New Tesla Roadster May Nonetheless Be Coming with Wild F1-Impressed Tech and Hit 60 MPH in 1 Second or Much less : Automotive Addicts

If it feels just like the Tesla Roadster has been a ghost for practically a decade, you’re not fallacious. First unveiled in 2017 with daring guarantees and Elon Musk’s signature hype, the second-generation Tesla Roadster has develop into the electrical automotive world’s white whale. There’s nonetheless no supply date. No manufacturing fashions. Simply new guarantees, wild patents, and cryptic social media posts.

But, behind the silence, one thing appears to be occurring.

At Tesla’s latest X Takeover occasion in California, Lars Moravy, the corporate’s Vice President of Automobile Engineering, broke the silence—kind of. He described the upcoming Roadster as Tesla’s “final finest driver’s automotive,” positioning it as a kind of remaining chapter earlier than the corporate absolutely leans into autonomy. In accordance with Moravy, the Roadster is supposed to embody every part nice about driving, earlier than computer systems ultimately take over.

Simply left the @Tesla design studio.

Most epic demo ever by finish of 12 months.

Ever.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2025

He hinted that Tesla has been remodeling and rethinking the undertaking, pushing it past the unique imaginative and prescient. “It’s even a little bit bit greater than a automotive,” he mentioned, teasing that Elon Musk was just lately proven new demos that obtained him “a little bit excited.” In fact, no specs or official updates adopted, however Musk promised the “most epic demo ever by finish of 12 months” on his social platform. Naturally, all indicators level to the Roadster.

In the meantime, behind the scenes, Tesla has been quietly submitting patents. One just lately permitted patent outlines an interesting method to energetic aerodynamics, involving a set of deployable floor skirts and electrical followers. These followers, mounted within the rear diffuser space, would suck the automotive to the street—creating synthetic downforce to extend grip and efficiency. If that sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of it’s.

This type of tech, usually referred to as “fan-assisted downforce,” was banned in Components 1 many years in the past. It first appeared in Seventies Can-Am racing and infamously within the 1978 Brabham BT46B, which was so efficient it gained its solely race earlier than being pulled from the grid. Tesla’s take provides trendy sensors and energetic management. The system can alter fan pace and skirt deployment in actual time, probably optimizing grip throughout arduous cornering or easing off for top-speed runs.

And right here’s the place issues get wild. This patent, mixed with Musk’s previous claims about SpaceX-inspired rocket thrusters, suggests Tesla nonetheless needs the Roadster to defy typical efficiency logic. Bear in mind, Musk as soon as mentioned the automotive might hit 60 mph in below one second utilizing chilly fuel thrusters. The fan system appears extra believable, a minimum of from a authorized and engineering perspective.

It’s a intelligent tech, however it’s not solely new. McMurtry’s Spéirling EV makes use of an identical fan idea and produces over 4,400 kilos of downforce—sufficient to theoretically let it drive upside-down. That automotive has already blown minds on observe. Tesla’s system might purpose for comparable ranges of grip, however questions stay about its road-readiness. Uneven pavement, potholes, and every day driving put on don’t combine properly with fan-assisted programs that depend on a robust seal with the bottom.

All this innovation is thrilling, however there’s a lingering difficulty: the Roadster nonetheless doesn’t exist as a customer-ready product. You possibly can reserve one on Tesla’s web site with a $5,000 deposit, adopted by a $45,000 fee inside 10 days. The ultimate value is anticipated to fall between $200,000 and $250,000. It’s a steep determine for a automotive which may solely attraction to a distinct segment group of Tesla loyalists.

And that’s the place the true problem lies.

Even when Tesla delivers the Roadster precisely as promised—with 620 miles of vary, a detachable glass roof, 250+ mph prime pace, all-wheel drive, and record-setting acceleration—supercar patrons might not chunk. The standard high-end efficiency market nonetheless values visceral engagement: engine noise, analog really feel, and uncooked mechanical drama. Many of those patrons have stayed away from electrical vehicles altogether. Even Rimac’s Nevera, one of many quickest EVs ever made, hasn’t generated a lot traction with rich fanatics. And that’s from a model constructed for hypercar efficiency from day one.

Tesla isn’t making an attempt to be Rimac, however it’s arduous to think about the Roadster shaking up the supercar world when that viewers nonetheless leans towards Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and McLarens. It could discover extra success with devoted Tesla followers who need the last word model of the model—one thing extra unique than a Mannequin S Plaid or Mannequin X.

However right here’s the elephant within the room: whereas Tesla pushes the narrative of the Roadster as a game-changer, it’s nonetheless unclear if the corporate ought to even be specializing in a automotive like this proper now. EV gross sales are exhibiting indicators of slowing, and Tesla’s subsequent mass-market automotive—the so-called “Mannequin 2”—nonetheless hasn’t materialized. As an alternative, the rumored subsequent inexpensive Tesla is only a bare-bones Mannequin Y with fewer options.

In that context, spending assets on a six-figure halo automotive might really feel out of step. A really inexpensive new mannequin might transfer the needle way over a 1-second 0-to-60 gimmick automotive, irrespective of how cool it appears or sounds on paper.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying the joy across the Roadster. It’s the sort of automotive that pushes boundaries and stirs imaginations. Whether or not it ever arrives as promised—or arrives in any respect—stays to be seen. However for now, Tesla needs the world to consider it’s nonetheless coming. And with fan-assisted downforce and Elon-sized ambition, it simply is perhaps wild sufficient to work.

Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on the planet of vehicles. Whether or not it’s exploring the newest developments in automotive expertise or maintaining an in depth pulse on breaking trade information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or below the hood, Lloyd enjoys check driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.