The Tesla Roadster, which is not actually a Roadster but rather a hard-top supercar, just launched (literally). It can do barrel rolls and all sorts of tricks thanks to suction fans that provide downforce and a thruster system apparently borrowed from Space-X. It also looks extremely cool, and yet, familiar. Here are all the cars I can think of that the Tesla Roadster looks like.
This is a living, breathing list, since the new Tesla Roadster — which looks very different than the one the company showed years ago — is a wedge, which is a common shape shared by many, many cars. Actually, speaking of the other Tesla Roadster, let’s look at it:
That’s a far departure from this new one, which may not even be a roadster (i.e. its top might not come off):
This design looks familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. So let’s go through some cars, starting with Lamborghinis. Here’s the Murcielago, designed by my friend Luc Donckerwolke:
You see it, right? The hood shape, the headlight shape; here’s the Tesla again:
The way that nose points at the center also gives off some Vector W8 vibes, though the Tesla looks rather tall and upright in comparison:
Autopian designer and contributor The Bishop astutely pointed out that the side profile is somewhat shared with a Ferrari Testarossa:
See that swoop? Here’s the Tesla again:
I would of course be nuts if I didn’t at least mention the Lamborghini Countach:
And the Lotus Espirit:
Bishop points out that the overall silhouette is similar to that of the Lamborghini Aventador:
As for the rear?
The Bishop says he sees Lancia Stratos HF Zero concept:
I personally see a bit of Corvette C8 (mostly the flatness of the decklid):
And somehow a little N Vision 74, though I’m not sure why:
To be honest, the rear looks pretty unique (though there are some similarities to the Cybercab), with the most similar car being the Ferrari SF90 XX:
It’s all a familiar wedge-y design and nothing groundbreaking, though I think it looks good. Retrofuturistic, even!
If you can think of some cars that the new Tesla Roadster looks like that I haven’t mentioned, let me know in the comments!
Basically, if you fed Wedge Car into an AI engine.
You’ve got the Lotus Esprit on the list but for vibes and the extending back wing you have to specify the James Bond submersible version.
Ignoring the rockets, can downforce fans be used on public roads, or would they have to be locked out because of debris spray? They seem like the antithesis of the truck wheelflap requirements.
“Grok, design a car for me.”
“Grok, design a Murcielago crossed with a Cybertruck, with a messy back end like a dune buggy.”
I forgot about the N Vision concept and now I’m sad to be reminded it’s still not a thing.
Front end is identical to Ferrari 849 Testarossa
A bit of Honda HP-X concept for sure
I find this nonsense boring. See what I did there? Better to have spent time on YouTube at the Paris Auto show. Lots of interesting cars we will never see here in the US.
It’s like they took from those cars and just erased all the actual style from it. Have they bragged about using AI to design it yet?
It’s a deplorian DeLorian.
Klanborghini.
Fuhrerarri.
The Tesla Racister
How about the Batmobile from the Dark Knight movies? It has some of the same capabilities.
I can just imagine the meeting:
Lines of Peruvian marching powder laid out on a nice glass table.
Elmo: :SNORT: Maaaan, what if we put rockets on the car! It could go really fast and fly!
:SNORT:
It’s totally feasible. Who cares about legality or safety. It’s soooo cooool! We’ll sell millions!
:SNORT:
It’s a certainly a mix of Luc Donckerwolke-era Lambo and Pininfarina’s work for Ferrari in the 80’s – In addition to the Testarossa also a touch of the Mythos concept from ’89?
To me it looks like a Lamborghini Gallardo kit car built on a FWD platform.
I gotta say, this would get lost at Caffeine and Octane. Maybe that’s why it has the vertical thrusters.
looks like a generic 80’s super car concept
It’s less ugly than Musk’s heart. That’s the Cybertruck’s job.
I think the Roadster looks good. But all the other cars pictured in this article are phenomenal.
I had forgotten how much I lust for a Testarossa. And the Esprit, too! And the Lancia concept is wild.
This is the right answer. I fully agree. Take a little from everyone to make an attractive car. But, you can’t come close to being better than them.
Another car it looks like: The Ford GT90 concept from the 90s
I was thinking that too a bit, I think it’s the roof shape and the fact that it’s all glass.
That was my first thought as well. I think it’s because of all the triangles. The Tesla’s headlights look like the taillights on the GT90.
It looks cool yet utterly forgettable. I’ve already forgotten what it looks like actually.
My first thought was Audi Nuvolari.
I guess if you have a truck that’s bad at being a truck, having a roadster that’s bad at being a roadster kinda fits.
A dumpster that got too close to the 11’8” bridge’s shorter cousin?
So that one 8′ something bridge in Davenport, IA…
Acura NXS rear view if you don’t look too hard. Maybe it’s the spoiler.
It ain’t bad looking, but they surely can’t keep that name if the roof is fixed?
I preferred the prior vaporware’s styling, though.