Eight Years On, Tesla Continues to Accept $50K Roadster Reservations That Musk Pledged for 2020 | Carscoops

      Prospective purchasers can place a $5,000 deposit today and will need to pay an additional $45,000 within ten days, yet they are not provided with a definitive delivery schedule or even pricing details.

      Tesla’s website continues to feature a reservation page for the elusive Roadster.

      This two-door electric vehicle can be reserved for $50,000, but an official launch date is still unavailable.

      Elon Musk introduced the Roadster in 2017, asserting it would be ready by 2020.

      This year, there’s optimism about seeing Tesla’s long-anticipated affordable electric vehicle, which some sources suggest might be a “shorter” version of the Model Y, expected to cost at least 20 percent less to manufacture, potentially causing another significant shift in the industry. Currently, it is not listed on the automaker’s website, yet they are willing to accept $50,000 to reserve another mythical electric vehicle that has been in development for an even longer time.

      That vehicle is the second-generation Roadster, which Musk first unveiled in November 2017. Nearly eight years later, Tesla is still accepting deposits, even though there is no information available on when those who reserved might receive their sports cars.

      Production deadlines have been continuously pushed back.

      Musk originally stated that production would begin in 2020, but that date has since moved to 2021, then 2022, 2023, and now 2024. A trend can be observed here, right? Last fall, after hinting at a 2025 production date, Musk expressed gratitude to Roadster deposit holders for their patience, indicating that the company was nearing the final design but cautioned that mainstream models would always take precedence in development.

      This only scratches the surface of the more outrageous claims made over the years, including promises of sub-one-second 0-60 mph acceleration and a SpaceX-branded package featuring ten rocket thrusters allegedly capable of enhancing acceleration, top speed, braking, cornering, and possibly even enabling flight. At this stage, it seems the only limitations are imagination… or the laws of physics.

      While the Roadster is not featured on the website alongside models like the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck in the dropdown menu under the ‘vehicles’ tab, it is listed elsewhere on the site, along with the Semi electric commercial truck.

      $50,000 for a Placeholder

      By clicking the provided link, you will find a page showcasing various CGI images of a red Roadster, both with and without its targa top, as well as a video of Musk’s original presentation. The page promises acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 1.9 seconds, an 8.8-second quarter-mile time, a top speed exceeding 250 mph (402 km/h), and a range of 620 miles. It also states that the Roadster will have all-wheel drive and, unlike many competitors, can accommodate four passengers.

      A 'Reserve Now' button directs you to a straightforward reservation page on Tesla’s US website that features a single image of a red Roadster, without any configuration, color, or trim options offered. Tesla does not even provide a rough price estimate, although in previous years, it was listed between $200,000 and $250,000.

      However, Tesla enthusiasts undeterred by the lack of specific details can place an initial $5,000 deposit using a credit card, and they will need to transfer an additional $45,000 within ten days. It also notes that reservations are not confirmed until the substantial wire transfer is completed.

      It has now been nearly eight years since the Roadster was first introduced, which is an entire lifecycle in automotive terms. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether, when the vehicle finally arrives this year, or the next (or even the year after), it will resemble the one that was promised in 2017, or what is still advertised on the retail site.

      That said, do you believe the Roadster would still generate excitement if it launched with that design and those specifications, or does it seem a bit outdated now? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

      Roadster 0-60 in 1.9s; 0-100 in 4.2s; 250+ mph; 620-mile range; no regrets. You got me, @Tesla @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/MrxdbK3zLa— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) November 18, 2017

      0-60 mph in less than 1 second. And that's the least interesting aspect— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 28, 2024