The key facts
- The presentation took place on October 15 at the SpaceX site in Texas, nearly nine years after the model was announced
- The demonstrations were performed without a driver, in autonomous mode: the car flipped on a ramp and jumped over other Teslas and a Semi
- Three versions are claimed: Performance (0–97 km/h in under 1.6 s), Thrust (0.9 s), and the single-seat Rocket (under 0.59 s) with the ability to lift off the ground
Show at the SpaceX Site
The American company Tesla, after nearly nine years of delay, has officially presented the second-generation Roadster electric sports car. The event took place on October 15 at the SpaceX rocket test site in Texas and resembled a stunt show more than a conventional car reveal. The white two-seater drove up a large curved ramp: thanks to suction fans under the body, it clung to the ramp, flipped over completely, then, using installed cold-gas thrusters, lifted off, spun in the air, and landed. In the next demonstration, the car jumped over a row of Tesla vehicles and a Semi truck. For safety reasons, in all the displays the car moved without a driver, in autonomous mode. 'Turns out there will be flying cars in the future too,' said Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk.
Three Versions and Claimed Specifications
According to the company, the Roadster will come in three variants. The base two-seat Performance version will get active aerodynamics and a suction system; it accelerates to 97 km/h (60 mph) in under 1.6 seconds. In the Thrust version, with added rear motors, that figure drops to 0.9 seconds. The single-seat Rocket, with additional motors, is claimed by Tesla to be capable of lifting off the ground; its acceleration is stated as under 0.59 seconds. All versions are promised a range of more than 480 km and a top speed above 370 km/h. At the event itself, the car accelerated to 97 km/h in 0.81 seconds.
