The original Roadster, produced from 2008 to 2012 on a modified Lotus Elise chassis, was Tesla's first car. It used lithium-ion cells and had a range of more than 200 miles per charge. It proved that electric cars could be fast and desirable, and it funded the company's move to mass-market models. A far more powerful second-generation Roadster was revealed in 2017 as a future halo car.
The car that proved an electric vehicle could be really quick. It was built on a Lotus Elise chassis with a 53 kWh pack and a single rear motor. It gave Tesla its credibility and its first cult following before the company ever built a sedan.
18years
2generations
3trims
245–986hp range
The Lineage
2 generations · tap any to explore2 trimsRoadster
2008–2011
1 trimNext-Gen (2020-)
2020–now
The Story
Why the Roadster mattersTrims · Next-Gen (2020-)
1 trim · 2020–nowThe next-generation Roadster, revealed in 2017, promises sub-two-second acceleration and a targeted range beyond 600 miles.
★ Only trim
Roadster (Next-Gen)
Roadster · 2020–now
Power
986 hp
Body
Roadster
Debut
2020
Production
2020–now
View the Roadster (Next-Gen)