The SpaceX Roadster Could Hit 60 MPH in Under a Second, but There’s a Catch
Tesla’s next Roadster could hit 60 mph in less time than it takes to blink, thanks to a set of SpaceX-developed thrusters. During its October 15 reveal, Tesla showed the electric sports car completing a launch in a reported 0.81 seconds. That’s an astonishing number, but the timing method matters, and the car still has to prove its performance in production form. The idea of putting rocket technology in a road car sounds like something dreamed up by a particularly ambitious Bond villain. Yet Tesla is serious about its plans, and the engineering behind the Roadster is more interesting than a headline-grabbing stunt.
SpaceX Thrusters Packs A Real Punch
The Roadster’s most unusual feature is its cold-gas thruster system, developed with SpaceX. It uses highly pressurized nitrogen to produce thrust, giving the car an additional source of force during acceleration. Tesla also demonstrated a fan-based suction system that pulls the car toward the road. Four fans and deployable skirts help create suction beneath the body, increasing the load on the tires and giving them more grip. That’s important because even an enormous amount of power won’t produce blistering acceleration if the tires can’t transfer that force to the ground. During a technical walkthrough, Tesla vehicle engineering chief Lars Moravy discussed a potential 0-60 mph time of 0.55 seconds for the extreme Rocket version. That’s a manufacturer performance claim, though, rather than a result independently verified on a production car.
Tesla’s New Roadster Has A Hidden Catch
The timing needs a closer look. Tesla’s reveal included a reported 0.81-second run, which the company also presented as 0.67 seconds after subtracting rollout. A one-foot rollout excludes the initial movement before the timing begins, producing a shorter figure than a test timed from a complete standstill. Moravy’s 0.55-second figure relates to the more extreme Rocket configuration, so it shouldn’t be confused with the demonstrated run. These are different figures with different contexts, and none establishes how a production Roadster will perform under independent testing.
Tesla has discussed three versions of the car. The Performance model targets 0-60 mph in 1.6 seconds, while the Thrust version aims for less than 0.9 seconds. The single-seat Rocket version adds a more extensive thruster system that Tesla says will allow it to lift off the ground. Production is planned for 2028, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. That leaves time for the specifications to change, and the company still needs to show what these systems can do in a finished customer car. The Roadster that uses SpaceX technology to launch itself down the road is certainly an intriguing prospect. For now, though, the sub-second sprint remains a claim to watch, not a production-car record that’s been independently confirmed.
Sources: Tesla, Hagerty YouTube
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