If you’re in the crowd at a Tesla unveiling, it’s fair to assume there might be a surprise or two in store. But in November 2017, those gathered in Los Angeles for the unveiling of Tesla’s first electric semi-truck were treated to an unexpected debut that really raised the bar. After unveiling the Tesla Semi, Elon Musk then revealed what was hidden inside the truck – the new Tesla Roadster. The second-gen version of Tesla’s original EV boasts some staggering numbers and will be available in 2020, a year after the Semi takes to the road.
TESLA SEMI
Range: Tesla claims a 805km (500 mile) range for the Semi – crucially, this figure factors in maximum weight and driving at highway speed. The Semi will also be able to replenish 644km (400 miles) of range in 30 minutes at a new Tesla Megacharger. The Semi’s battery is in the floor pan, lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity
Brakes: The Semi will feature regenerative braking and feed recovered energy back into the battery. Musk stated that the brake pads on the Semi will never wear out!
Pulling power: The Tesla Semi will do 0-97km/h (0-60mph) in 5 seconds. It will also reach 105km/h (65mph) on a 5% grade – Musk took great delight in pointing out that diesel trucks peak at 72km/h (45mph)
Safety: The Semi features four independent motors – one on each of the rear wheels – and independent front suspension. This powertrain setup plays a fundamental role in the truck’s jackknife prevention, as each motor will dynamically adjust the torque in each wheel in an emergency
TESLA ROADSTER
Battery: The new Roadster will have a 200kWh battery pack, good for single-charge range of 1,000km (620 miles)
Cabin: The new Roadster is a four-seater thanks to a 2+2 cabin layout, and will also be a convertible
Top speed: The Roadster will be the fastest production car ever made. It will cover 0-97km/h (0-60mph) in a mind-boggling 1.9 seconds. If that wasn’t enough, 0-161km/h (0-100mph) will take just 4.2 seconds, and the vehicle will cover a quarter mile in 8.9 seconds. The top speed hasn’t been revealed, but Musk stated that the maximum figure will be in excess of 402km/h (250mph)
Motors: The Roadster will have three motors, one in the front and two in the rear. It will be all-wheel drive and produce a staggering 10,000Nm of torque
