How does the second-gen EV sports car stack up?
The 2020 Tesla Roadster stole the long-awaited semi-truck’s thunder in a surprise debut last night. With its unheard-of performance and range claims, the new 2020 Roadster leaves its predecessor in the dust. But how does its styling compare? Take a look below and decide for yourself.
The new Roadster looks like it will easily slot into the Tesla lineup, wearing curvy styling cues seen on the Model S, Model X, and Model 3. When the Model S first debuted, its styling didn’t really jibe with that of the old Roadster. That’s because the first-gen Roadster was essentially a rebodied Lotus Elise. This new model was designed from the ground up, so the look is more cohesive.
The 2020 Roadster’s front fascia is smooth and sleek, with only a single trapezoidal opening at the bottom—perhaps the only thing the front end has in common with its predecessor. The headlights are narrow and sit below the fender arches, giving the nose an aggressive, low-slung look.
From the side, the new Roadster now looks the part of a supercar with a narrow greenhouse opening, raked roofline, and small retractable wing. The Roadster again features a targa top, with a removable roof panel that opens up the cabin to the elements. The rear end is just as dramatic as the front, with wide fenders and well-defined shoulders. The taillights almost meld into the bodywork, and are incredibly slim. The rear bumper has an integrated diffuser, which is probably necessary if the car can indeed hit speeds above 250 mph.
Inside, the Roadster continues the minimalist theme of other Tesla models with a Model S-like central screen, futuristic airplane yoke-style steering wheel, and not much else to clutter the dash. There are very thin displays in the dashboard on both the driver and passenger sides that can be configured to show vehicle speed, g forces, or other performance data. The new Tesla Roadster also has rear seats for the first time, bringing total seating capacity to four.
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