2023 Tesla Roadster: The New Tesla Roadster Quickest Car Review

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2023 Tesla Roadster The original Tesla Roadster put the all-electric carmaker on the map, even if most Model S and Model X buyers don’t remember it.

Originally slated to return in 2021, the new model has yet to hit the market, leading us to believe it has been delayed.

The second-generation Roadster outperformed its predecessor by adding two smaller rear seats, a much wider driving range, and a much higher level of performance.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk boasted about a 1.9 seconds 60 mph time and 250 mph top speed when the Roadster concept was launched back in 2017 — numbers we very much hope will prove accurate when this sports car finally arrives.

The Roadster will be a new addition to Tesla’s lineup when it finally enters production, reviving the nameplate worn by the company’s first model in 2008.

Tesla initially announced the sports car as a 2021 model, but we haven’t heard anything since, so we’re hoping the Roadster has been delayed.

2023 Tesla Roadster Review

Four years after its reveal in 2017, American electric car specialists now say the $326,000 Roadster can be expected to enter production in 2023.

2023 Tesla Roadster

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the news to shareholders in a recent conference, saying that the delay was due to severe supply chain issues.

In 2019, Tesla said certain milestones had to be reached before the Roadster could be produced, including the construction of the Berlin ‘Gigafactory’ and the start of production for the Cybertruck and Model Y.

The Cybertruck has been delayed until sometime in 2022 due to a semiconductor shortage, so we can only guess that the Roadster will be around for quite some time after that.

We thought the 2023 production date was a bit optimistic, but Tesla could come out and surprise us.

The Roadster is actually what got Tesla started in the first place and is based on the heavily modified Lotus Elise platform.

It was one of the first lithium-ion-powered electric cars to cover a distance of more than 320km on a single charge. It was also the first production car to be launched into space on one of SpaceX’s rockets.

While not a fast supercar with ‘only’ 185kW/ 270Nm, the Roadster was later upgraded to 215kW/400Nm.

The upcoming second-generation car will be based on Tesla’s own platform and will use all-wheel drive.

The power output is estimated to be around 1000kW of power and 1200Nm of torque which is sure to deliver amazing acceleration and performance.

When released, the Roadster could be one of the fastest cars ever, with Tesla claiming the car can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 2.1 seconds with a drag time of 8.8 seconds and a quarter-mile.

Tesla also claims a battery range of 1000km along with a top speed of close to 400km/h.

Read next: 2022 Tesla Model 3: Everything We Know So Far

2023 Tesla Roadster Changes

Elon Musk wants to build the fastest car in the world. With a 0-60 mph time in 1.9 seconds, 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 8.8 seconds and a top speed of over 250 mph,

The all-electric Tesla Roadster will be that car. SpaceX’s options pack also seems to be taking performance to another level.

Wearing the familiar Tesla face on an aerodynamically stylish body, this American supercar will match a performance record with an efficiency record – the Californian automaker is aiming for 620 miles.

The Roadster will also have seating for four people and feature a removable glass roof that is stored in the trunk.

With a base price of $200,000, Tesla is taking reservations for a $250,000 Founder’s Series model that you can order for a cool $50,000.

2023 Tesla Roadster Interior

For now, the Roadster is just a concept, and in general, the concept changed drastically during its development into a production model.

2023 Tesla Roadster

As shown, the Roadster concept has a removable glass panel roof, which you can store in the trunk. It has four seats, but the rear ones look as though they might not fit an adult, given the Roadster’s dramatically sloping roofline. Plus, we expect to see Tesla’s signature minimalist interior design repeat itself here.

In the concept design, the large touchscreen extends from the top of the dashboard all the way to the center console, with storage space underneath.

None of the vehicles in the Tesla lineup offer services like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or Amazon Alexa compatibility, and we don’t expect that to change with the Roadster.

In fact, if the infotainment system in the Model 3 sedan is any indication of what we’ll see on the Roadster, buyers shouldn’t expect to find an AM or SiriusXM radio in this car.

We think it’s likely Tesla will provide an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, Spotify integration, and a host of visual entertainment apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube to keep drivers entertained while parking and charging.

2023 Tesla Roadster Engine

When the new Tesla Roadster was unveiled as a concept in November 2017, Musk lauded some excellent performance figures for the car, including a time of 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, a top speed of over 250 mph, and a quarter-mile time of just 8.8 seconds. That’s outrageous.

For reference, if that 60 mph time holds up, it means the Roadster is one second faster than its main rival, the petrol-powered McLaren 570S. Also during this conference, Musk noted that the Roadster will come with standard all-wheel drive.

This is less surprising. Tesla’s main EV model uses two electric motors — one at the front and one at the rear — to drive all four wheels, so it makes sense we’d see a similar setup for the Roadster.

Read next: Tesla Model 3 Inside: Gets All-New Design Changes Inside and Outside

Range, Charge, and Battery Life

The 200-kWh battery is said to provide a range of up to 620 miles, but of course, that number is only achievable in very light use; hitting the track for a few hot, flat laps will cut that estimate significantly.

2023 Tesla Roadster MPGe

The EPA hasn’t released its ratings for the Roadster’s fuel economy yet, but those details are sure to emerge closer to the car’s sales date.

We look forward to having the opportunity to test the new Roadster. If/when we do, we will test it through the 75 mph highway fuel-economy test and report the results here.

Safety Features and Driver Assistance

Because the Roadster is still only a concept, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have not yet had time to conduct a crash test.

We expect Tesla to offer all the latest and greatest driver-assistance technology on the Roadster, including the famous Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system. Key security features include:

  • Standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
  • Standard lane departure warning with lane guard assistance
  • Adaptive cruise control available with semi-autonomous driving mode

Tesla 2023 Price

Buyers can order the new Tesla Roadster in Australia with a $66K deposit or by submitting the full list price of $326,0000.

2023 Tesla Roadster

2023 Tesla Roadster Price

Tesla claims to be offering the base Roadster for $200,000 and a limited edition Founder’s Series for $50,000 more. We don’t have any details on what sets the two apart, other than the fact that only 1000 Founders Series models will be made.

If you’re a collector it might be worth the extra dough, otherwise save your money. We will update this story with more information about the car’s standard and optional features as those details become available.

  • Base $200,000 (est)
  • Founder’s Edition $250,000 (est)

2023 Tesla Roadster Release Date

Four years after its 2017 reveal, the American electric car specialist now says the $326,000 Roadster can be expected to enter production in 2023. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the news to shareholders at a recent conference, saying that the delay was due to severe supply chain issues.