s cargo space has to be pretty spacious for a sports car.
Electric Motor
The design of the vehicle includes three electric motors, one in the front and two featured in the rear. This helps provide the vehicle with all-wheel drive and even will include torque vectoring during cornering.
Yet, the most fascinating aspect of the car’s design thus far has to be the electric battery capacity, which, if successful, will be the largest capacity of any existing Tesla car. It is said to have a 200 kWh battery, twice the capacity found in the current Tesla Model S or Model X.
Acceleration, Ride and Handling
The most exciting aspect of the car’s capabilities thus far has to be the acceleration. The Roadster is promising to break records with its capabilities, reaching 60 mph from a standstill in just 1.9 seconds. The acceleration from zero to 100 mph is just 4.2 seconds and, in the 1/4 mile, it takes the Roadster about 8.8 seconds. That is some incredible speed, promising to be one of the fastest all-electric sports cars on the market.
Tesla claims the top speed of the Roadster will be over 250 mph. The biggest thing to note about the car’s handling at this point is the all-wheel-drive and torque capabilities, with the torque-vectoring allowing the driver to maneuver the vehicle smoothly in tight corners.
Range
The Roadster’s estimated range is remarkable. It is expected to have 1,000 km, or 620 miles, of range on a single electric charge for the vehicle. That’s a mighty powerful charge, and at one point in the initial presentation, Elon Musk said that drivers could drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back on that single charge.
Availability and Production
This is by far the trickiest of the car’s few tidbits of information. As of September 2021, Elon Musk has stated that the car should be released in 2023. Originally slated for 2020, the cars have seen a number of delays for various reasons, but the car’s developer has recently said production is underway, albeit somewhat slow.
Preorders are available for the car, but some enthusiasts and reporters are less sure about the release date due to Tesla’s main focus so far this year, the Tesla Robot, otherwise known as Optimus.
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