Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster is a tri-motor AWD electric sports car and the current flagship of Tesla’s passenger vehicle lineup. Tesla first revealed the second-generation model in November 2017 with announced specs of 620 miles EPA range, a 200 kWh battery, and a 0–60 mph time of 1.9 seconds. As of 2025, no production vehicle has been delivered and no confirmed launch date exists. All specifications below originate from Tesla’s 2017 unveil; none have been independently verified against a production-ready car.

Has the Tesla Roadster Been Released?

No. Tesla announced the second-generation Roadster in November 2017 with an initial target of 2020 production. That date was pushed back, and as of 2025 the car remains unlaunched. Tesla has not published a revised delivery timeline. Reservation holders paid $50,000 USD for Founders Series deposits and $5,000 USD for standard reservations.

Tesla Roadster Battery, Range, and Performance Specs

The figures below are from Tesla’s 2017 announcement and are unconfirmed for the production vehicle.

Tesla has not published a confirmed AC onboard charging rate or DC peak charging figure for the Roadster. Based on the 200 kWh pack size and Tesla’s current Supercharger V3/V4 peak output of 250–350 kW, a 10–80% charge would likely take a minimum of 30–50 minutes under optimal conditions — but no official benchmark exists.

A SpaceX cold-gas thruster package has been mentioned publicly by Elon Musk but has never been confirmed as a production option and should not be treated as a real specification.

Tesla Roadster Price: USD and African Market Equivalents

The base Tesla Roadster is priced at $200,000 USD. The Founders Series is priced at $250,000 USD.

Regional figures are indicative based on current exchange rates and do not include import duties, port clearing fees, or grey-market logistics costs, which add substantially in Nigeria and across most African markets. No African distributor or right-hand-drive variant has been announced.

Who Is the Tesla Roadster For?

The Roadster is a high-net-worth performance purchase, not a commuter or family vehicle. Its buyer profile is someone already within the Tesla ecosystem — likely a Model S Plaid owner seeking a step-up vehicle — or a collector tracking the electric performance space. For the African market, the acquisition cost, absence of local service infrastructure, and unresolved delivery timeline make it an impractical primary vehicle purchase at this stage.

Tesla Roadster vs Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

The Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the closest production rival at a comparable price point (approximately $185,000 USD). Key differences:

The Taycan Turbo GT has verified performance numbers, an active dealer network in South Africa, and real-world ownership data. The Roadster has superior announced specs on paper — but they are announced specs on a car that does not yet exist in production form.

How Does the Tesla Roadster Compare Within Tesla’s Lineup?

The Roadster sits above the Model S Plaid ($89,990 USD), which offers 0–60 mph in 1.99 seconds and 396 miles of EPA range — overlapping with the Roadster’s performance claims at less than half the price. Below the Model S Plaid sits the Model 3 performance, the entry point for buyers who want Tesla performance hardware in an everyday vehicle. The Roadster is positioned as a statement product rather than a practical step in the range.

Tesla Roadster Images

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Full Electric Vehicle Specifications