By Mayank Gautam
Tesla will be revealing its long-delayed second-generation Roadster on October 1, which represents a major point in the company’s history nearly nine years after the sports car was first shown. The fact that Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has confirmed the date has increased expectations regarding the company’s plans for its high-performance electric vehicle.
The Roadster was first shown in 2017 together with assertions about its outstanding performance, such as an 0-100 kmph acceleration time of about 1.9 seconds and a desired driving range of almost 1,000 km; although Tesla had originally intended to start production in 2020, the vehicle has suffered from continuous delays and the company has given as the reason difficulties concerning development and production priorities.
The launch is expected to give a clearer picture of the Roadster’s final design, its performance specifications, the technology it will be equipped with and when it will be produced. Earlier on, Tesla has said that the new Roadster might include technologies aimed at achieving performance that goes beyond that of ordinary electric sports cars.
The Roadster is especially important to Tesla since the company is encountering greater competition in the global electric vehicle market; established luxury car manufacturers and specialist electric performance car producers have broadened their ranges, thereby making the high-performance electric vehicle segment more competitive.
Musk has at earlier times also talked about a possible package featuring SpaceX-style cold-air thrusters, as these could in principle enhance the vehicle’s ability to accelerate, brake and corner. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether this technology will be incorporated into the production model.
The October 1 event could thus serve as a vital demonstration of Tesla’s technological aspirations; although it will be launching a new sports car, the company will be expected to show that the long development period of the Roadster has led to real improvements in the performance of electric vehicles.
Tesla has still not stated a confirmed schedule for production or for delivering cars to customers. The event is expected to provide the most clear indication so far of when the long-awaited Roadster will finally be available to buyers.