Tesla Roadster production delayed until 2022
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the delay of the US$200,000 (AD$260,000) electric sports car via Twitter.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed the new Tesla Roadster has been delayed for a second time, with production now set to commence in 2022.
Originally announced in 2017, the second-generation Roadster was due to go on sale in 2020, but production was pushed back to 2021 a year ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Now the US$200,000 (AD$260,000) electric sports car has been delayed once again.
Explaining the postponement via Twitter, Musk said work on the car's “Tri-motor drive system and advanced battery work” were to blame for the holdup.
Musk says that Tesla hopes to finish engineering this year, and to have a “release candidate design drivable in late summer.”
Pitched as the “fastest production car ever made” the Roadster concept car has four seats, with a detachable roof and all-wheel-drive.
Now the world's richest man, Musk called the concept car a “smackdown on the auto industry” claiming the new base model Tesla Roadster would pull 0-96km in 1.9 seconds thanksto its it to triple-motor drive system – which includes one electric motor in the front and two at the rear.
A top speed for the car was not confirmed but it was hinted the car would “above 250 mp/h.” That's 402km/h.
Drive understands the concept car will have a 200kWh battery pack, claiming approximately a 1000km range per charge.
Pricing starts at US$200,000 for the base car with a US$50,000 reservation. Then the Founders Series model will be US$250,000 with a 100 per cent deposit required, with only 1000 examples being made.