The second-generation Tesla Roadster has become somewhat of an urban legend in recent years, rarely seen but often spoken about, much like Bigfoot. Unveiled way back in 2017, Tesla originally claimed production would start in 2020 but here we are in mid-2023, and Tesla has yet to start building the all-electric supercar.
Thankfully, we now have an update on when we can expect to see it. While responding to a question during Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, Elon Musk revealed that the design and engineering of the car should be completed this year and that it may reach production in 2024.
Read: The Tesla Roadster Is Not Even On Sale Yet It’s The Most Popular Electric Supercar Online
“We expect to complete the engineering and design of the next-gen Tesla Roadster this year and hopefully, hopefully start production – this is not a commitment, but hopefully start production next year. [The Roadster] is not only the icing on the cake but it’s the cherry on the icing on the cake so it’s definitely not going to be a huge contributor to revenue. It will be a modest contributor to profitability but it will be sick!”
Musk also went on to confirm that it will be offered with a SpaceX option package.
It is understood that this SpaceX package will replace the rear seats with a composite overwrapped pressure vessel. The car’s battery will then power a pump that runs the vessel and can send pressure to cold gas thrusters around the vehicle. It has been claimed this system could result in a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 1.1 seconds. However, this system will add weight and Jason from Engineering Explained believes the boost may only last for 1 or 2 seconds.
As for the Roadster more generally, Tesla hasn’t released any performance specifications since 2017. Back then, it claimed the car would hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 1.9 seconds, run the quarter-mile in 8.8 seconds, and have a top speed exceeding 250 mph (402 km/h).
