Nine years after its first attempt to revive the Roadster, Tesla is trying again, this time leaning on 50-year-old stunt technology to make the show car perform aerial tricks. CEO Elon Musk, who relocated Tesla's HQ to Texas, once again turned to California's entertainment industry to showcase the vehicle. The new Roadster's angular, wedge-shaped design draws inspiration from Giorgetto Giugiaro's original Lotus Esprit and the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Four large rear exhaust pipes emit 100,000 psi jets of compressed nitrogen rather than hydrocarbons. The car remains rear-wheel drive and uses Tesla's troubled 4680 battery cells with a new chemistry developed specifically for this model. Musk claims a top speed of 383 mph (616 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 0.8 seconds, though competitors like the McMurtry Spéirling already exceed Tesla's 2 Gs of claimed performance with up to 3.5 lateral Gs and the ability to drive upside down.
The Roadster's dramatic styling nods to both classic and modern supercars, but its performance claims remain speculative. While Tesla touts revolutionary specs, real-world alternatives are already available. Legal questions surround the use of compressed nitrogen jet exhaust on public roads, as current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Statutes offer no clear guidance.
Despite grand promises, the new Roadster faces stiff competition from purpose-built electric vehicles that are already in production and setting records.
Source: Ars Technica · Résumé par HeadlinesBriefing