All Aboard The Hype Train: Tesla Says The New Roadster Could Hit 330 MPH

Tesla currently targets a top speed of 214 mph, but it wants the Roadster to break into 300-mph territory.

2028 Tesla Roadster

Photo by: Tesla

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Oct 19, at 4:04am ET

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Bugatti, Koenigsegg, SSC, and Hennessey have chased the elusive 300-mph barrier, turning top-speed bragging rights into an engineering one-upmanship battle. Now, Tesla wants a piece of the action. The long-delayed Roadster targets a top speed of 330 mph (531 km/h), which would put it in seriously rare company if (and that's a big "if") the electric supercar delivers on that ambitious promise.

After all, we are talking about Tesla, so a heavy dose of skepticism is always recommended. If the company delivers, its electric supercar would become the fastest production car ever. There's an important distinction between what Tesla has demonstrated and what it says the Roadster will eventually achieve. The 330-mph target remains a work in progress, and the company still has plenty to prove before production begins.

According to details shared following the reveal, the new Roadster will use two electric motors mounted on the rear axle. The standard model is expected to deliver around 1,073 hp and 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) of torque, while the Performance version raises output to approximately 1,350 hp and 1,033 lb-ft (1,400 Nm).

From 214 MPH To 330 MPH

For now, the Roadster's claimed top speed is a more reasonable 214 mph (345 km/h), but Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy told Top Gear magazine that a future version will aim for 330 mph (531 mph). Tesla has made ambitious promises about the Roadster before, so we'll reserve judgment until real-world testing backs up those claims.

As for the other specs, Tesla cites a driving range of 310 to 320 miles (500 to 515 kilometers), depending on the version. That's roughly half the range promised in 2017, when the original concept for the second-generation Roadster broke cover. While the battery's capacity remains a mystery, the company says the car supports 500-kW charging, enabling a 10-to-80-percent charge in less than 15 minutes.

Now, about the name. Technically, it isn't a roadster because it has T-top roof panels you can manually remove and store in the trunk. In its lightest configuration, Top Gear claims the car weighs less than 3,747 pounds (1,700 kilograms), which isn't too bad for an EV. Then again, this isn't your ordinary commuter electric car, given its carbon-fiber body and six-figure price tag.

2028 Tesla Roadster

2028 Tesla Roadster

Photo by: Tesla

Rocket Thrusters Take Acceleration To Another Level

Tesla plans to offer the Roadster in four configurations: Standard, Performance, Thrust, and Rocket. The first two rely on conventional tire grip, although the Performance model adds active aerodynamics and fans that generate ground effect by sucking the car toward the pavement.

The Thrust version takes things further with a pressurized-air tank and four rear-facing nozzles. By firing compressed air rather than relying solely on the tires to transfer power to the road, Tesla is targeting a sub-one-second sprint to 60 mph.

Then there's the range-topping Rocket model, which removes the passenger seat to make room for additional compressed-air storage. Its six extra thrusters can help the car change direction, stabilize itself, and even lift off the ground. Tesla is targeting a mind-boggling 0-to-60-mph time of 0.59 seconds for this version.

Naturally, the flying party trick comes with a catch. The Rocket's thrusters rely on stored compressed air, so the system has a limited supply before it needs replenishing. This isn't exactly the kind of technology you'll use on your daily commute, even if Tesla somehow makes it practical for public roads.

2028 Tesla Roadster

Tesla Roadster performs autonomous flying stunts

Source: Tesla

Production Is Still A Couple Of Years Away

Tesla says production is scheduled to begin in 2028, more than a decade after it unveiled the original concept for the second-generation model. Reservations are already open, with a $50,000 deposit for the Performance version and $250,000 for the Thrust model. The Rocket variant is available by invitation, and final pricing for the more extreme versions remains unclear.

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For now, though, those performance figures remain targets rather than independently verified production-car achievements. Tesla has a history of setting bold deadlines, and the Roadster has already spent years in development. If it eventually delivers even most of what's been promised, the wait could be worth it.

Until then, we'll keep our feet firmly on the ground. After all, reaching 330 mph isn't just about horsepower. The tires also need to withstand enormous centrifugal forces, and even Bugatti needed specially reinforced Michelin tires to take the Chiron beyond 300 mph, reaching 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h) in 2019. Those tires were derived from the road-going specification but reinforced specifically for the record attempt.