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Tesla Prepares “Surprise” World Premiere For 2018 Grand Basel Auto Show

Think about it for a moment. When was the last time Tesla showcased an all-new model painted in red? Searching through the archive, the date was November 16th, 2017 when the Palo Alto-based manufacturer presented the Roadster II alongside the Semi class-8 electric truck.
Tesla 2018 Grand Basel Auto Show invitation 10 photos
Photo: Tesla
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Both models are prototypes at this stage of development, but based on the teaser image we have before us, the 2018 Grand Basel Auto Show in Switzerland is the place where Tesla will reveal the Roadster II once again. This time around, however, the newcomer is expected to arrive as a near-production prototype.

September 5th is the day of reckoning, and although some people speculate that Tesla will premiere the real deal, we think otherwise. It’s been less than a year since the concept was driven out of the back of a trailer to the song Sabotage by the Beastie Boys. Considering the problems put up by the Model 3, it’s more than certain Tesla didn’t have the time, money, and manpower to focus on the Roadster II.

On the other hand, this announcement isn’t at all natural for Tesla. Known for Apple-style standalone events, the reveal at the Grand Basel Auto Show is indeed different from the automaker’s modus operandi.

Even though our expectations should be tempered, the Roadster II is the kind of car that could revolutionize the segment altogether. For starters, Elon Musk promised that the production model would cross the quarter-mile finish line in nine seconds.

The 200-kWh battery is another breakthrough, along with the 250-mph top speed. Zero to 60 miles per hour? That would be 1.9 seconds, thank you! As much as the naysayers hate electric vehicles for being too soulless compared to internal combustion-engined cars, the Roadster II is a cut above… well, everything on four wheels.

Similar to how the McLaren F1 made the rounds in the 1990s, the Roadster II could be be the F1 moment of the electric vehicle as we know it. High praise indeed, but at the end of the day, what did you expect from a high-tech electric roadster that costs $250,000 upfront?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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