If you’re hunting for a pure‑performance EV, the numbers Tesla just dropped might set a new bar. The company claims the next‑generation Roadster will sprint from zero to 100 km/h in a blistering 0.81 seconds, a leap from the 1.9‑second figure they floated in 2017. It will ship in 2028, but only as a left‑hand‑drive model, which is a straight‑up red flag for the Indian market.
Put that against the current leaders. Porsche’s 911 Turbo S does the same in about 2.9 seconds, while the Lucid Air Dream Edition clocks 2.5 seconds – both with a range of roughly 500 km. The Roadster’s claim would, if validated, put it at the very top of the acceleration leaderboard, but the lack of a published range or battery capacity leaves a gap in the picture.
The real kicker is the SpaceX‑fueled thruster system that Tesla showcased in Texas. It let the car perform inverted jumps and a controlled landing, proof‑of‑concept for rocket‑grade thrusts that could, in theory, give it a push boost on the track or in a corner. Whether that tech will survive the rigors of Indian roads, meet safety regulations, and stay within the car’s insurance brackets remains to be seen.
For Indian buyers, the LHD build means you’ll face higher import duties – the current tariff on left‑hand‑drive cars runs at 35 % plus a 15 % GST, not counting any additional compliance costs. There’s no announced launch date for the Roadster in India, so anyone hoping to snatch one off the road will need to wait until Tesla confirms a local release or a right‑hand‑drive variant appears.