There are high expectations for the upcoming Tesla Roadster alleged to be the quickest car in the world, with record-setting acceleration, range, and performance. The electric supercar is supposedly going to be equipped with some extraordinary features that include SpaceX-inspired cold gas thrusters and Formula One-style center-lock wheels.
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, took to Twitter to reveal, “New Roadster wheels will only have one nut.” Instead of using the traditional 4 or 5-nut configuration to lock the wheel, a center lock wheel only uses a single large hex nut. Using a single-nut wheel design will significantly optimize the Roadster’s performance. These wheel-types are used in high-profile racing events like the Formula One Grand Prix and NASCAR. The reason being is that they can easily be removed during a pit stop and also provide plenty of space for large brakes and calipers. In addition to racing cars, the center lock wheel design is also used in high-performance supercars such as the Porsche 918 Spyder, Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche 991, Koenigsegg One:1, Koenigsegg Regera, and Lamborghini Aventador SV and Huracán. It makes sense that Tesla will align its new supercar at the same legendary level.
Plans for the Roadster were revealed in November 2017 and its extreme design specifications sent shockwaves through the automotive industry. When first unveiling the vehicle, Musk claimed a list of really impressive specs for the new Roadster, including 0-60 mph in 1.9 sec, a top speed of over 250 mph, and a range of more than 620 miles.
At the time, Elon Musk said that those were the specs for the base version of the Roadster. And later, Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Chief Designer said the production version will actually be better than the amazing prototype.
During an interview in May 2020, Joe Rogan tried to pry more detail from the Tesla Mastermind about when he could buy a Roadster. Musk kept it vague saying he “can’t exactly say when because this COVID thing has kinda thrown us for a loop…not to blame everything on COVID, but it certainly set us back on progress for several months.”
He added that there were other things to get done ahead of Roadster like having to wrap up the Model Y production, get the Berlin Gigafactory built, expand the Shanghai factory, and finalize the Cybertruck and Semi Truck. Musk says the Roadster is “kinda like a dessert so we got to get the meat, potatoes, greens, and stuff first.”
Continuing to dig, Joe Rogan questioned if the Roadster would come before the Cybertruck, but the Tesla boss said, “I think we should do Cybertruck first”.
Originally, it was supposed to come to the market in 2020, but it has been delayed and the timeline to production is not clear. During the release of Tesla’s Q2 earnings last month, Musk hinted at the Tesla Roadster production starting in California within the next 12 to 18 months.
What we do know so far is that the Roadster is being designed for ultra-performance and aero efficiency. As an all-electric supercar, it will maximize the potential of aerodynamic engineering, with record-setting performance and efficiency. The interior of the supercar will also allow seating for four passengers, much unlike other cars in this caliber that accommodates only two. The Roadster will follow suit of the other Tesla vehicles having a glass roof, however, it will be a lightweight, removable glass roof that is stored in the trunk for an open-air, convertible driving experience.
Tesla is an expert at a lot of things, but keeping its customers and potential customers in suspense is the art of marketing.
