How much longer will Tesla fans have to wait for the company’s highly anticipated Roadster? After years of delays, Elon Musk announced in October 2024 that production would finally begin in 2025. The vehicle was originally announced in November 2017 as Tesla’s successor to its first production car, with an initial target of 2020. Multiple delays have pushed the timeline back repeatedly.
Tesla’s highly anticipated Roadster finally heads to production in 2025, ending seven years of delays since its 2017 announcement.
The Roadster promises impressive performance specs. It’ll accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 1.9 seconds and reach 100 mph in 4.2 seconds. The top speed will exceed 250 mph. These numbers rival the world’s fastest electric vehicles, including the Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista.
The car’s design features a 2+2 seating layout with smaller rear seats for four total passengers. Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer, created the vehicle. A removable glass roof stores in the trunk, allowing a convertible experience. The rear wheels are larger than the front wheels for better handling. The prototype was notably featured on Jay Leno’s Garage, which aired on August 23, 2018, showcasing the vehicle’s performance capabilities to enthusiasts worldwide.
Under the hood, the Roadster uses three motors—one in front and two in back. This all-wheel drive setup provides torque vectoring capabilities. The estimated 200 kWh battery is roughly double the capacity of Tesla’s Model S and X. It’ll power an output exceeding 1,000 horsepower and deliver an advertised range of 620 miles on a single charge. The vehicle’s wheel torque of 10,000 Nm demonstrates exceptional power delivery and efficiency. Given Tesla’s engineering focus on durability, the Roadster’s electric powertrain is designed to last substantially longer than traditional combustion engines with fewer moving parts.
Tesla’s optional SpaceX Performance Package includes ten cold-gas thrusters. Two larger rear thrusters and eight smaller ones work together to enable sub-1 second 0-60 mph acceleration and provide lift for “flight-like hops.” This package requires special structural reinforcement and software. Production will be capped at 10,000 units annually to maintain exclusivity. The limited-edition Founders Series will carry a premium pricing tier above the base model.
The base Roadster starts at around $50,000, with an expected limited warranty of four years or 50,000 miles. The powertrain warranty extends to eight years. It’ll likely include Autopilot and advanced driver-assistance systems.
After seven years of waiting, Roadster enthusiasts are keen to see if Tesla can finally deliver on its promises. The 2025 production start date will determine whether the Roadster lives up to the hype or faces further delays.