Tesla’s New Roadster
Elon Musk’s Remarks Stir Buzz
Zero to 60 in Less than a Second?
If you’re a Tesla fan, you’ll know that the Roadster, not the Model S, was Tesla’s first mass-produced car. This model, which debuted in 2008 and earned the title “the world’s first electric sports car,” was developed based on the Lotus Elise.
However, the entirely changed model set to launch next year is 100% developed by Tesla, and it is expected to bring about a significant change in the sports car market. Elon Musk recently drew attention by stating that the new Roadster could achieve zero to 60 mph acceleration in less than a second.
Production Design Recently Finalized
Target Performance at this Level
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, mentioned the development status of the new Roadster on social media X on the 28th of last month (local time). He expressed confidence by saying, “We’ve completed the production design of the Roadster in collaboration with SpaceX, and this new sports car will be able to reach 0 to 60 mph in less than a second.”
This is a much stronger performance than was initially known. Previously, Elon Musk had stated that the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of the new Roadster prototype, unveiled in 2017, would be just 1.9 seconds. At that time, he aimed for a top speed of over 248.5 mph, with three electric motors producing a maximum output of 1,000 horsepower, and added that it could travel up to 619 miles on a single charge.
Unrealistic Acceleration Performance
Possible with Rocket Assistance
Meanwhile, the current mass-produced car with the fastest 0 to 60 mph acceleration is the Rimac Nevera. This model can achieve a total system output of 1,914 horsepower, reaching 0 to 60 mph in 1.74 seconds and 0 to 62 mph in 1.81 seconds. The Sperling, a single-seater electric hypercar from British race engineering company McMurty Automotive, is faster, achieving 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 1.4 seconds. However, it did not meet mass production requirements and was not officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.
Meanwhile, the output of Tesla’s new Roadster is only half that of the Rimac Nevera. However, there’s a secret to achieving zero to 60 mph in less than a second. It does not accelerate solely with the driving force of the electric motor. Elon Musk has previously stated that SpaceX’s rocket propulsion technology will be applied to the new Roadster. If the optional SpaceX package is installed, 10 small rocket thrusters assist in acceleration.
Also Helping with Braking and Cornering
Flight Function May be Considered?
Interestingly, this rocket engine is not expected to be used just for acceleration. It includes a description that dramatically improves braking and cornering, which implies that the 10 rockets could be evenly distributed throughout the vehicle. This means the rocket propulsion could be utilized at the front when braking and at the opposite side when cornering.
In addition, he hinted at the possibility of a flight function for the new Roadster, which drew explosive reactions. However, some say, “The rocket package seems real, but the flight seems to be a joke to attract attention.” Meanwhile, Tesla aims for a starting price of $200,000 for the new Roadster. They are currently accepting pre-orders with a deposit of $50,000.
