He also claims the Roadster may be able to fly with the SpaceX option package.
Elon Musk, the man who turned electric cars from geek to chic with Tesla, is back at it again with claims that sound straight out of a sci-fi movie. He’s promising the new Tesla Roadster will zoom from 0 to 60 mph in less than a second. Yes, you read that right, less than one whole second. But before we get too excited and start saving every penny, let’s take a closer look at what’s behind this mind-bending claim.
First off, Musk’s announcement set the internet ablaze, as usual. His knack for hyping up Tesla’s innovations is unmatched. He’s even teased that the Roadster will come with a SpaceX package, including 10 small rocket thrusters around the car. Rockets! On a car! If that doesn’t scream “next level,” I don’t know what does. But as always, with great power comes great skepticism.
Enter Mate Rimac, the CEO of Bugatti-Rimac, who knows a thing or two about fast cars. Rimac chimed in, saying hitting 60 mph in under a second is possible, but there’s a big but. You’d need thrusters, because, according to simulations, traditional electric car setups just won’t cut it. The catch? Those thrusters would add a ton of dead weight once their job is done, making the car a heavyweight champ when you’re not smashing acceleration records.
Rimac isn’t dismissing the idea entirely. He’s just pointing out the engineering gymnastics required to make it happen. It’s like saying, sure, you can have a flying car, but it might only fly once and then turn into a pumpkin. Not exactly practical for picking up groceries.
Tesla’s been teasing this new Roadster since 2017, promising it’ll be the fastest car in its lineup, with a range of 620 miles on a single charge, and a top speed exceeding 250 mph. Those are already jaw-dropping numbers, but Musk’s latest claim is the cherry on top. It’s worth noting, though, that Rimac’s own electric hypercar, the Nevera, tips the scales at over 5,000 pounds and still manages a 0 to 60 mph sprint in under 2.0 seconds. So, the idea isn’t far-fetched, just… complicated.
As for when we’ll see this marvel of modern engineering, Musk says the design should be unveiled by the end of 2024, with production slated for 2025. If history is any guide, Tesla fans might want to take those dates with a grain of salt. Musk’s timelines have a way of being more aspirational than actual.
What’s clear is that Tesla is pushing the envelope, not just in terms of speed but in how we think about cars and their capabilities. Whether or not the Roadster achieves its sub-one-second goal, it’s already succeeded in sparking imaginations and debates. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll inspire more innovations that bring us closer to the future of driving we’ve always dreamed of—rocket thrusters included.
