Tesla's next-generation Roadster ran 0-60 mph in 0.81 seconds during Thursday night's reveal in McGregor, Texas, per BGR and Sawyer Merritt, who reported the figure from the official stream. That's less than half the 1.74 seconds Rimac quotes for its Nevera hypercar, and far ahead of Lucid's 1.89 seconds for the Air Sapphire and Porsche's 2.1 seconds for the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package. There are big caveats, though, so here's how the numbers really line up.

0-60 mph

  • Tesla Roadster: 0.81 seconds in the live run. Tesla's official targets are under 1.6 seconds for Performance, under 0.9 seconds for Thrust and under 0.59 seconds for the one-seat Rocket (full specs).
  • Rimac Nevera: 1.74 seconds, measured with a one-foot rollout, per Rimac. The Nevera R is rated 0-100 km/h in 1.72 seconds.
  • Lucid Air Sapphire: 1.89 seconds, per Lucid.
  • Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: 2.2 seconds with Launch Control, or 2.1 seconds with the Weissach Package, per Porsche USA.

Top speed

  • Tesla Roadster: more than 230 mph, which Tesla lists for the Rocket configuration. It hasn't given an exact maximum.
  • Rimac Nevera: 412 km/h (258 mph). The Nevera R is listed at 430 km/h.
  • Lucid Air Sapphire: 205 mph.
  • Porsche Taycan Turbo GT: 180 mph top track speed on summer tires, or 190 mph with the Weissach Package.

Power, range and price

Rimac rates the Nevera at 1,914 hp with a 120 kWh battery and 489 km of WLTP range. The Nevera R makes 2,107 hp from a 108 kWh pack. Lucid lists the Air Sapphire at 1,234 hp, an EPA-estimated 427 miles of range and $249,000 fully equipped. Porsche quotes 1,019 hp on overboost with Launch Control for the Taycan Turbo GT, starting at $243,700.

Tesla hasn't disclosed the Roadster's horsepower, battery size or price. It has only said the car will have more than 300 miles of range. Reservations need a $50,000 deposit for Performance and $250,000 for Thrust, while Rocket is invite-only (deposit details).

Why it's not a like-for-like fight

The Roadster's quickest runs come from cold-gas thrusters. Tesla says they generate "4–5x the force the tires can," so its numbers aren't limited by tire grip the way the Nevera's, Sapphire's and Taycan's are. The rivals' figures are manufacturer-rated specs for cars you can buy today. Tesla's are a single live run plus "under" and "over" bounds for a car that won't enter production until 2028. Tesla also hasn't said whether its 0.81-second figure used a one-foot rollout, as Rimac's does. Reuters noted that the road legality of the thrusters "was not immediately clear," and Tesla's site lists Rocket as invite-only (Musk's Mach 0.5 claim and the legality question).