2008 to 2012 · Successor due to be revealed October 15, 2026

Tesla Roadster

Tesla's first car, a lithium-ion electric sports car assembled by Lotus from 2008 to 2012, and the name of a successor first shown in 2017 that Tesla has scheduled to reveal on October 15, 2026.

The story of the Roadster

In 2003 Martin Eberhard wanted an electric sports car that nobody would sell him. The car he had in mind was the tzero, a prototype roadster from AC Propulsion, a small California engineering firm, which he helped convert from lead-acid to lithium-ion cells that year. The lithium tzero could cover roughly 300 miles on a charge. AC Propulsion did not want to put it into production, so in July 2003 Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning incorporated Tesla Motors to do it themselves. Their plan was practical: license and re-engineer AC Propulsion's drive technology and install it in a rolling chassis based on the Lotus Elise.

Money followed a test drive. JB Straubel told Elon Musk about the lithium tzero, and after Musk drove it he led Tesla's $7.5 million Series A in early 2004, putting in $6.5 million and becoming chairman. The car took shape as a joint effort with Lotus, which assembled it at its plant in Hethel, England, while Tesla supplied most of the parts. The finished Roadster looked like an Elise but shared only about 6 percent of its parts with one, among them the windshield, airbags, some dashboard pieces and suspension components. Its body was carbon fiber, and under it sat Tesla's own battery: 6,831 lithium-ion cells of the 18650 size used in laptops, wired into a pack of about 56 kWh.

Tesla showed the car on July 19, 2006, to about 350 invited guests in a hangar at Santa Monica Airport. Getting it to customers proved much harder. The planned two-speed transmission would not survive the motor's torque, and a 2007 audit put the cost of each car near $140,000, far above the $65,000 management had estimated. Eberhard was out as chief executive by August 2007. The first production car, known as P1, went to Musk on February 1, 2008. That September, Powertrain 1.5 replaced the troubled gearbox with a single-speed unit built by BorgWarner, raised torque and earned an EPA combined range rating of 244 miles. Every Tesla since has used a single-speed layout.

The financial crisis nearly finished the company. Musk became chief executive in October 2008, cut about a quarter of the staff, and closed a $40 million round on Christmas Eve that, by his later account, kept Tesla days from bankruptcy. In January 2009 the price rose to $109,000 from the original $92,000. By May, Daimler had bought a stake of close to 10 percent for $50 million.

The Roadster then spent three years proving its point. A 2.0 update and a quicker Roadster Sport arrived in mid-2009, and a Roadster driven by Simon Hackett and Emilis Prelgauskas covered 501 km on one charge in Australia that October. The Roadster 2.5, with a new nose and better seats, premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2010. Production ended in January 2012, when Tesla's supply of Lotus gliders ran out, after about 2,450 cars had been sold in more than 30 countries. Years later, in 2016, Tesla offered owners a Roadster 3.0 battery upgrade rated at about 340 miles, and in February 2018 Musk's own 2010 Roadster rode the first Falcon Heavy into orbit around the Sun.

The name is due to return. Tesla showed a second-generation Roadster concept in November 2017 with targets of under two seconds to 60 mph, more than 250 mph and about 620 miles of range, then delayed it repeatedly, including a 2021 postponement to 2023 and a missed April 2026 unveiling. On September 12, 2026, Tesla said it would reveal the new car on October 1, 2026, near Waco, Texas, with production expected 12 to 18 months later. On September 28 it moved the outdoor event to October 15, citing a forecast of severe weather. Until then every figure for the new car remains a target, not a tested result.

Generations

2008–2012 Original Roadster

Tesla's first car, a carbon-fiber two-seater assembled by Lotus on a heavily modified Elise-based chassis, sold from 2008 until production ended in January 2012 after about 2,450 cars.

The original Roadster was a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car assembled by Lotus at Hethel, England, from parts largely supplied by Tesla. Its chassis descended from the Lotus Elise, but the wheelbase was two inches longer, the frame carried extra stiffening for the battery, the body panels were carbon fiber, and the car weighed more than 700 pounds more than an Elise. Only about 6 percent of parts were shared. The battery was Tesla's own design: 6,831 cylindrical 18650 lithium-ion cells grouped into bricks and sheets for a pack of about 56 kWh at a nominal 375 volts.

Early production was rough. Tesla's first two transmission suppliers could not build a two-speed gearbox that lasted, and in December 2007 Tesla said early cars would ship locked in second gear, which slowed the 0 to 60 mph time to 5.7 seconds. The first production car, P1, reached Musk on February 1, 2008. In September 2008 Powertrain 1.5 switched to a single-speed BorgWarner gearbox, raised torque from 211 to 280 lb-ft and brought an EPA combined range of 244 miles. Tesla offered the update to earlier owners at no charge.

In July 2009 Tesla began building the 2010 model-year Roadster, known as the 2.0, and added the Roadster Sport, with 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds against 3.9 for the standard car. Right-hand-drive cars followed in early 2010. The Roadster 2.5 premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 2, 2010, with a new front fascia, a rear diffuser, larger and more supportive seats, extra sound deadening and an optional touch-screen navigation system with a backup camera.

Lotus built the gliders under a contract that ran out at the end of 2011, and Tesla had stopped taking US orders in August 2011. Production ended in January 2012, closing with 15 Final Edition cars, five each for North America, Europe and Asia, painted Atomic Red. About 2,450 Roadsters were sold in more than 30 countries. In 2016 Tesla began shipping the Roadster 3.0 package for existing cars, a 70 kWh pack plus lower-rolling-resistance tires and bearing and brake changes, priced at $29,000 and rated by Tesla at about 340 miles.

Variants

Years	Variant	Drive	Battery	EPA range	0–60 mph	Top speed
2008-2009	Roadster (Powertrain 1.5)	Rear-wheel drive	about 56 kWh	244 mi	—	—
2009-2010	Roadster 2.0	Rear-wheel drive	—	244 mi	3.9 s	125 mph
2009-2010	Roadster Sport 2.0	Rear-wheel drive	—	244 mi	3.7 s	125 mph
2010-2012	Roadster 2.5	Rear-wheel drive	—	244 mi	—	—
2010-2012	Roadster Sport 2.5	Rear-wheel drive	—	244 mi	3.7 s	—

Each variant name links to the source for its figures. A dash means no reliable published figure.

EPA ratings

Year	Trim	Drive	Range	MPGe (comb.)	Source
2008	Roadster	Rear-Wheel Drive	244 mi	Not EPA-rated	—
2010	Roadster Sport (V2.5)	Rear-Wheel Drive	244 mi	Not EPA-rated	—

This car predates EPA electric-vehicle efficiency ratings; range is Tesla's published figure.

What changed, year by year

2006 Roadster shown in Santa Monica

Tesla showed the Roadster publicly for the first time on July 19, 2006, to about 350 invited guests at Barker Hangar, Santa Monica Airport, and opened orders for the Signature One Hundred series.
Source
2008 First production car delivered

The first production Roadster, P1, was delivered to Elon Musk on February 1, 2008, at Tesla's Menlo Park headquarters. Tesla had said in December 2007 that early cars would ship with the two-speed gearbox locked in second gear.
Source
2008 Powertrain 1.5 and single-speed gearbox

In September 2008 Tesla completed Powertrain 1.5 with a single-speed BorgWarner gearbox and higher motor current. Torque rose from 211 to 280 lb-ft and the EPA combined range rating was 244 miles. Earlier cars were upgraded at no charge.
Source
2009 Price rises to $109,000

In January 2009 the Roadster's price rose to $109,000 from the original $92,000, and items such as the 70-amp home charger became options.
Source
2009 Roadster 2.0 and Roadster Sport

In July 2009 Tesla began building the 2010 model-year Roadster (2.0) and added the Roadster Sport, rated at 3.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph against 3.9 seconds for the standard car.
Source
2010 Right-hand drive for the UK

Tesla began producing right-hand-drive Roadsters in early 2010 and launched them from its London showroom.

How to recognize it: Steering wheel on the right.
Source
2010 Roadster 2.5

The Roadster 2.5 premiered at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 2, 2010, with a new front fascia, rear diffuser, larger seats with better bolsters and lumbar support, more sound deadening and an optional touch-screen navigation system with backup camera.

How to recognize it: Revised front fascia with a diffusing vent, rear diffuser, and directional forged wheels offered in silver or black.
Source
2011 US orders close

Tesla stopped taking US orders for the Roadster in August 2011. Its contract with Lotus for gliders expired at the end of 2011.
Source
2012 Production ends with the Final Edition

Roadster production ended in January 2012. The last 15 cars, five each for North America, Europe and Asia, were Final Edition Roadsters in Atomic Red with dark silver stripes and anthracite wheels.

How to recognize it: Atomic Red paint, dark silver front and rear stripes, anthracite aluminum wheels.
Source
2016 Roadster 3.0 battery upgrade ships

After a 2015 test drive of about 340 miles from San Jose to Santa Monica, Tesla began shipping the Roadster 3.0 package for existing cars in 2016: a 70 kWh pack plus new tires, brakes and wheel bearings, priced at $29,000.
Source
2017 Second-generation Roadster concept shown

Tesla showed a new Roadster concept in November 2017 with targets of under two seconds to 60 mph, more than 250 mph and about 620 miles of range.
Source
2018 Musk's Roadster launched into space

Musk's own 2010 Roadster, with a mannequin called Starman at the wheel, was the dummy payload on the first Falcon Heavy flight on February 6, 2018, and became an artificial satellite of the Sun.
Source
2021 Next-generation Roadster pushed to 2023

In September 2021 Tesla delayed the new Roadster to 2023, at the same time it pushed the Cybertruck to late 2022.
Source
2026 Reveal set for October 1, 2026

After an expected April 2026 unveiling did not happen, Tesla said on September 12, 2026 that it would reveal the second-generation Roadster on October 1, 2026 in Waco, Texas.
Source
2026 Reveal moved to October 15, 2026

On September 28, 2026, Tesla moved the outdoor reveal from October 1 to October 15, saying severe weather was forecast near Waco.
Source

Did you know

The Roadster looked like a Lotus Elise but shared only about 6 percent of its parts with one, mainly the windshield, airbags, some dashboard pieces and suspension parts.
Source
Its battery pack held 6,831 lithium-ion cells of the 18650 size then common in laptop batteries.
Source
On October 27, 2009, Simon Hackett and Emilis Prelgauskas drove a Roadster 501 km from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy on one charge during Australia's Global Green Challenge, reported as a record for a production electric car. Tesla quoted the distance as 313 miles.
Source
In 2010 a Roadster driven by former Formula One driver Erik Comas won the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally, a three-day event of nearly 1,000 km, beating 96 competitors. Tesla called it the first win by an electric car in an FIA-sanctioned championship.
Source
German owner Hansjörg von Gemmingen, who had the 83rd Roadster delivered in Europe, passed 100,000 km in less than two years; in May 2011 Tesla said no customer had driven farther.
Source
The last 15 Roadsters were Final Edition cars, five each for North America, Europe and Asia, finished in Atomic Red.
Source
Musk's own 2010 Roadster, which he had used to commute, became the first production car launched into space when it rode the first Falcon Heavy on February 6, 2018.
Source
Years after production ended, Tesla sold original owners a $29,000 Roadster 3.0 upgrade with a 70 kWh pack, rated at about 340 miles of range.
Source
The second-generation Roadster was first shown in November 2017. Its full reveal, now scheduled for October 15, 2026 after a weather delay, comes nearly nine years later.
Source
Tesla's plans for the new Roadster include an option for SpaceX-developed cold gas thrusters, with a limited-edition "flying Roadster" planned alongside a road-legal version.
Source

Story The Five People Who Started Tesla Two engineers who had already sold an e-book company, a New Zealand car builder, a battery tinkerer and a PayPal millionaire. A 2009 settlement says all five can call themselves founders. Their paths split long before that. Story The Small Team That Built the First Tesla A borrowed idea from AC Propulsion, a chassis from Lotus, a battery made of laptop cells and a near-fatal 2008 turned a two-person startup into a carmaker. Story How Elon Musk Got to Tesla, and the Bet of 2008 Two software companies, a rocket maker and a Series A check led Elon Musk to Tesla. In the last months of 2008, he put both his companies on the line at once. Story The Sedan Tesla Bet Everything On Between a Christmas Eve rescue in 2008 and an early loan repayment in 2013, the Model S took Tesla from near-bankruptcy to a profitable car company. Story Starman and the Roadster That Left Earth On February 6, 2018, SpaceX's first Falcon Heavy carried Elon Musk's own Tesla Roadster, a mannequin at the wheel, out of Earth orbit and into a loop around the sun that it is still flying.

Roadster links

Wikipedia: Tesla Roadster (first generation)
In-depth history and references.
r/TeslaRoadster
Owner community on Reddit.
Video reviews on YouTube
Road tests and long-term owner reviews.
Wikipedia: Tesla Roadster (second generation)
The next-generation Roadster, shown in 2017 and due to be revealed October 15, 2026.

Sources

Spot an error or a change we missed? Suggest a correction.