Tesla is promising a new, flagship two-seat Roadster underpinned by cutting-edge EV technology that will “push the envelope beyond what anybody else is doing”.
No date has been set yet for the second-generation roadster’s launch, but it could be on the market in about five years, after Tesla has established its core three-model range of EVs.
Tesla boss George Blankenship said, “If you fast forward beyond that, we go back to the roadster and do things that people aren’t doing and push the envelope. That would be the next-generation roadster.”
Tesla’s latest arrival, the Model S saloon, is due to go on sale in the UK this year. The Model X SUV will follow in 2014-2015 and a 3-series-sized four-door in 2015-2016.
Blankenship believes that EV technology is evolving so rapidly that the new Roadster will improve on the original Roadster’s range of 200 miles and 0-60mph in under 4.0sec.
“The original roadster was a proof-of-concept car,” he said. “We did an electric car with over a 200-mile range and 0-60mph in under four seconds. Back then, no one believed it was possible. And then we did the Model S saloon, with 0-60mph in 4.4sec and a 300-mile range.”
Blankenship also runs Tesla’s dealer network, a task that he plans to build around his experience from his previous job, where he helped the global roll-out of Apple Stores.
“We have identified a site in central London where we will set up our first UK Tesla store. It’s a high-profile location,” he said.
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VW margin
You only need to look at the VW margin by brand to see if you can take a nice slice of the top end of market then the margin per car is massive. Tesla is building that brand value and have a USP to get them there. I wonder if they are even planning to hit the mass market! I also sense that younger generations will be drawn to electric it seems to sit better in the clean cut Apple generation and I don't mean admissions. I like the idea of not having a so many dirty oily bits and the fact you don't need a big lump of metal all in one place.
Hmmm ...
I appreciate that testing/proving electric vehicle propulsion requires massive financial input and the only way to recoup the costs is to build expensive vehicles, but until the big car companies get wise to the act and build affordable cars, then electric vehciles will remain merely the playthings of the elite ...
Hmmm...
Like the Renault Zoe then?