Tesla’s newly unveiled Roadster is a reminder that America can still produce breakthroughs that capture the world’s imagination. The car can accelerate from zero-60 in less than a second and perform feats that once belonged in science fiction.
The engineering is thrilling. Give Tesla an A for design innovation. The harder question is whether it can commercialize even the base Performance model. It includes the fan-powered suction system but none of the thrusters behind the Roadster’s headline-grabbing acceleration or airborne maneuvers. Or will Chinese manufacturers use their state-supported supply chains and generous R&D incentives to make comparable technology affordable first?
