The futuristic sports car from Tesla has been creating a wave of excitement in the automotive world for quite some time now, all for good reasons. Since the original Roadster hit the roads in 2008, the now-famous Texas automaker Tesla introduced some of the world's best EVs and even changed and recreated our perception towards electric vehicles. Though it wasn't the most successful creation by Tesla at first, it sure was the stepping stone for its success. The next-gen Tesla Roaster is coming out soon, backed up by the best technology and innovation, and we wonder if there's anything more to this sports EV than we already know. Whether it is its jaw-dropping speed or its head-turning design, we are sure that the all-new Tesla will break into the hearts of EV enthusiasts and Tesla fans in no time. Meanwhile, here are some little-known facts about the original Tesla Roaster and the second-generation Roadster that will leave you shocked and maybe even a little curious.
10 The Roadster Was Tesla's First EV
Those of you who have been following Tesla and its remarkable journey for a while now would know this, but for others, this might be news. Tesla Motors was formed in 2003, and its very first innovation was the all-electric sports car called the Roadster. It came out in 2008 and achieved a range of 245 miles on a single charge, breaking the records for the longest range achieved by an electric vehicle back then. At a time when internal combustion engines ruled, Tesla aimed to do what other electric cars couldn't. The original Tesla Roadster featured a carbon fiber body and was powered by lithium-ion cell batteries that could be charged using a standard outlet. Moreover, competing with internal-combustion engine vehicles, the Tesla Roadster delivered exceptional efficiency. The Tesla Roadster could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds and could even achieve a top speed of 125 miles per hour. The production was later halted in 2012 to develop the Tesla Model S.
9 Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster Went To Space
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket's test launch, which took place in February 2018, took a 2010 Tesla Roadster to space. That's right! Elon Musk's very own red Tesla Roadster took a trip to space, making it the very first production car to do so. Since its launch into space, the first-generation Tesla Roadster crossed its 36,000 miles warranty over 70,000 times while going around the sun and achieved a fuel economy of 5,313 miles per liter. An even more impressive fact about the Roadster in space is that it has now traveled enough to drive all the roads in the world over 63.2 times. Pretty impressive right? The space Roadster is now all set to cross the orbit of Mars for the fourth time since its launch.
8 The New Tesla Roadster Will Have Three Electric Motors
The all-new Tesla Roadster is an all-wheel drive. That means two electric motors compared to the single one in a front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, right? Well, no. The second-generation Tesla Roadster will have three electric motors, similar to the Model S Plaid. One motor will be located in the front axle to generate energy for the front wheels and two at the rear to power each rear wheel. These three motors will also extend the range of the Tesla Roadster by a lot (more than the Tesla Model S Plaid) and enable torque vectoring. This powertrain also generates 7,400 pound-feet of torque.
7 First-Generation Tesla Was As Good As A Gasoline Car
The very first Tesla Roadster came with exemplary performance and efficiency. The base trim of the first Tesla Roadster in 2008 offered a range of 245 miles on a full charge with 248 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The first-generation Tesla Roadster's body and chassis were based on the Lotus Elise which gave Tesla the motorless gliders. The base trim, as well as the Roadster 1.5, could go from 0 to 60 in just 4.6 seconds and had a top speed of 125 miles per hour. Moreover, the Tesla Roadsters achieved similar efficiency as a gasoline vehicle with an equivalent mileage of 135 miles per gallon.
6 The Original Tesla Roadster Is A Collector's Favorite
The original Tesla Roadster was a luxury car, and its starting price was around $98,950 (Tesla Roadster 1.5 Standard) and went up to $128,500 for the Tesla Roadster 2.5 Sport Convertible. And since the production stopped, the second-hand value of the car went down steeply, and one could even get a Tesla Roadster for as cheap as $38,000 in 2018. Since the first-generation Tesla was a limited edition car with only 2,450 cars ever made and sold, it soon became a collector's favorite. The original Tesla Roadster soon picked up in demand and was even sold in auctions for $180,000. As the scarcity of the Roadsters increased for various reasons, the price shot up with a 2008 Tesla Roadster VIN013 that had just been driven for 840 miles selling for a whopping $250,000.
5 Tesla Roadster Could Be The World's Next Quickest EV
Currently, Rimac Nevera is the fastest electric vehicle, with an acceleration time of just 1.85 seconds to go from 0-60 miles per hour and a top speed of 258 miles per hour. However, Tesla claims the Roadster to be the fastest production car ever made! The second-generation Tesla Roadster can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 1.9 seconds, and this is just for the base model. This impressive acceleration time is due to the tri-motor powertrain in the vehicle that enables the Tesla Roadster to deliver instant torque and unbelievable acceleration time. The vehicle will also have a top speed of over 250 miles per hour and to top it off, Elon Musk claims it will have a special options package that can make the car go even faster! Furthermore, the vehicle will also have a 200 kWh battery, which is almost twice the capacity of the largest battery in any existing Tesla model, and the Rimac Nevera, as well, which has a battery capacity of 120 kWh. Tesla's car fleet has been known to break several records, and becoming the fastest car in the world is now just a stone's throw away for the EV automaker.
4 The 2023 Tesla Roadster Will Have The Longest Range
Undoubtedly, the second-generation Tesla Roadster will be one of their most impressive models surpassing any other electric car in the market. The 200 kWh battery on the Tesla Roadster will provide it with a range of approximately 620 miles, making it the only electric car to have a range of over 600 miles on a full charge. This beats the Lucid Air with 516 miles and even the very own Tesla Model S Plaid, which is currently Tesla's longest-range EV. Seems like the all-electric supercar, Roadster, is pushing the boundaries in the world of electric vehicles with record-breaking performance and efficiency.
3 A Coupe And A Convertible With 2+2 Seating
Most supercars come with a two-seater, and that's normal. But the Tesla Roadster is not just going behind performance but also purpose while ensuring it is not another used-once-in-a-while supercar. And this is achieved through its 2+2 seating, similar to the Porsche 911 and the Lamborghini Aventador, making it perfect for a family. The rear seats are not as spacious or lavish as on a sedan and might not be suited for adults, making it ideal for kids. The Tesla Roadster will also have a removable glass roof that can be stored in the trunk for that open-sky view and a coupe-to-convertible driving experience. However, the rear seat passengers will still have a roof above them. The overall exterior look of the Tesla Roadster is very sleek and sporty, with a low front hood and low bumper with sharply angled headlights, something that is common with Tesla cars.
The Tesla Roadster also has large wheels that dominate the side view. We don't know the dimensions of the Tesla Roadster yet, but it sure will be bigger than the first-generation Roadster, a two-seater. And coming to the colors, we have mostly seen the red Tesla Roadster; however, Elon Musk stated in a Tweet that the all-new Roadster would come with special paint schemes, similar to the first generation Tesla Roadster.
2 The New Tesla Roadster Will Come With SpaceX Thrusters
As we discussed before, the special package that the new Tesla Roadster can be seen with is the Tesla Roadster can be seen with is the SpaceX Option Package, which can make the car go from 0 to 60 in just 1.1 seconds, making it the world's fastest car! In a tweet by Elon Musk in 2017, he claimed that the 1.9 seconds of acceleration time to go from 0 to 60 is for the base trim, and the top trim will have a special options package that will make it an even better deal. He later tweeted that this special upgrade package might enable it to fly short hops. Extraordinary. The SpaceX Option Package will be hidden behind the license plate. It will include ten small rocket thrusters around the car to amplify the acceleration, speed, braking, and cornering and even enable the Tesla to fly. This would put some of the fastest electric cars, such as the Aspark Owl or the Deus Vayanne, way behind and set new benchmarks of speed for upcoming EVs.
1 Tesla Roadster Will Come With A Unique Set Of Driving Modes
The next-gen Tesla Roadster is coming with unprecedented power, and it can be a little scary to handle such power without some help. The SpaceX features and the vehicle's stunning speed need a second hand, and the Tesla Roadster doesn't just stop with the autopilot feature. In 2018, Elon Musk talked about the Augmented Mode that is expected to enhance human driving ability. This driver assistance feature could help the driver have better control even at higher speeds; we'll only know better once the official news rolls out. We can expect to see some, if not all, of the Tesla Model S's features, including the Plaid Track Mode, Ludicrous, Ludicrous Plus, and Insane Plus. The vehicle will also have 360 degrees of visibility around the car using eight cameras, forward-facing radar, and numerous ultrasonic sensors distributed seamlessly for maximum safety assurance.