Nine-Year Delay: Tesla Pushes Back Roadster Hypercar Launch Again

Elon Musk has once again postponed the launch of the second-generation Tesla Roadster. Meanwhile, competitors are already surpassing Tesla’s previously hyped claims for speed and range.

The new Roadster was first announced back in November 2017. Tesla’s last promised unveiling date was April 1, but that deadline has slipped yet again, continuing a long-running pattern of delays.

“New Roadster unveil probably in late April,” Musk tweeted on X.

Musk’s promises for the new Roadster have always pushed the limits of imagination. He spoke of “alien technology” and even hinted at the use of ten mini cold-gas thrusters from SpaceX to allow the car to hover.

Official specifications include a tri-motor powertrain, a 200 kWh battery pack, 0–60 mph acceleration in under one second, a top speed exceeding 250 mph, and a range close to 620 miles.

But while Tesla hesitates, ultra-fast EVs are no longer unique. The track-focused McMurtry Spéirling hits 60 mph in 1.38 seconds, while the luxury Lucid Air Sapphire does it in 1.89 seconds on any surface. As for top speed, the Croatian hypercar Rimac Nevera R has already reached 268 mph, exceeding even Musk’s ambitious targets.

Range records are also shifting away from Tesla. The Lucid Air Grand Touring already achieves up to 513 miles per charge, while some EVs from BMW and Chevrolet are closing in on the Roadster’s claimed numbers.