Could the new roadster hypercar be released late 2016 or early 2017?
I think there are many reasons why Tesla is likely to release this car before the Model 3. If they don’t, hey, it’s still fun to dream, but it would be really cool if this becomes a reality and I think Tesla can make it happen. Here are the basic specs I’d hope for and that seem reasonable given Tesla’s current public tech capabilities. Weight, about 3000 lbs, all wheel drive, two seater, incredible aerodynamics likely better than Model S, 0-60 in low 2’s or high 1’s (seriously, it could happen), top speed would be crazy, range would be higher than current roadster 3.0 with hopefully better battery etc., cooling for batteries to make it track worthy, maybe a couple of gears to help with speed. Sorry if this is some of this has already been discussed, I found this thread after I wrote the post.
Here’s my theory as to why this might be possible and maybe even probable in the timeframe I mentioned, sorry, this is a long post.
1. The Model 3 requires heavy infrastructure build out to be successful. Both the GigaFactory and, in my opinion, a more thorough Supercharger network will be required before the Model 3 really becomes a successful reality. Both of these are in motion but will take some time to complete. This creates a gap year in 2016 and maybe even early 2017 where no new car product would be released.
2. Tesla will have a good skateboard on which to build the new roadster, that is, the Model 3 skateboard. From what I’ve read, the Model 3 will be a steel chassis, however, they could build a carbon fiber or aluminum version of the Model 3 skateboard which would be perfect for both a performance version of the Model 3 (like a M3 for BMW) but also they could build a roadster body as well on top of this ultra-light Model 3 skateboard.
3. If they use the same skateboard as the Model 3, just a lighter version, this would allow them to test the Model 3 chassis ahead of actual release of the Model 3 which could actually help speed up the final testing of the Model 3 (some guesswork here, I’m no auto mechanic but seems reasonable)
4. The P85D motors (and Tesla’s incredible traction control system) are the perfect motors to power a hypercar like the new roadster would be, hell, instead of a smaller motor in the front, you could use two of the rear P85D motors, 470 + 470, 940HP! Even if you stuck with the exact same powertrain, with a car that weighed about 3k, it would be so quick and fast, I’m guessing 0-60 in the low 2’s or high 1’s just due to the weight reduction from the P85D and that’s without gearing which would presumably make it even faster, especially in the quarter mile.
5. As the Model X gets fully ramped up in 2016, there will be what, a year or so before the release of the Model 3, that’s a long time for Tesla not to have any major announcements or new products based on their current clip. Seems like this could be the ultimate product release (model 3 still on target but hey, here’s a new Roadster Hypercar).
6. I keep saying Hypercar defined here J (
http://www.zeroto60times.com/2013/01/supercars-vs-hypercars-definition/) , because I really believe that the release of this car will be the official death knell of ICE technology and even hybrid ICE/Electric Tech. When Tesla releases the new Roadster, it will likely be as fast or faster (both acceleration and on the track) than other hypercars like the Bugatti, the Porsche 918 Spyder, the Koenigsegg Agera R but at a much, much lower price (I hope J based on the price of the original Roadster, I’m hoping 125-175) Those other cars mentioned are all over 1 million. When a young car company like Tesla, using electric only tech, beats the fastest/best highest performance ICE and ICE/Hybrid cars in the world in every category, how will the traditional Sports Car companies like Ferrari and Porsche and others still be able to get away with using this antiquated technology and charging much more for it? Why would anyone spend the money for a supercar/hypercar that’s already been bested, that’s already old news? Just for the name/pedigree? If the tech and performance of those cars are subpar, what does that name really mean? Elon wants to move the world to electric car tech permanently, how can this not be seen as the final nail in the coffin for ICE and ICE/Hybrid tech?
7. Because he can! Elon loves fast sports cars, he bought the Mclaren when he was younger. I know he has some big aspirations with both SpaceX and Tesla but taking the most technological superior car in the world (Model S P85D IMO) and combining it with a two seat sports car and besting all car companies at the very pinnacle of speed and performance seems like something that he and his company are not only capable of, but they just need to make some tweaks and do it, there’s nothing holding them back right now, just a little money and time. Seems like something he’d get some satisfaction from as well, it’s just plain Sexy, (maybe they’ll call it the Model Y but I’m guessing they’ll stick with the Roadster, maybe call it Roadster Model Y?). The only thing left to prove about Electric car technology after this is released is that Elecric cars can be made cheaply and that’s just a matter of time with the Model 3 and the infrastructure they’re working on to allow for it.
8. The Roadster would bring in extra revenue, it would bring in revenue from people looking to spend a ton of money on the best cars in the world(the people buying Ferrari’s, Corvette Z06, and high end porche’s etc.). The Model S is a beautiful car, one of the nicest looking Sedan’s out there, but still, it’s a Sedan, in the looks department, in my opinion, it just doesn’t compete with a Ferrari, a C7 Corvette, a Porsche, a two seater sports car designed well is the epitomy of sexy in a car. There are definitely people who don’t buy the Model S because it’s a large Sedan and isn’t sexy enough (even the P85D), they either want something a little bit sportier, or smaller, or better on the track, or all of this that has all of the performance and tech that the Model S P85D but in a smaller package. Since there is no new roadster available, they either buy a different sports car from another manufacturer or just wait hoping for this to be released at some point by Tesla (I’m in this camp, I wish the new Roadster was available now and I wouldn’t have to think about buying antiquated tech like a C7 Corvette Z06 other than for nostalgia’s sake). It’s really crazy to think that the new Z06 is antiquated tech, it’s an amazing car that competes with Porche’s and Ferrari’s that are much more expensive, but this new Roadster would destroy it in everyway, hell, you could probably take the Z06 frame and add the P85D drivetrain and battery to it and blow the Z06 away, much less a purpose built Tesla sports car.
9. The Roadster doesn’t compete in anyway with the Model 3. Because the Roadster sales (in number of cars) would be small in comparison to the other models, I wouldn’t think it wouldn’t really slow down the assembly line much for Model S, 3, or X, and if they use the new Roadster to help with the research for the Model 3 skateboard (combine the R&D costs, it could even help speed up the Model 3 guessing here) Either way, enough infrastructure has to be built for the Model 3 release to be a success, until then, what do you do if you’re Tesla? You also aren’t competing for the same sales demographic either. The only Model 3 that could come close to this Roadster would be a Model 3 P85D Sedan type car, even then, it should be heavier and not as sexy looking as a purpose built, two seat sportscar.
10. I’ve heard rumors here and there about a new Roadster, possibly in 2017. While those are just rumors, given the ramp up needed for Model 3 and the current publicly known technology at Tesla’s fingertips, the timing seems right to me.
11. If the Model 3 is delayed due to unforeseen issues, the battery factory taking longer to come online for instance than originally thought, this car could be a great distraction. Building out the infrastructure required to successfully launch the Model 3 is daunting, a lot of pieces have to come together like the gigafactory and as expansive Supercharger network as possible to handle mass market consumer numbers. These are just things that seem to me to be necessary, there are probably other requirements as well. If one piece winds up being delayed for some reason, this new Roadster would allow Tesla to keep making revenue while finishing the final hurdles in the way of the Model 3. Don’t get me wrong, I hope that the Model 3 is fully on time, and I know this car will be a runaway success when it comes out, it will be the moment electric cars come to the masses, I would never hope to have the Model 3 delayed for any reason, even for the new roadster first.
12. In April of this year, Tesla hired the former RedBull Formula 1 Chief Mechanic, Kenny Handkammer. While Elon announced it was to help them revolutionize servicing cars, I’d also think that he would know a thing or two about making the fastest cars in the world. He could help Tesla solve the heating issue they have with their cars on the track (granted that wasn’t an issue they were worried about with a sedan), among other expertise I think he could bring to a car like the new Roadster. I’d think he’d be able to help with the suspension and trackworthiness of this beast among many other things, though I’m sure the Tesla current design team is solid (the P85D is amazing), but building a hypercar and track superior car is a unique endeavor that is very much different than the Model S, I’d think very much similar to building an racing a successful F1 car!
So, does any of this conjecture hold up to scrutiny or am I just crazy and wishing on a star that this would come out before the Model 3?
I’d also like to speculate about the wish list I’d love to see on this car.
1. 0-60 times in the low 2’s or high 1’s, ¼ mile time perhaps sub 10?
2. super light, carbon fiber, titanium, or aluminum frame or something better
3. decent range, probably 300+ real world miles due to aerodynamics and weight savings (they may be forced to give up some range to allow for lighter battery, a tradeoff many would be ok with, maybe they’ll have multiple battery options, longer distance being slower)
4. Two seater super sexy body! The Model S is beautiful, I’d love to see what the same designers could do with a new tesla sports car. Hopefully it will be a little bit mean looking, something like the new vette or Ferrari while still smooth and sexy like the Model S
5. All wheel drive. I think this is a given, they already have proved this in the P85D, it handles amazingly well and takes off without even a chirp from the tires. To perform in hypercar territory, I think this is required.
6. Paddle shifting gears hopefully, combine the P85D powertrain (or better) with gears and it would make the speed off the charts, faster than any hypercar ever built I’m sure. You might have to take g force training and prove that you passed to be allowed to put this car in “insane mode”.
7. Correct cooling to allow for a fully track worthy car, it’s excusable in the Model S as it’s a Sports Sedan, a hypercar can’t have this problem though.
8. All the current Tesla tech available on the Model S. Tesla could take the Model S P85D tech exactly as is and put it into a two seat cool looking sports car and I’d instantly buy it. I know they’ll do even better than that because they’re Tesla, but still, the software integration of the Model S is the most cutting edge thing about it in my opinion.
9. Supercharger capable of course, seems like a no brainer but this IS a wish list
10. Incredible performance on the track. I know that the power and speed are part of this equation, the rest of it is tuning the suspension and handling of the car. I would think that with the weight distribution and performance capabilities, this car could set records and it should, I would expect nothing less than that from this car. The guy they hired from RedBull should be able to help immensely with this category.
11. A convertible or t-top version
12. Top speed around 200, seems like that would be easy for a car like this if they can nail the cooling issue with the batteries.
13. Maybe some sort of excess heat to energy recycling/cooling system. Some of the efficiency of the Model S is still lost to heat, I know it’s much more efficient than ICE tech, but it’s not perfect. This could help with both range and the heat problem.
14. 175k max cost, hopefully less than that. I know that some of the things like Carbon fiber frame or other exotic alloys can be pricey. It would undoubtedly have the very best battery tech, but that shouldn’t cost more than the Model S battery. The cooling system might be pricey, the Model S doesn’t have that. Other than that though, much of the R&D for this car is already completed in the Model S/current Roadster. I would think it would cost more than the P85D so 125-175 seems reasonable
