Tesla’s Roadster Prototype Seen Broken Down in Malibu

Tesla’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen took the next-generation Tesla Roadster prototype out Friday for an “afternoon cruise,” but the car stalled on the side of the road.

Von Holzhausen posted a photo Friday of himself behind the wheel of the car Tesla CEO Elon Musk says will “give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/949461939364614144

The car, however, broke down in the middle of a Malibu street. And, TMC member Cfinck managed to capture a few photos of the striking sports car. The photos show the wheels chocked and Cfinck said wheel dollies were being used to move the car to the curb.

“Not too sure what happened, but I assume there have to be kinks to fix due to it being 3 years out from production lol. Still a dang good lookin car!” Cfinck commented in his TMC post.

Production for the new Roadster isn’t scheduled to start until 2020. You can reserve one now for $50,000 towards the $200,000 base price. Tesla says the base model will do 0-60 in 1.9 seconds, making it the first production vehicle to crack two-seconds.

 

[shrspeedblade]

Well, this is a little awkward!

(At least it didn't happen at the reveal!)

 

[tomas]

What better place to break down?

 

[Rowan256]

Maybe it didn't have a 620 mile range anyway! Ah well, it's a prototype for a reason and the 2 year wait before production is probably there for a reason.

 

[bcsteeve]

Is "stalled" really the right word?

 

[palmer_md]

WoW, that is a beautiful car. Seeing it out in the sunlight is just so much better than the lighting at the reveal. How much is the superlotto this weekend? I need to find a way to buy one of these.

 

[Jeff Hudson]

I just noticed there are no windshield wipers on the prototype.

 

[Avronp]

I just noticed there are no windshield wipers on the prototype.

Who needs wipers with that acceleration

 

[AnxietyRanger]

Electrek's report on the event is rather more positive (who expected that!) - and the bizarrest thing is Tesla's claim that the car didn't break down...

I'd rather get my news from TMC, thank you very much.

 

[Takumi]

I just noticed there are no windshield wipers on the prototype.

You don't need one. You're supposed to outrun the rain.

 

[ecarfan]

Already being discussed at Found the roadster in Malibu!...oh and it was BROKEN

 

[dpeilow]

I hope he doesn't get in trouble for doing a Ferris Bueller with the car.

 

[MSAGRO]

I hope he doesn't get in trouble for doing a Ferris Bueller with the car.

When one spends $250,000 on a car it does not “break down”, what it does is that it “fails to proceed“

 

[bcsteeve]

When one spends $250,000 on a car it does not “break down”, what it does is that it “fails to proceed“

And it does so beautifully.

 

[smac]

TBH I'm just amazed Tesla took what is in effect a concept car out on public roads in the first place!!!


The fact it broke down... meh. It's an early car which should have been locked away doing engineering studies, and certainly not driven off for a photo shot under it's own power!!

 

[Ours chanceux]

I just noticed there are no windshield wipers on the prototype.[/QUOTE

Unlike you, I'm not sure there are no windshield wipers, because when the car is traveling at full speed, if they were on the windshield, then they could take off. So in my opinion, the wipers are probably hidden under the hood of the roadster, and that's why we do not see them on the photo. At least, I repeat, it's my opinion.

 

[Jeff Hudson]

Not to be argumentative chance but IMO this picture is self explaining.

Besides this vehicle as complete and amazing looking as it is after all is most likely little more than a prototype.

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_0858-jpg.271136/

 

[Ours chanceux]

Not to be argumentative chance but IMO this picture is self explaining.

Besides this vehicle as complete and amazing looking as it is after all is most likely little more than a prototype.

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/attachments/img_0858-jpg.271136/

It seems I was wrong, my apologies.

 

[Jeff Hudson]

No problem - I barely noticed it myself while gazing at the beautiful design of Franz von Holzhausen. I can hardly wait to see this vehicle in person although I know my chances are slim to none. I mean, how many production vehicles have you seen that numbered less than a thousand or a few hundred have you seen in person? Me? None.

 

[ecarfan]

I barely noticed it myself

Barely noticed what?

Looking at this photo I cannot see any windshield wipers. I also cannot see any space for them to retract into. I realize this car is the first driveable prototype (as far as we know) but it seems odd to me to build a prototype with no wipers and no apparent space for them to be added later.