New Tesla Roadster Might Still Be Coming with Wild F1-Inspired Tech and Hit 60 MPH in 1 Second or Less : Automotive Addicts

If it feels like the Tesla Roadster has been a ghost for nearly a decade, you’re not wrong. First unveiled in 2017 with bold promises and Elon Musk’s signature hype, the second-generation Tesla Roadster has become the electric car world’s white whale. There’s still no delivery date. No production models. Just new promises, wild patents, and cryptic social media posts.

Yet, behind the silence, something seems to be happening.

At Tesla’s recent X Takeover event in California, Lars Moravy, the company’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, broke the silence—sort of. He described the upcoming Roadster as Tesla’s “last best driver’s car,” positioning it as a sort of final chapter before the company fully leans into autonomy. According to Moravy, the Roadster is meant to embody everything great about driving, before computers eventually take over.

Just left the @Tesla design studio.

Most epic demo ever by end of year.

Ever.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2025

He hinted that Tesla has been reworking and rethinking the project, pushing it beyond the original vision. “It’s even a little bit more than a car,” he said, teasing that Elon Musk was recently shown new demos that got him “a little excited.” Of course, no specs or official updates followed, but Musk promised the “most epic demo ever by end of year” on his social platform. Naturally, all signs point to the Roadster.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Tesla has been quietly filing patents. One recently approved patent outlines a fascinating approach to active aerodynamics, involving a set of deployable ground skirts and electric fans. These fans, mounted in the rear diffuser area, would suck the car to the road—creating artificial downforce to increase grip and performance. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it is.

This kind of tech, often called “fan-assisted downforce,” was banned in Formula 1 decades ago. It first appeared in 1970s Can-Am racing and infamously in the 1978 Brabham BT46B, which was so effective it won its only race before being pulled from the grid. Tesla’s take adds modern sensors and active control. The system can adjust fan speed and skirt deployment in real time, potentially optimizing grip during hard cornering or easing off for top-speed runs.

And here’s where things get wild. This patent, combined with Musk’s past claims about SpaceX-inspired rocket thrusters, suggests Tesla still wants the Roadster to defy conventional performance logic. Remember, Musk once said the car could hit 60 mph in under one second using cold gas thrusters. The fan system seems more plausible, at least from a legal and engineering perspective.

It’s a clever tech, but it’s not entirely new. McMurtry’s Spéirling EV uses a similar fan concept and produces over 4,400 pounds of downforce—enough to theoretically let it drive upside-down. That car has already blown minds on track. Tesla’s system could aim for similar levels of grip, but questions remain about its road-readiness. Uneven pavement, potholes, and daily driving wear don’t mix well with fan-assisted systems that rely on a strong seal with the ground.

All this innovation is exciting, but there’s a lingering issue: the Roadster still doesn’t exist as a customer-ready product. You can reserve one on Tesla’s website with a $5,000 deposit, followed by a $45,000 payment within 10 days. The final price is expected to fall between $200,000 and $250,000. It’s a steep figure for a car that might only appeal to a niche group of Tesla loyalists.

And that’s where the real challenge lies.

Even if Tesla delivers the Roadster exactly as promised—with 620 miles of range, a removable glass roof, 250+ mph top speed, all-wheel drive, and record-setting acceleration—supercar buyers may not bite. The traditional high-end performance market still values visceral engagement: engine noise, analog feel, and raw mechanical drama. Many of these buyers have stayed away from electric cars altogether. Even Rimac’s Nevera, one of the fastest EVs ever made, hasn’t generated much traction with wealthy enthusiasts. And that’s from a brand built for hypercar performance from day one.

Tesla isn’t trying to be Rimac, but it’s hard to imagine the Roadster shaking up the supercar world when that audience still leans toward Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and McLarens. It may find more success with devoted Tesla fans who want the ultimate version of the brand—something more exotic than a Model S Plaid or Model X.

But here’s the elephant in the room: while Tesla pushes the narrative of the Roadster as a game-changer, it’s still unclear if the company should even be focusing on a car like this right now. EV sales are showing signs of slowing, and Tesla’s next mass-market car—the so-called “Model 2”—still hasn’t materialized. Instead, the rumored next affordable Tesla is just a bare-bones Model Y with fewer features.

In that context, spending resources on a six-figure halo car could feel out of step. A truly affordable new model could move the needle far more than a 1-second 0-to-60 gimmick car, no matter how cool it looks or sounds on paper.

Still, there’s no denying the excitement around the Roadster. It’s the kind of car that pushes boundaries and stirs imaginations. Whether it ever arrives as promised—or arrives at all—remains to be seen. But for now, Tesla wants the world to believe it’s still coming. And with fan-assisted downforce and Elon-sized ambition, it just might be wild enough to work.

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