Elon Musk has once again attempted to build the hype around his next generation Tesla Roadster. So, is the Tesla CEO ready to finally make history with the new Roadster? The car was announced in 2017 and has been delayed every year since then. After the recent public backlash the Cybertruck is facing, Musk has seemingly put all his hopes on the new Tesla Roadster, making some incredible statements in interview with Don Lemon. Some of the statements have the automotive industry scratching their heads.
Can Elon Musk make history with the all new Tesla Roadster?
Prototypes of the first generation Tesla Roadster were unveiled to the public in 2006 in Santa Monica, California. That first generation was indeed a history maker. It was the first fully electric car that used a lithium battery pack. It was also the first electric car that could drive 244 miles between charges. Not to mention that it holds the record as the first production car to go into space.
So one can understand the precedent of the Roadster being a game changer. And why Musk is making the claims publicly, stating that the new Roadster is “not even really a car”. So what does he mean by that and is there any evidence back up his remarkable claims of performance? The new Roadster has been in development since 2017 and has experienced a number of delays.
Musk claims that the new car will be a partnership between Tesla and his other flagship company, SpaceX. He claims the new car will have a 0-60mph time under a second. That would make it faster than anything on public roads. Faster than any Lamborghini, Bugatti or Ferrari. It would be the fastest car in the world. He also claims that the car will have some “rocketry” technology. So that’s where SpaceX comes in.
Will this bring Tesla back from the dead and revive Musk’s reputation?
It appears that Musk is unable, or perhaps unwilling, to stay out of the headlines. The negative response from the public regarding the Cybertruck was unsettling. And with Tesla dealerships across the world being vandalised, will the Roadster be the car that brings Tesla sales back to where Musk wants them to be? His claims that SpaceX will be involved and bring its rocket technology to the car is an interesting proposition.
However, the concept of Rocket technology in a car seems a little far fetched. But Musk insists that is what we are going to see. He even went as far as to say that the new car might be capable of flight. When asked by Don Lemon if the car would be able to fly, he simply said, “maybe”. By the evidence we have at hand regarding Musk and his claims, it’s going to take a lot more than a “maybe” to convince the public.
He has a history of making outlandish claims. He said back in 2016 that by 2022 his company would have human being on Mars. Back then he was seen as an innovator and a businessman with a keen eye for tech. Now, we all know him slightly better. The partnership between Tesla and SpaceX, even if it is a forced one, could be Tesla’s last chance to make a comeback.
Will the new Roadster be the car that Musk and Tesla are claiming it will be?
Last year Musk said that Tesla would begin production for the new Roadster in 2025. So will we see the car this year that could potentially change history? The competition is making huge strides forward in the EV market. So the pressure is mounting on Tesla and Musk to make a comeback worthy of the history books. Will the new Roadster really be the fastest car in the world? WIll it really have rocket technology from SpaceX? How much will all this cost the consumer? With Musk’s current position as a “Special Government Employee”, can Tesla regain its control of the EV sector?
