Tesla has revealed its second generation all-electric Roadster, which the company says will be the fastest accelerating car in the world with a claimed 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in under 2 seconds. According to Elon Musk, Co-Founder, CEO and Product Architect at Tesla, the car can achieve a maximum top speed of more than 400 km/h (250 mph) and has a 1,000 km (620 mile) range.

“People asked us for a long time, ‘When are you going to make a new Roadster?’,” said Musk at the car’s launch. “We are making it now.”

Following the precedent that Tesla established with its very first car, the company continues to use the Roadster platform to shatter the industry’s perception of possible. “This is the first time that any car has broken 2 seconds 0-60. This will be the first time an electric vehicle breaks 1,000 kilometers on a single charge at highway speed,” Musk highlighted. And, to be clear, these figures aren’t merely a challenge to the electric car industry, but to petrol auto industry as well: “The point of doing this,” Musk continued, “is to give a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars.”

Musk also hinted that we will probably see even more staggering performance and range figures from the next-gen Roadster as the project matures: “This is the base model. We are going to talk about things beyond base maybe next year.”

Equally as unique is the fact that this supercar has four seats. “It is a 2+2 but you can’t put giant people in the rear seats,” said Musk. A lightweight, removable glass roof must be removed manually and placed in the trunk.

The base price in the United States is USD$200,000. Tesla is taking orders, which require a USD$50,000 deposit. The company has announced a limited run of 1,000 Founders Roadsters, which will cost USD$250,000. The deposit for the Founders car is the full purchase price of USD$250,000. Tesla has indicated that the Roadster will go into production in 2020, but production delays in the past have delayed launches of other models, which could portend a delay in the launch of the Roadster.