Key facts
- Tesla plans to use 50-year-old stunt technology involving compressed nitrogen jets for the new Roadster.
- The Roadster is claimed to achieve 0-60 mph in 0.8 seconds and a top speed of 383 mph.
- The company is developing a special battery chemistry for the Roadster using 4680 cells.
- The McMurtry Spéirling EV can generate 3.5 lateral Gs, while the Roadster claims 2 Gs.
- Elon Musk has a history of overpromising and underdelivering on product launches.
Tesla is reportedly reviving its Roadster sports car, with CEO Elon Musk claiming ambitious performance figures and the use of 50-year-old stunt technology. The company plans to use compressed nitrogen jets to make the car perform aerial tricks, a feature not typically found on production vehicles. The new Roadster is slated for a 2028 production start, with claims of a 0-60 mph time of 0.8 seconds and a top speed of 383 mph.
The vehicle will reportedly use the company's 4680 battery cells with a special chemistry. The design is said to draw inspiration from the original Lotus Esprit and Lamborghini Gallardo. However, the article notes Musk's history of overpromising and underdelivering on product launches, and questions the market for expensive, fast EVs.
Meanwhile, Tesla's core business faces challenges with rising costs, falling prices, and increased competition, particularly from Chinese manufacturers. Musk is also reportedly exploring a merger between Tesla and SpaceX, citing AI synergies, which could provide SpaceX with access to the S&P 500 index.