Tesla Roadster, the practical side: removable roof, a charge port under the wing and limited FSD
New Roadster details from MotorTrend's coverage: removable roof panels, luggage space, a click-in wiper and a limited version of FSD.
After the flights and the acceleration figures, it's time for the everyday details. "CARN0N" rounded up the highlights of "MotorTrend"'s new video on X, and the magazine's written first look backs up most of them. The picture that emerges: a spectacular supercar that has also been thought through for normal roads. The full launch story is in our reveal article.
Removable roof and room for luggage
The doors lift on two hinges, and each carries a glass panel you can take out. With the windows down and the panels removed, the Roadster becomes a T-top. Without the pressure tank used by the thruster versions, Tesla says the space behind the seats takes two carry-on cases and two small bags.
Photo: Tesla
The charge port hides under the wing
Photo: Tesla
To charge, the rear wing has to be raised to reveal the carbon-fibre port door in the left rear corner. The wiper is clever too: a small round piece pops out at the base of the windscreen, and the arm clicks into it only when it rains.
A simple cockpit with a boost control
Photo: Tesla
The seat base is fixed, the backrest adjusts by hand and the floor-mounted pedals slide fore and aft, all to save weight. The yoke carries dedicated boost controls. "CARN0N" describes it as a separate push-to-pass button.
FSD, but a limited version
Franz von Holzhausen told "MotorTrend" the Roadster will get a limited version of FSD, partly because of the windscreen rake and partly because it's a car you'll want to drive yourself. The exact limits haven't been announced. Where the law allows, cameras will replace the side mirrors. "MotorTrend" also notes that Tesla is targeting around 330 mph, and "CARN0N" says that takes the pressure tank.
Watch the video: the Roadster's kickflip over the Tesla lineup, on Tesla's X account.
What it means for drivers
The Roadster is more than a show car: the roof comes off, there's room for a weekend's luggage and it charges quickly at Superchargers. We cover the battery and charging times separately in our article on the bespoke 4680 cells, and the official details are in our tour of the Roadster page.
