Tesla is running late again.
The new Tesla Roadster has been delayed until at least 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed, after originally promising to deliver the car in 2020.
“Finishing engineering this year, production starts next year,” Mr Musk tweeted.
“Aiming to have release candidate design drivable late summer. Tri-motor drive system and advanced battery work were important precursors.”
When it was revealed in 2017, owners who laid down US$50,000 deposits were reportedly told to expect a 2020 delivery date for the second-generation Roadster.
The regular Roadster is priced at US$200,000 (A$260,000) while the Founder’s Edition has a $250,000 (A$325,000) sticker price.
As is Mr Musk’s wont, the Roadster was revealed with a raft of huge claims about its performance and feature set.
The drop-top electric sports car will supposedly accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 1.9 seconds, hit 160km/h in 4.2 seconds, and smash through the quarter mile in 8.9 seconds. A SpaceX version with cold-air thrusters has also been promised.
With a 200kWh battery pack and a claimed range of around 1000km, the Roadster promises to put the current Tesla line-up in the shade on all fronts.
Mr Musk has previously said the Roadster is a low priority for Tesla, which is currently working to develop the Cybertruck and is producing the Model S and Model X large cars, and the mid-sized Model 3 and Model Y.
Although its sexy sports car flagship is delayed, Tesla has recently revealed something for drivers who want to scare themselves silly in a straight line.
The Model S Plaid will do the 60mph (97km/h) sprint in less than two seconds, and the quarter mile in less than nine seconds thanks to its tri-motor all-wheel drive system.
Claimed top speed is north of 320km/h, and the powertrain lays down 820kW of power. Despite the wild performance, Tesla is promising a range of 835km between charges.
Mr Musk says the Plaid lapped Laguna Seca in 1:30.3, making it faster than the Lucid Air that stole the electric vehicle record from a Model S Plaid prototype earlier this year.
The goal for the Plaid is to better the 1:27.62 set by Randy Pobst in a McLaren Senna at Laguna Seca.
