Wednesday 5th September 2018

European debut for Tesla Roadster

White four-seater shown at Grand Basel motor show as production nears

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No-one needs reminding that the Tesla Roadster stands to be a pretty big deal if all runs to plan. If this really is a 250mph, 620-mile range EV sports car, one that's usable, practical and durable, then the automotive world will likely be transformed. No doubt it will lead to even more PH debate about Tesla too; the current thread on the Roadster's launch is at nearly 800 comments...

The latest Roadster development is the reveal of this white car at the Grand Basel motor show, the first time the car has been seen in Europe. Autocar has suggested that it was merely a design shell, rather than a fully functioning car, though that's hardly likely to stop the crowds congregating.

In addition, Elon Musk chose the Swiss show to reveal - with inimitable ambition - that the Roadster we've seen thus far is merely a base version. That car which is said to complete the quarter mile in 8.8 seconds. The base version. According to him an upgrade is merely a "question of safety", and that "Rocket tech applied to a car opens up revolutionary possibilities." Would you really bet against him attempting something more?

Beyond that not much more has been revealed about the car, Musk simply adding that: "Driving a gasoline sports car is going to feel like a steam engine with a side of quiche" after experiencing the new Roadster. With Founders Edition cars apparently already sold out (at $250k a pop), deposits are still being invited for the regular Roadster - £40k currently secures a build slot. If all goes to plan, they're due on our roads in 2020. We'll keep you posted when there's more to say...

 

[Burwood]

250mph and a 600 mile range. Out in 18 months. Where do I sign.

[kambites]

If they can really deliver that for a quarter of a million dollars it'll be very impressive.

[996TT02]

Burwood said:

250mph or a 600 mile range. Out in 18 months. Where do I sign.

EFA!

But still (very) highly impressive.

[TTmonkey]

Fantastic. The rich will save the planet wont they...?

If he wants to save the world, build a car we all want to buy for £35k.

Beautiful looking design. Lets hope the company doesn't implode.

[Ares]

I can hear the sound of the juxtaposed overheating minds of the Anti-EV car brigade ready to explode

[Ares]

TTmonkey said:

Fantastic. The rich will save the planet wont they...?

If he wants to save the world, build a car we all want to buy for £35k.

Beautiful looking design. Lets hope the company doesn't implode.

Yeah!! A third family car. They could call it the Tesla 3 or something similar..??

[Onehp]

Ares said:

TTmonkey said:

Fantastic. The rich will save the planet wont they...?

If he wants to save the world, build a car we all want to buy for £35k.

Beautiful looking design. Lets hope the company doesn't implode.

Yeah!! A third family car. They could call it the Tesla 3 or something similar..??

That would be a great idea! Maybe they should make a more expensive version of that one and sell them first to get production running?

Seriously, 250k isn't much, seems the cost of electric performance only increases nearly linearly and not exponentially as with IC Engines... where will it end?

[RobDickinson]

Burwood said:

250mph and a 600 mile range. Out in 18 months. Where do I sign.

tesla.com ...?

[PaulD86]

TTmonkey said:

If he wants to save the world, build a car we all want to buy for £35k.

Or, more usefully, figure how to harness and store enough electricity in a clean manner to actually allow us all to have an electric car without just burning more fossil fuels to make the power for them. This is the real challenge for the future. We are nowhere near yet.

[RobDickinson]

The Crack Fox said:

They're in the crap, financially, aren't they?

Not particularly. Probably way too late for a roadster already anyhow

[Fast Bug]

Burwood said:

250mph and a 600 mile range. Out in 18 months. Where do I sign.

I think you'd be lucky to see one in 18 months time judging by Tesla's current form with getting vehicles out the door

[wideangle852]

. . building on promises the company cannot keep or even meet . .

[RobDickinson]

wideangle852 said:

. . building on promises the company cannot keep or even meet . .

We all know teslas timelines are variable but they do make what they say they will

[Amanitin]

RobDickinson said:

Not particularly. Probably way too late for a roadster already anyhow

why? is there a production limit?

[RobDickinson]

Fast Bug said:

I think you'd be lucky to see one in 18 months time judging by Tesla's current form with getting vehicles out the door

Yeah I suspect some early customers might see a few in 2020 but not many!

[epom]

Just pay your non refundable $1 billion dollar deposit to secure your spot on the waiting list.

[RobDickinson]

Founders series was a mere $250k

Otherwise $50k.

How much deposit do you need for a ferrari or whatever?

[Sam993]

I think it's going to be a great car when it launches, build quality issues aside. It would be nice if he stopped taking the piss and aggravating petrolheads though, it's not like we take the piss out of horse riders, do we (except for road encounters/horsebox rolling road blocks situations).

[ntiz]

This won't be around until 2022 if we are lucky and 2025 more likely.

Lets not forget this is a guy who also claimed in the life cycle of my current car I should be able to get it to drive me home and took £5k off customers for that option . . . . that was 3-4 years ago still waiting. Autopilot will just about get you down a motorway as long as there isn't too many corners.

He loves to promise big and under deliver. Has done it with plenty of other stuff to do with Tesla.

Just realised this sounds a bit ranty I do actually like Tesla I have 2 Just don't like the arrogance of the company and worship it gets that I personally think it doesn't deserve.

Edited by ntiz on Wednesday 5th September 11:13

[Krikkit]

RobDickinson said:

Fast Bug said:

I think you'd be lucky to see one in 18 months time judging by Tesla's current form with getting vehicles out the door

Yeah I suspect some early customers might see a few in 2020 but not many!

This will be a hand-assembled item no doubt - when you don't have to push 5000/week things are a lot easier.